Klarinet Archive - Posting 000302.txt from 2003/09

From: Nancy Buckman <eefer@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] C clarinet intonation problems
Date: Fri, 12 Sep 2003 17:52:54 -0400

At 03:16 PM 9/11/2003 -0700, you wrote:

>Patricola also makes a fairly inexpensive C clarinet and I have heard that
>it is good, but I have not tried one.
>
>CLARK FOBES

I have played the Leblanc and Selmer C clarinets. I have never had good
luck (musically) with any Selmer instrument. Not to say they aren't good
quality, they don't play well for me. But I have friends who play some
lovely music with them. The Leblanc instrument was a nice instrument, but
it was heavy and more expensive than my Patricola.

The Patricola came with two barrels (46 and 47 mm)standard. Everything
played fine except the throat Bb, which was EXTREMELY flat. I gave it to
the Patricolas at the 2001 Fest and they took it back to Italy with them
and made a 45mm barrel for it and shipped it back to me (it left Italy on
9/11 and managed to get to me within two weeks). They were most apologetic
about the intonation problem and asked that I e-mail them after trying the
new barrel. It plays beautifully. It is rosewood, like my other 3 and has
a very even scale, even down low where they always tend toward
sharpness. It plays well all the way up to high A as long as there is an
adequate air flow.

I have always wondered what a slightly smaller mouthpiece would do to its
playability. After I get a Backun barrel and bell for it I might consider
a custom mouthpiece. The only problem with a different mouthpiece will be
the length of the reeds and whether they have to be altered to fit the
table of the smaller mouthpiece. I am considering it though.

Nancy

Nancy Buckman
Principal Clarinet / Orchestra AACC
eefer@-----.net

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is supported by Woodwind.Org, http://www.woodwind.org/