Klarinet Archive - Posting 000032.txt from 2003/03

From: "Patricia A. Smith" <patricia@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Yards sale & Flea Market horns; was, Impingo Wood Supply for Clarinets
Date: Sat, 1 Mar 2003 22:18:09 -0500

Lelia Loban wrote:

For instance, I kept an atrocious wooden Conn Director
> because it was the first clarinet I ever owned--my father bought it for=
me
> new in 1957--and I kept a hard rubber "Carl Fischer" stencil clarinet f=
rom
> the 1950s, even though it plays like a pig, because the construction
> interests me.)
>=20
> The five that I play and like are: a 1931 wooden Buffet clarinet in A; =
a
> 1937 wooden Buffet in Bb (they make a good pair and are my favorites fo=
r
> classical music); a wooden Selmer Bb "Signet Special" (I like that one =
for
> jazz); a plastic Bundy from the mid-1980s (I think everybody should own=
a
> plastic instrument for outdoors, and this one plays much better than I
> expected); and a wooden 1979 Selmer (Paris) Eb alto. The Buffet in A w=
as
> not one of my rescue jobs. Last year, when I got tired of waiting for =
a
> decent clarinet in A to turn up at a flea market, I bought the Buffet i=
n
> clean, playable condition, from Jim Lande. It makes a good pair with m=
y
> Buffet Bb. Some cosmetic damage doesn't affect the sound. I also boug=
ht
> the Selmer alto in excellent condition, from the original owner, though=

> I've since replaced the pads. My other three players did come from fle=
a
> markets and yard sales, but they were in decent though dirty condition =
and
> didn't need extensive work... Since I can't pay serious money for a ne=
w
or restored vintage bass or contrabass when I'm only an amateur, those =
are
still on my wish list.
>=20
> Sorry I didn't answer earlier, but last weekend was a zoo and I'm just =
now
> getting around to reading that Saturday's e-mail. (Shadow Cat's still
> contemplating whether or not it would be beneath her feline dignity to
> converse politely with a bunny-rabbit, since technically she ought to
> regard a bunny as prey, even though she has to admit that she and the b=
unny
> share some opinions in common....) =20

I don't blame you a bit for finding certain instruments' construction=20
interesting. I'd say it's the same fascination some computer buffs find =

studying the Commodore 64's, though I think your Conn Director is much=20
more intrinsically valuable! :p

Shucks, up until about 6 years ago, I played for a living, and still=20
nearly ALL instruments are out of my price range! 8-O
It's a jungle out there - and to be truthful, I can't blame you at all=20
for utilizing your skills to rehab your finds into good playing=20
condition. From what other folks have told me, the more you work at=20
that sort of thing, the more you tend to learn. Something tells me=20
perhaps that Bass will come your way when you least expect it. You=20
might want to check out a government surplus sale. From time to time=20
they ALSO have instruments - believe it or not! You may actually find a =

bass there that was sent to "disposal" which could still be rehabbed=20
with the work & loving care you provide. Most military bands can only=20
keep so many in inventory at one time. And if they slate an old one=20
"disposal" then they can justify buying a new one. (At least that is=20
how it used to work a few years back. Of course, perhaps now, they=20
simply aim them all at Saddam.)

SA is not exactly your average prey animal. He...err..growled at me=20
today. Didn't like the red tennis ball I bought him at the pet store.
hmmm, don't know why. Let's see what he thinks of clarinet music.

Patricia Smith

<:8O~~

<=3Dooo'|=F6o,o;;|=3D<<

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