 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-12-11 21:09
I recently saw two clarinets, one serial number 120xxx (Ebay USA), the other F125xxx (Ebay Italy), thus both made around 1970.
However the italian/european clarinet, besides being suspiciously cheap, had a tone hole through the lower tenon of the top joint. I assume this is for the articulated G#/C# that I've heard of, but never seen.
Did Buffet really make clarinets with articulated G# only for the european market, or would this have been some kind of customised job?
Surely the hole in the tenon must weaken the joint. Are these instruments still popular?
Steve
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-12-12 01:27
My R-13 Full Boehm (formally called an R-16-1/2 --for the extra keys, the R17 has the low Eb) has an F-prefixed serial number. That indicates that it is tuned for A-442.
I believe that that means that the tuning barrel is a silly millimeter or two longer than the A-440 instruments.
The through-tenon G# tone hole hasn't been a problem for me. It accumulates cork grease --but that is easy to get out of the tenon hole using a q-tip. You need to get the pad out of the way to clean out the socket-part of the hole.
The Ab/G3 holes through the upper tenon and the lower joing socket line up ok when the bridge mechanism is engaged, so that's not a problem.
The center joint on my horn can be pulled to blatten the lower notes without closing up the hole so much that it makes the G# sound fuzzy.
I don't think that the thru-tenon hole is any problem --and it helps keep the G# from filling with spit --compared to the conventional G# tone hole that's on the lower/side of the horn.
Bob Phillips
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-12 02:07
Quote:
I don't think that the thru-tenon hole is any problem --and it helps keep the G# from filling with spit --compared to the conventional G# tone hole that's on the lower/side of the horn. Not to mention, when I had a FB Amati (minus the low Eb) with the thru-tenon hole, the C# was EXTREMELY clear. No fuzziness to it whatsoever. Only thing is you lose a few alternate fingerings in the altissimo. But it's a trade-off I'd gladly make if I was given a choice again.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-12-12 06:42
Thanks very much for your replies.
>> I don't think that the thru-tenon hole is any problem
Bob,
I had assumed that the hole in the tenon would weaken the joint, but having looked carefully at the photos, the hole appears to have a metal ring inserted, as well a ring around the end of the tenon.
I've never played one of these before, so I'm tempted to buy it. Having searched the forum and read about the pros and cons of the art. G#, I rather like the idea. The main con seems to be the loss of fingering choice for altissimo F.
No big deal for me since I try to avoid playing that high anyway!
Steve
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