 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Neil
Date: 2005-03-29 00:46
But where should I take my Kalashen's Kleartone? ![[huh]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie11.gif)
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Author: susieray
Date: 2005-03-29 01:25
I saw that article the other day and sent the link to my friend Joe; he has a 1962 R13 that Mitchell Lurie picked out for him, (through Bob Gilbert) and he really got a kick out of the article.
BTW, it's sooooo nice to have the serial number search working again!!!
Sue
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Author: Bill
Date: 2005-04-01 03:28
1967 is the magic year for me. I have an "A" serial # 95xxx and a Bb serial # 93xxx. I know GBK has a special appreciation for Buffets of this era. I'm wild about them.
And speaking of restoring gold leaf, Vytas Krass restored the logo on my Bb so much so that it really does look like it is new.
Any other 1967 aficionados out there (besides Mitchell)?
Bill.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-04-01 04:03
Bill wrote:
> 1967 is the magic year for me. I have an "A" serial # 95xxx and
> a Bb serial # 93xxx. I know GBK has a special appreciation for
> Buffets of this era. I'm wild about them.
Yes...Although I have a number of newer (1975- 1986) Buffets, my primary orchestral set of Buffets is a 1967 Bb (96xxx) and a 1965 A (86xxx).
Over the past 10 years, I have yet to find any new horn which is even close. (Although it has been reported here that some of the more recently tested Buffets have been superb).
BTW - I am slowly falling in love with my most recent acquisition - a 1962 Buffet Bb (#70xxx) which was found very carefully stored and unplayed for the past 30 years. Steve Fowler redid it from top to bottom and it now plays like a dream...GBK
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-04-01 11:57
What about the bore - do you prefer the shiny, completely smooth bore, or do you like it mre grainy?
Jules Serpentini used to prefer the grainy bore for his clarinets and students. (don't know if anyone here knows that name or not - he was big in Philadelphia as a teacher/phil. orch player)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-04-01 13:05
David...
Interesting question that is not likely to have a definitive answer.
From David Hite:
"...In selecting barrels with the best sound, players have found that the softer the wood, the better. Hard, shiny finished wood will not produce nearly as good a sound as softer, grainier wood with more open pores. (And, of course, the softer, better sounding wood is more likely to crack during the cold winter months!)..."
On the other hand, most older Buffets (which I prefer the sound of) that I have played and seen, have had shiny bores - some to a mirror finish.
However, to be fair, this might have come about through years of swabbing and/or oiling.
I think that more important than the shinyness or roughness of the bore is the precision in which the tone holes are cut (no chips, no splinters, etc...) and the reaming of the bore (no chatter marks). These have a marked effect on the tuning and response...GBK
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-04-01 13:12
I have a spare Buffet Bb from the late 50's which (sounds really good) has a grainy bore.
Yup, a badly cut clarinet is a badly cut clarinet - no matter what the grainyness is.
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Author: jim S.
Date: 2005-04-01 15:54
Swiney said Moennig said that the lighter (softer wood?) bells also were preferred by his clientele.
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Author: jim S.
Date: 2005-04-01 16:04
Serpentini was a Bonade student. Could that light wood, grainy bore have been part of the secret of that very resonant, crystalline Bonade sound? I think the light wood is the heartwood of the tree and is a small percentage of the total wood of the log. Any experts out there to confirm this?
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Author: mystery science dieter
Date: 2005-04-01 16:10
>>>Could that light wood, grainy bore have been part of the secret of that very resonant, crystalline Bonade sound?<<<
No.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2005-04-01 22:26
Heart wood may seem lighter in colour simply because it may be of sufficiently pleasant appearance that the manufacturer has not painted it with a black dye, as is very often done with clarinets.
I certainly would not expect heart wood to be lighter in density.
GBK quotes Hite as saying
"...In selecting barrels with the best sound, players have found that the softer the wood, the better. Hard, shiny finished wood will not produce nearly as good a sound as softer, grainier wood with more open pores. (And, of course, the softer, better sounding wood is more likely to crack during the cold winter months!)..."
This would suggest that balsa wood would make an excellent-sounding barrel. Interesting, but difficult to believe, because it would be inferior in containing the fluctuating air pressure - i.e. the source of the vibration hence tone. Go a few more steps down this road and we would be making the body from flexible rubber. When I try to play flexible rubber, diggeridoo-style, it is inferior in tone and response.
Just pondering... :-)
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The Clarinet Pages
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