 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Gary
Date: 2002-03-08 02:24
I have an old Buffet Clarinet made in 1897 ( serial # L140 )but I notice it is shorter than my Bb and larger than the Eb clarinet. This clarinet is 22 inches long fro the top of the barrel to the end of the bell.
Could this be a clarinet in the key of C?
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-03-08 02:50
Could be.
Try matching it to another instrument. That's the easiest way I know, unless you have a tuning fork or something
That'll also let you know if it's standard pitch or high pitch.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-03-08 04:13
A C should be closer to 20" from the top of the barrel to the end of the bell, 22" - 23" including mouthpiece. My guess is that you have a high-pitch Bb. Look on the upper joint near the logo for the letters HP (high pitch) or LP (low pitch). Near (probably above or below) them (if you can find them), there will probably be another letter, either B or C. The B indicates Bb pitch. The C would indicate C pitch.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-03-08 04:32
stop by your local piano and this question will be easily solved
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Author: Dee
Date: 2002-03-08 16:37
A high pitch Bb is only about an inch shorter than today's Bb.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-03-08 18:26
My 1920's plastic Conn C , {LP}, measures exactly 23" from tip of mp [shortened about 1/16" for pitch "comfortability"] to bell. I guess I vote for a HP Bb also. Don
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-03-09 06:05
Dee wrote:
"A high pitch Bb is only about an inch shorter than today's Bb."
Which would make it about 25" including mouthpiece or 22" without (which is, perhaps, exactly the point you were making).
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Gary
Date: 2002-03-09 15:54
It is a half step lower in pitch from my Bb. With my mouthpeice it measures 23 inches in length.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-03-09 18:28
Sorry Gary but now I'm really confused. Earlier you said the length from the top of the barrel to the end of the bell was 22". Now you say the total length, including mouthpiece is 23". Surely you don't have a 1" mouthpiece? Also, if the instrument is significantly shorter than your Bb, its pitch should be higher rather than lower. Could you clarify this for us?
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Gary
Date: 2002-03-09 20:21
My error; it is 25 inches with the mouthpiece. On the upper section under the Buffet logo is ?BREVETES SGOG Made in France?
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-03-09 23:59
Gary,
If you look with a magnifying glass, is there anything above the Buffet logo? Also, are you sure the pitch is lower than your Bb? A C (low pitch) would be a step higher. A high pitch Bb could be about a half-step higher. An A would be a half-step lower but would also be around 27" in length.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: Gary
Date: 2002-03-10 02:07
It is definately a half step lower than my Bb (a G on the samll clarinet is a G# on my Bb and C on the Bb is a B on the small clarinet.
On the top section I don't see anything else other than the Buffet logo with Brevetes SGDG Made N France.
The lower section has the same logo with F underneath then Made N France below it.
Here are the mm measurements of both clarinets:
Bb ?C
Barrel 66 60
Top 225 210
Lower 255 245
Bell 105 100
Same mouthpeice on both
The bore is about the same with ?C top bore ~16 and my Bb ~15
Thanks for all your help. This is an old Buffet 1897.
Gary
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Author: chuck
Date: 2002-03-10 02:46
Gary: Your smaller instrument is a half pitch higher: you play a G on the small one and must play a G# to match it on your Bb. Betcha it's a high pitch Bb. Chuck
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Author: Gary
Date: 2002-03-10 03:04
If it is a high pitch Bb, what can I do to get it tuned to the standard pitch of a Bb clarinet?
I like it but not pitched as it is now. I bought it as a Bb but never imagined there was a difference in length.
Thanks everyone,
Gary
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2002-03-10 18:18
Hi Gary,
I think Chuck has you diagnosed correctly.
You can try a longer barrel and you might be able to find a mouthpiece that lowers your pitch somewhat. However, while these may lower the pitch of your instrument, you may find that its intonation is hopeless at the lower level. Of course, you might get lucky.
The problem is that a properly made high pitch instrument isn't just a low pitch instrument with a short barrel. If the instrument was made properly, the relative location and size of its tone holes will be slightly different than for a low pitch instrument. A good repair tech might be able to tune the instrument by a combination of adding a longer barrel and then adjusting the size of some tone holes to bring the instrument in tune with itself but the cost may be more than it's worth.
If the instrument were mine, I would recognize and enjoy it for what it is -- an antique high pitch instrument. You could use it for solo clarinet works. If a longer barrel doesn't work, trying to make the clarinet something that it isn't will likely ruin it and disappoint you. If you really have no use for it as a high-pitch instrument, you might want to consider selling it to someone who does and putting the money towards a newer low-pitch clarinet.
Best regards,
jnk
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