 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Lynn
Date: 2004-12-20 17:39
I recently purchased a 1935 Buffet from Wichita Band Instrument Company. Needless to say I'm extremely well-pleased with finding a horn this old that was, obviously, played little or none. WBIC's new pad, cork, and plating job makes the instrument look and play like new. The horn came with a Woodwind Co. mouthpiece labled K9. I'm wondering the approximate age of this mp and how it would compare to more recently produced products such as Van Doren, Selmer, etc.
Happy holidays to all!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-12-20 18:11
I have several WW mps, some dating back to the 1930's [my alto sax Meliphone Special, not as good as the Selmer C and D for my Mark 6]. A more recent Educator [student] model with a G8 facing is very good on my Bb's . Look in the catalogs under WW mps, and "study" the many gradations in facings available for the Bb's , and you will find your "canine" K9, no dog tho. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: earlthomas
Date: 2004-12-20 18:22
Congratulations on your purchase of a 1935 Buffet. My Bb is 1938 and the A is 1928 and they're both remarkable and fine playing instruments. As for the mouthpiece - does it have "steel-ebonite" contained in the label? If it does, it, too is probably around 1935. My first (metal Conn) was purchased then and the WW mouthpiece that came with it had "steel-enonite" stamped on it. It was a great mouthpiece. But, that may be a material I.D. that Woodwind used long thereafter. In the Forties, Woodind Mpc facings were very often used by many pros. Numbers like G7, K7 and the accompanying *'s were quite popular. Again, congratulations!!! I have a feeling that the 9 refers to the measurement of the lay of the mouthpiece. You've got a winner there, to be sure. So much for the "blown-out" theory, IMHO.
Post Edited (2004-12-20 18:24)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-12-20 19:12
Quote:
You've got a winner there, to be sure. So much for the "blown-out" theory, IMHO. Ba-ZING!![[whoa]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie10.gif)
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Lynn
Date: 2004-12-20 20:24
Earl.....
I've never subscribed to the blowout theory, either. I just know that my #18XXX plays much easier and is considerably more responsive than the latest offerings from Buffet are. It reminds me very much of the R13 I played in college forty-one years ago.
Thanks, too, for the information on the mp. It does, indeed, have the inscription "Steel Ebonite" engraved on it. I only bought the R13 a few weeks ago and have been playing it with an Eddie Daniels custom mp that I purchased from E.D. this summer in Santa Fe. When I changed to the WC K9 it was literally the difference between night and day. This mp is very responsive, particularly in the upper altissimo. Isn't it amazing how we all seem to keep chipping away at a mp/reed/barrel combination that works? Blind luck, I think, has led me to the WC mp and a Robert Scott barrel. Van Doren "select" # 3 1/2 reeds (with lots of tweaking) make playing fun again.
Happy holidays,
Lynn
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-12-21 13:29
Quote:
Isn't it amazing how we all seem to keep chipping away at a mp/reed/barrel combination that works? To me however, it's part of the fun/joy of being a clarinetist. Trying out the options.
Imagine if you will skiing down a mountain. You're on a double black, and you've skiied that double black so many times you are great. One of the best on that run. Why not have fun and try other runs? Maybe you'll find one you like better, maybe you won't, but if the option is there, there's no harm in trying it says I.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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