Klarinet Archive - Posting 000717.txt from 2004/01

From: Elgenubi@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Tosca at NAMM
Date: Sat, 24 Jan 2004 14:14:47 -0500

At the recent NAMM convention (music manufacturers and retailers), I saw and
played the Buffet Tosca. The environment is noisier than I might have liked,
but I enjoyed playing this horn. (I am accustomed to the Buffet Festival.)
The Tosca did seem to have a particularly even and in tune scale. They had a
pair of both the grenadilla and the Greenline. It was mentioned recently in a
thread about an old Buffet, that the Mazzeo clarinet had no bell ring so to
improve the long B. Interestingly the Tosca has no bell ring, either. The
Tosca also has an additional key and vent for the low F. This was also mentioned
lately, wasn't it? The normal F is, well, normal. But the new key, to the
right of the normal key, closes the normal F pad and also opens the new small
vent near the large normal one at the bottom of the clarinet. It very slightly
sharpens and changes the sound of the F, apparently intended to improve the
note in exposed passages. I took some snapshots of the horns, and if anyone
would like to see them, email me privately. (Reminder to new folks and absented
minded folks: email me; do not reply to the list!)
I suppose I should say that I have no economic interest in Buffet; I just
like talking about the equipment.

Wayne Thompson

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