Klarinet Archive - Posting 000030.txt from 2007/06
From: "Keith Bowen" <bowenk@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] C clarinet
Date: Mon, 04 Jun 2007 13:34:39 -0400
Yes, Forest's instruments are very fine. Of course Steve Fox himself makes a
great C, and that's what I would buy for professional use.
There is an alternative solution if one wants to economise. I have now
purchased and worked on four Amati C clarinets, one for myself and three for
keen amateur players who like me wanted a C for occasional use, and liked
mine much more than the Buffet E11 at twice the price.
Mine was purchased a few years ago at a bargain basement price in Prague,
$250 I think! It played perfectly smoothly but the intonation was bad.
However, a couple of days serious work fixed this. As Forest recounts for
his Buffet, some of the holes were just in the wrong place. The C/F vent
hole required about 3 mm of epoxy on the upper side and many other holes
needed slight lining, fraising or pad height adjustment. All standard stuff,
beautifully described by Clark Fobes on his web site. They did not need
refilling and drilling.
This year I bought three more. The manufacture and tuning has improved no
end and it is quite playable by good players without modification. A
professional and myself used one new pair in a Beethoven 5 performance in
our pro-am orchestra, and he and the conductor (Colin Touchin of this list)
were well pleased with the intonation as well as the tone colour. When the C
clarinets came in together in rehearsal for the first time, Colin stopped
the orchestra to point out the new tone colour that we had.
It can still be improved by tuning/tweaking, but it is 3 - 4 hours work now
rather than 15 - 20. And one hour of that is getting a really good tuning
chart when the instrument is fully warmed up.
I recommend the model 312S - wood, silver plated keys, nice keywork
(bendable without breaking), well-anchored posts, and the alternate LH4
Eb/Ab. In Prague this costs a shade over $700 including taxes (which a US
visitor would not pay, saving almost 20%). Allow $200 - $300 tuning work by
a suitable tech and you have a good instrument that can stand up in a decent
orchestra.
I use a Walter Grabner mouthpiece. It tunes slightly sharp, about 442; a 0.5
mm pull out gets in nicely in tune, with all notes less than 10 cents out to
an equal temperament tuner when blown "in the middle" and quite easy to
adjust.
I am not claiming that it is as good as a well-adjusted Buffet or Fox. But
it is better than anything much less, and I preferred to spend the money on
Fox eefer and basset horns and Wurlitzer clarinets!
Yes, I take orders...
Keith Bowen
-----Original Message-----
From: klarinet-return-90947-bowenk=compuserve.com@-----.org
[mailto:klarinet-return-90947-bowenk=compuserve.com@-----.org] On Behalf
Of Forest Aten
Sent: 04 June 2007 17:20
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: RE: [kl] C clarinet
> Some of the top level professionals who use C clarinets recommend using
> the
> same mouthpiece as the Bb and A. Fast switches are easier, you do not
> have to
> contend with a dry reed at a crucial moment, and you do not have to have
> separate reeds.
>
> However, if the C clarinet you buy cannot be played in tune with your
> Bb/A
> mouthpiece, other solutions might be necessary.
>
> Forest - are you out there? Can you shed some more light on this issue?
>
> Walter Grabner
> www.clarinetxpress.com
>
>
Hi Walter...
I own both the Buffet RC Prestige and a very nice Buffet R13 (purchased from
one of your clients). I like both clarinets....a lot.
The RC doesn't play very well "in tune" with my Kaspar mouthpieces...so I
use a Lomax (Zinner blank). I think any well made mouthpiece for the Bb/A
should work well on the Buffet C clarinets. My Kaspar is a short blank
(Babbit) and when I used a longer barrel to "fix" the intonation, it brought
the throat notes way low. The Zinner blank is longer and the bore is a
perfect fit. This does mean that I have two mouthpieces to maintain when in
the trenches. I've never minded this but I know it's an issue for some.
I can use my Kaspar on the R13 C. I've found several longer barrels that
work well. The longer Zinner blanks work as well...with the original barrel.
I took my RC to Steven Fox several years ago for some rework. He drilled and
replaced several tone holes that were simply in the "wrong place". This took
the very few "out" notes away and truly made this clarinet a great one. I
also had Steven made an extension, like the one Clark makes for the Eb. It
added a lot of stability and evenness throughout all registers.
I, for one, am a real advocate of using C clarinets when indicated in the
score. I always have one of my C clarinets in my Wiseman quad case. I "don't
leave home without it". ;-)
Forest Aten
Dallas Opera
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