Klarinet Archive - Posting 000031.txt from 2007/11

From: Alicia Byer <aliciabyer@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] pro horn suggestions
Date: Sun, 04 Nov 2007 16:01:31 -0500

Hi Fred,

I've thought about this but the instrument really isn't much to speak
of.. the keys and posts aren't very good quality, and the plating seems
to flake off in parts, although I really like the bore, and that's why
I've been hanging onto it for so long. You've convinced me to at least
get it appraised by a technician though, and see what they think, since
I'd rather not spend tons of money if they think an overhaul would do
wonders or something. I would prefer to get a used instrument anyway, if
I'm going to buy one, it just seems more difficult to find a range of
used models in good condition, but I'll keep looking.

I'd like to try out some Selmers, so I'll keep looking and try to keep
my "New Clarinet!" impulse in check. ;)

thanks everybody,
Alicia

Fred Jacobowitz wrote:
> Alicia,
> I can't believe that a decently made instrument which is 'falling
> apart' cannot be completely restored by a good technician. If you
> don't NEED a better instrument, there is not reason not to send it to
> someone on the level of, for example, Backun in NYC and a few hundred
> dollars later, to have a completely restored instrument which looks
> and plays beautifully. And look at the thousand-dollar-plus savings!
> These older instruments were made to last a lifetime. In fact,
> many use materials every bit as good as those of professional
> instruments today! The keys didn't have the problem my Greenline
> Buffet has of too-thin plating wearing off on the rings! Another
> thing: back then, there wasn't alot of difference between the pro
> horns and the student horns. For example, the old Evette & Schaeffer
> (sp?) was actually a pro horn which, for some piddling reason (often a
> cosmetic flaw in the wood) wasn't sold as a top-of-the-line horn. Many
> manufacturers only made one level of instrument. If they needed a few
> student horns, they simply stamped them differently.
> I just hate to give up on older-but-excellent-quality items for
> the lure of **NEW** in our materialistic society.
>
> Fred Jacobowitz
>
> Kol Haruach Klezmer Band
> Ebony and Ivory Duo
> On Nov 1, 2007, at 5:11 AM, Alicia Byer wrote:
>
>> Hi everybody,
>>
>> I'm sure you get these kinds of questions all the time, so if this
>> post is incredibly out of line, or incredibly boring, feel free to
>> ignore it...
>>
>> I'm in the market for a new professional clarinet, and I'm wondering
>> what to get! I just graduated with my BA in composition, and played
>> clarinet throughout college, but never upgraded from my intermediate
>> instrument that I used in high school, since I wasn't a performance
>> major. Now, I've come into a little bit of cash and I want to finally
>> move up to a real instrument. I've tried the Buffet R13 and one or
>> two other Buffets (I can't remember which) and a couple of the
>> Leblancs (Concerto and Opus I think?) at a music store that I worked
>> at, and I really favored the Leblancs at the time because they seemed
>> easier to play and less stuffy. I mostly play experimental/new music
>> and improv, so I need something extremely responsive and even, but
>> still flexible, and I prefer a dark, covered, centered tone. I'm not
>> a fan of lots of "ring". I looked at the Concerto and the Backun
>> Leblancs, the Cadenza seems like a good deal. The Buffet RC Prestige
>> seems ideal but probably a little out of my price range. Does anybody
>> have any other suggestions? The instrument I'm playing on now is
>> quite pitiful and falling apart, it's a French intermediate
>> instrument from the 1940s, so I probably couldn't jump to an
>> instrument that required a lot of wrestling to get a good tone. I use
>> Richard Hawkins mouthpieces and 4/4.5 Vandoren v12s with my more
>> closed mouthpiece, and a 3 1/2 with my more open one. I also use a
>> terrible $2 ligature that I dug out of a bin. So! Thanks for reading
>> all this, and let me know if you have any suggestions.
>>
>> Best,
>> Alicia
>>
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>
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