 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-08-20 02:20
Hello
I recently acquired a 1960-something Buffet R-13. Has a small repaired crack on the lower joint, and some leaks, but sounded great when I play-tested it. Dark, rich tone, a little sharp (common in Buffets??), even scale. However, I have a couple of questions for y'all. I conducted a search on the BBoard before posting but couldn't find a whole lot, so feel free to point me in the right direction. Are there any special care instructions I should know to take care of a clarinet of its age?? I only have two wooden clarinets, the other one I bought new 4 years ago. Also, what kinds of mouthpieces should I consider for it?? I know that question is highly subjective, but I'm asking anyway. Thanks in Advance!!!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-08-20 02:54
Have you had it overhauled or scrutinized by a good tech? That'd be step one in my book.
Hmmm. I have a 1970 clarinet (not too far off from yours) and don't really feel it's any more fragile than a new clarinet. If anything, I feel safer with this one in the sense that I think the wood has probably been stressed and restressed and that it probably won't crack again or split or anything with normal clarinet care (cause my clarinet has DEFINITELY adopted the 'been there, done that' attitude of cracking! but it's pinned and playing)
As for mouthpiece? you'll get a TON of responses, but it depends on how long you've been playing, what you currently play on, whether you LIKE the feel of it or not, and then work from there. I advocate (correct word?) professional custom mouthpieces. A-la Greg Smith, Walter Grabner, Richard Hawkins, Ralph Morgan, etc. etc.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: JessKateDD
Date: 2005-08-20 02:56
Fiirst, old clarinets tend to be dry from many years of non-use. Oil the bore well at least once a month for about half a year, then every few months after that. The last thing you need are more cracks!
The older Buffets are not as "in tune" for the most part as the new ones. As for the sharpness, if there is an F in front of the serial number, it means you got a European clarinet pitched as high as A444.
A mouthpiece you may consider that could kill two birds with one stone is the Gigliotti P34. It is a solid mouthpiece which tends to play a bit flat.
Of course, you should make sure, before buying a new mouthpiece, that your clarinet teacher and/or band director approve of it.
Here's a weird true story. A friend of mine when I was in high school had a band director who insisted she play a Vandoren 5RV mouthpiece instead of the one she had been using - a Kasper. Convinced it was worthless, she offered it to me as a gift. I refused and told her of its value.
It has been my unfortunate experience that most people, from private teachers and band directors all the way up to conservaty teachers and symphony musicians, tend to think that their equipment is the best and that all others, by default, must be subpar. I bet if we took a poll of the board, that the majority of first lessons with a new teacher included a suggested mouthpiece change!
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-08-20 03:02
A chedeville style mouthpiece in general I think would help you play a little flatter. I find with the vandoren 13 series I'm a little flatter (if that's any help in the search)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Burt
Date: 2005-08-20 03:11
My R-13 is from the late 50s. The instructions said not to oil it, and for 25 years, I didn't. Now I do every few months.
The only problem with mine is that the twelfths were too wide. At the advice of my repairman (Tom Ridenour), I had the register key replaced with a longer one, with the hole re-bored closer to the barrel. (I wonder if the Galper register hole extension would accomplish the same thing without re-boring.)
Yes, there are many choices of mouthpieces. I use a Vandoren M30 with a DEG Eddie Daniels barrel, but that is not necessarily a good choice for you.
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