Klarinet Archive - Posting 000166.txt from 2003/04

From: CBA <clarinet10001@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Russell Harlow's note
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:31:43 -0400

Russell,

Competent repairpersons CAN fix the key problem you have, and
most probably could fix the intonation problems you have. I have
heard of (and also have seen in action) many an instrument
swedged (to tighten keys) and altered with inserts of delrin and
wood (to alter pitch problems.)

I know people that do this on a regular basis...Guy Chadash is
one of them. I would think it would be a better option to
contact him rather than to decommission this great instrument
permanently. Try him at this website (has phone numbers and
address, etc...)

http://www.chadashclarinet.com

As far as the thin wall instruments, the Buffet Elite *is* a
thin wall instrument, and I believe the Selmer Signature is
also, if I am correct (at least it was a LOT lighter than the
Recital model, so it is a THINNER wall that the Selmer Recital,
if not fully thin walled.) Have you tried these models that are
already in production?

Hope this helps...

Kelly Abraham
Woodwinds - New York City
--- Russell Harlow <lharlow@-----.net> wrote:
> Dan
> We just played a piece by Utah composer Leroy Robertson as
> part of a tribute
> to conductor Maurice Abravenel. The part was signed Herbert
> Blayman 1948 -
> so that was 23 years before me. I started in 1971. Also right
> after Blayman,
> I believe, Nepolion Cermanera was principal for a year before
> Martin Zwick
> took the job.
>
> As for the 1969 instrument- I still have it and love the
> quality of sound it
> still has. What happened was the keywork became looser and
> not much could
> be done with it as it continued to ware. I was advised the
> getting new keys
> could create more problems than it would fix. The other
> problems that
> developed were the scale began to alter (high notes sharper)
> and upper notes
> would not speak as easily. Perhaps the "floating" keys created
> leaks or 30
> years of swabing altered the bore-I do not know. What
> interested me was
> that a new instrument corrected all the problems - but - the
> sound I wanted
> was not there in the new horns. When I found instruments that
> were vintage
> but only lightly used or had not been used at all, I found in
> them the sound
> I was looking that I had in the 1969 horn. I feel the really
> big difference
> for me is the resonance one gets with an instrument whos body
> is as thin as
> the instruments from 1900 up to about 1980 when Buffet and
> other makers
> began to make thicker walled instruments.
>
> I would like to see makers continue to make fine clarinets as
> they are doing
> but also make an instrument that has a thinner wall that can
> really produce
> the quality and resonance and color that the older instruments
> had. That is
> why I appreciate what Yamaha has been doing, especially in
> making this
> prototype for me with a thinner wall. It made a great
> difference. If you are
> in Utah in July look me up and try out this instrument. I
> would appreciate
> your opinion.
> RH

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