Klarinet Archive - Posting 000691.txt from 2002/10

From: "Joseph Wakeling" <joseph.wakeling@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Intonation on new clarinets
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 06:20:43 -0500

Rebecca Brennan wrote:

> I've been looking at a beautiful Selmer clarinet
> at a music store. It has unstained wood and gold
> keys. They let me play it and I think it was very
> easy for me to play. I had better intonation
> on my old plastic vito though.

Not so long ago I was trying out some new clarinets. The first store I went
to, in Zurich, I tried some Buffet RCs. The intonation was all over the
place. And, talking to the salesperson there, I realised that if anything
he was just a champion bull[deleted]. (For example: asking me what
mouthpiece I used, and when I replied, saying "Oh, I don't like that one,"
and suggesting the model I should try instead.) Anyway, I didn't go back to
that shop.

Then a few months later I went to another shop, this time in Geneva. No
intonation problems. I ended up buying a clarinet from them which I'm still
very pleased with.

The difference? The second shop had one of the best repair techs in
Switzerland and he'd obviously spent a lot of time preparing the clarinets,
whereas at the first shop I suspect they were just straight off the line
from the Buffet factory.

So, it might not be your fault. ;-)

-- Joe

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