Klarinet Archive - Posting 000131.txt from 2007/09

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fbjacobo@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Blowout (was McGinnis)
Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2007 23:51:08 -0400

Karl,
Then you haven't been listening. I can't remember any posts that say
that ALL clarinets will blow out. There are many instruments which have
been used regularly over decades and haven't blown out. However, people
like Stanley Drucker replace their instruments periodically because
they don't want to get caught like I did: without a well-chosen
replacement. And, of course, because they can afford to. I was lucky; I
found a replacement instrument which satisfied me quite quickly.
However, I still had to struggle through a concert and dirty looks from
the conductor.

The puzzling aspect of this phenomenon is that most clarinets DON'T
blow out. Why is anyone's guess, tho I suspect it has something to do
with the fact that most of them aren't played as hard or as often as
the ones which have blown out. Buffet still has it's head in the sand
and refuses to admit that blow-out exists. Of course, they swear that
all their instruments tune perfectly too...

Fred Jacobowitz

Kol Haruach Klezmer Band
Ebony and Ivory Duo
On Sep 22, 2007, at 11:37 PM, Karl Krelove wrote:

> But, Fred, when players talk about blow-out, I don't generally hear (or
> read) that it's something that only happens to some instruments.
> Usually,
> it's cited as the reason why clarinets need to be replaced routinely
> on some
> periodic basis - 4-5 years depending on who it is. The suggestion is
> that
> it's an inevitable result of the clarinet's aging. Something may well
> have
> happened to your instrument with the result that you describe, but
> that's
> not what I've generally heard described as "blown-out."
>
> Karl
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Fred Jacobowitz [mailto:fbjacobo@-----.net]
>>
>> (snip)
>> The point is, blow out seems impossible to someone to whom it has not
>> happened. Kind of like how light must be for a blind man. However, I
>> am
>> ready to swear on all things dear that my instrument did blow out. And
>> I'll fight any varmint what says otherwise! ;-)
>>
>> Fred Jacobowitz
>>
>
>
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