Klarinet Archive - Posting 000630.txt from 2003/08

From: "Buckman, Nancy" <nebuckman@-----.edu>
Subj: RE: [kl] Rossi and Patricola vs Buffet
Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2003 15:03:21 -0400

-----Original Message-----
From: Gene Nibbelin [mailto:gnibbelin@-----.com]
Subject: RE: [kl] Rossi and Patricola vs Buffet

The recent discussion on A-Bb to B & C problems - stuffiness etc. =
doesn't exist
on my Leblancs.

=20

A lot of the stuffiness problems come from using the wrong mouthpieces =
on instruments. In my mind it is better to deal with a dealer who will =
let you try different mouthpieces on the instruments you try. When I =
tried the Patricola line, my Hites wouldn't work (stuffy), so I had to =
borrow mouthpieces until I found something that worked. I was at =
ClarinetFest fortunately, and Greg Smith happened to be there (among =
many others that I tried). His mouthpieces worked and I liked what I =
heard and felt. People are too impatient when trying to make a match =
with equipment. They don't take enough time to see what works with what =
and then base their decisions on those results.

Last Saturday I had a student and his father come to me wanting to know =
about buying an R-13 used for $1400 and whether I thought it was a good =
buy. The instrument was an R-13 all right but it was badly beat up. =
Sure it could be repaired, but at what cost. This kid was adamant about =
having an R-13. So, I blindfolded him and laid out on a table my R-13, =
my old Evette and Schaffer, my Patricola, my Selmer Series 9, my metal =
Bundy and my trusty pink Vito Dazzler. He tried them all. He played =
them over and over for almost 40 minutes, not knowing which was which. =
Guess what he chose? PINK! He was shocked, as were his parents. They =
have $800 saved and are willing to go into debt for this kid (he's 11 =
and very good). I told them that my recommendation was to spend $600 =
for a Buffet E-11 and save the other $200 and put it in a rainy day fund =
(maybe send him to camp next summer or buy him a few lessons with the =
principal player in the Baltimore Symphony).

People need to resist the urge to "buy that R-13". It isn't the end-all =
of clarinets. There are so many clarinets out there that are within =
reach financially that aren't R-13's and are as good as or better than =
the R-13. Ask the dealer for an assortment of mouthpieces to try with =
their instruments. You sell yourself short if you don't.

Nancy

Nancy E. Buckman, Technical Assistant
School of Health Professions, Wellness and Physical Education
Anne Arundel Community College
Arnold, MD 21012-1895 USA
Phone 410-777-2316 Fax 410-777-2233
E-mail nebuckman@-----.edu

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