 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: wjk
Date: 2003-01-24 15:09
Yes, yet another Amati question. The barrels for the Amati pro line are not 66mm, I believe they are 60 and 62mm. Is this standard for European instruments? Other than pulling out the barrel/ replacing the barrel, how do I play in tune with standard 440 instuments? What are the options? Thanks!
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-01-24 15:52
Amatis are built to A=442. I don't remember the measurements of my barrels, but I do recall that neither is as long as 62mm. The mouthpiece makes a bigger difference in the pitch department than most realize, so proper mouthpiece selection helps. As is well known, barrel design is also important, so do read carefully Doctor Henderson's post in the earlier Amati thread, where Graham Golden's new barrel design is mentioned. I have no problem with A=440, by the way.
Regards,
John
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Author: doctorsprod@mindspring.com
Date: 2003-01-24 17:03
(Disclaimer - Again - I have no financial interest in, or receive any compensation from Amati or Graham's Music)
Graham Golden is doing his best to bring the Amati clarinets into the North American market. From what he tells me they are willing to make adjustments in their manufacturing, and finish characteristics that will make them more acceptable in the American market - they are doing just fine over in Europe. Graham has designed several prototype barrel designs - that will bring the tuning to A=440 but yet preserve the warmth and fullness of the clarinet's tone. He tells me that once settled on design that they will produce them on their CNC milling machines in quantity to offer with their clarinets - this should happen relatively soon. In the interim he will be offering the best of the prototypes to customers of the professional horns. Perhaps he will throw in his own two cents on this issue.
Their are other slight modifications that he performs on the professional instruments which improve intonation and he offers several upgrade pad options - although they have very nice pads to begin with. Graham has, IMHO, the most experience here in the U.S. with making the Amati horns very comparable in every respect to the other Big 4 professional series horns.
Seeing, feeling, and play testing are the only true ultimate qualifications for deciding on a new horn. Graham will have a full selection of Amati horns at Clarinet Fest 2003 in Salt Lake for your critical examination!
The Doctor
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-01-24 17:10
(using the same disclaimer as "The Doctor")
I have requested a prototype barrel from Graham for my Amati A clarinet.
After testing the barrel, I will be happy to post my comments, whether pro or con...GBK
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2003-01-24 17:22
I forgot to mention the mouthpiece aspect - John has a very good point. Since I have a rogue's gallery of mouthpieces I had no trouble finding a mouthpiece that had a little more open tip opening and a slightly softer reed combination at brought my tuning and tone to the place that I wanted it (of course my Hawkins mouthpiece which defies the tip opening rule also worked well). I plan on multiple uses of this horn but Jazz was one of my reasons for selecting the horn. The warmth and fullness of the tone just reminded me of some of those back-alley intimate jazz clubs that I like to frequent that give me a warm and fuzzy feeling (I don't drink so it is not the ethanol that gives me the feeling).
The Doctor
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-01-25 06:10
Re the Amati 600-series Clarinet, The Doctor avers: "... Jazz was one of my reasons for selecting the horn."
Curious you should mention that, Omar, because my first playng of an Amati (ACL-605) led me to believe that it would make an eminently practical instrument for playing Jazz, my favorite musical milieu. The tone is very pleasing to me, plus with a proper mouthpiece and reed, it bends very nicely. I appreciate a set up and instrument that can be controlled, and mine really fills the bill.
Regards,
Joh
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