Klarinet Archive - Posting 000240.txt from 2005/10

From: "Forest Aten" <forestaten@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Re: Clarinets in the afterlife? (blow out vs. paradise lost)
Date: Sun, 23 Oct 2005 20:51:26 -0400

Hahahaa

Don't make it WHERE...sorry

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Forest Aten [mailto:forestaten@-----.net]
> Sent: Sunday, October 23, 2005 7:48 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: RE: [kl] Re: Clarinets in the afterlife? (blow out vs. paradise
> lost)
>
>
> >
> > Well, that's exactly what I do and it so happens the modern "high-tech"
> > instruments don't make it.
> >
> [Forest Aten]
>
> "don't make it" were? And for who?
>
>
> >
> > Let's face it: The alleged science behind modern clarinet making is a
> heap
> > of bovine faeces used to advertise new, expensive models. A friend of
> mine
> > worked at Buffet in France in the 70s, and later took his 'Meister'-
> exams
> > in
> > Germany. He used to work for Keilwert, Moeck, Mollenhauer,
> > Schreiber/Boosey/Buffet (until recently they were one big trust) and
> many
> > others. He gained insight in the manufacturing methods now and back in
> the
> > 70s . He is in despair. When I bring him one of my historic clarinets
> for
> > restoration he keeps raving about the marvels of craft and subtle design
> > he
> > discovers under every second key. When we compare a new model some
> > customer
> > left for servicing, like a Buffet or Schreiber or Yamaha or Wurlitzer,
> it
> > usually makes us very sad.
> [Forest Aten]
>
> BUT....could I play one of your "historic clarinets" say....in the Dallas
> Opera and keep my job?
>
>
> > I have reason to believe that many crucial steps in clarinet making can
> be
> > better addressed by an experienced craftsman, taking his time with a few
> > well-made hand tools than by some new fangled computer-controlled but
> > ill-programmed devices.
> [Forest Aten]
>
> Are all "new fangled computer-controlled" machines a problem for you? And
> why do you assume that these state of the art machines are "ill-
> programed"?
> Site relevant examples that we can all go to examine....please.
> >
> > Do you know the chaos prevailing at modern woodwind-factories? Unskilled
> > labourers hastily assembling the parts, managers taking over from
> > unrelated industries without any musical background, people frustrated
> and
> > demotivated.
> [Forest Aten]
>
> Site...which factories and which companies? I've been to several factories
> in the past ten years as a consultant and have not observed this "chaos".
> Management people have always come and gone....and labor in music
> instrument
> manufacturing have largely been a unionized system all around. Period of
> unrest have occurred over many decades....many. The shop foreman usually
> have the "control". Motivation/demotivation (? Is that a word) usually
> occur
> through periods of economic change.
>
> > There is science for everything, but it's always only as good as the
> > assumptions behind it and the care with which you apply it. The
> > revolutionary R13 design of the 50s might have had certain benefits
> > (intonation, evenness...) but very many drawbacks (sound, character,
> > mouthpieces).
> [Forest Aten]
>
> A better word than "assumptions" might be compromises. Drawbacks????
> Sound?
> I love the sound of the R13...the Buffet company has become the top
> manufacturer of professional line clarinets (for a long time) based on the
> desired "character" of this clarinet...and I have a ton of top quality
> mouthpieces that play wonderfully on the R13. Kaspar, Fobes, Smith,
> Lomax....and there are more...
>
> Forest Aten
>
>
>
>
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