 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-12-11 12:37
Yesterday I tried the new Buffet Tosca for the first time. I was impressed with the evenness of tone and response, and the intonation was pretty good. The throat B-flat is better in tune than on other Buffets that I've played. There is an extra key for the right hand pinky- it's an alternative fingering for low F, and brings the pitch up. At last- a low F that isn't flat!! I spent at least 10 minutes playing the 3rd movement from the Brahms F minor sonata, and enjoying all the lows F's. But it does seem like a lot of keywork, just to raise the pitch of one note. Unlike the correction key on Wurlitzer German system clarinets (operated by the right thumb), this extra key only works for the low F. If you push down this key for the low E, it becomes much too sharp, so it obviously isn't intended for that note.
My main criticism is of the new "ergonomic" keywork. They've obviously gone to a lot of trouble to make the keys fit the shape of your hands better. But all of the right hand side keys are further up the horn than they used to be. I kept missing the side E-flat/B-flat key because it's so high up. I suppose I could get used to that, but I'd have to adopt a slightly uncomfortable tilt at the right wrist. Ergonomic? Certainly not for my hands!
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2003-12-11 14:14
Liquorice -
Do you mean that the side keys are shorter, so you have to reach further, or that they are rotated around the body, to be at, say, 2:00 instead of 2:30 when you look down from the top?
I have fairly long fingers and have always had to make a lot of movement to hit the bottom, Eb/Bb side key. The Leblanc "jump key" design has the side keys rotated up and has always been more comfortable for me, so if the Tosca has the same design, I'd probably prefer it.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-12-11 22:23
Sorry Ken, my description wasn't very clear. I meant that the side keys are actually shorter (specifically the side Eb/Bb key), so you have to reach further up the instrument to get at them. This would mean either changing your hand position to get closer to these keys, or having to move further to get to them from your normal position. Neither of these seems like a desirable adjustment to have to make- at least, not for me with my medium sized fingers!
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