 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-04-06 15:58
Attachment: Spiegentha Tuning.jpg (140k)
You may have noticed my bitching about the intonation of my 1961 Buffet Full Boehm Bb clarinet.
In response to one of my complaining posts, David Spiegenthal wrote with some suggestions as to how to customize the instrument to improve its playability. After some soul searching (did I want a stranger to "take wood" out of my wonderful (?) old horn?
Well, I sent him the instrument last week; and it came back this week greatly improved.
I've attached a chart showing the difference that David's minstrations made to this instrument. The chart shows what comes out of the clarinet for all the fingerings I know --including some that just won't do except as rapidly passing tones.
Basically, he reduced the tuning errors by as much as 30-cents. The clarion is almost perfect --well withing an easy "lip" of being in tune. Most amazingly, look at the Altissimo! Its clean. No more screechingly out of tune fumbles.
The painfully flat lower Chaleumu is GONE; I can start and hold those low F#s with confidence.
The troublesome notes around the bottom line of the staff can be tuned up without compromising my tone structure.
I won't tell you how much I spent on this transformation except to tell you that David charges far too little for his genius.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-04-06 17:37
Hmmm... David, would you be willing to doctor my set of Series 9 full Boehms?
Shame I'm not in the US, otherwise I'd be sending them to you tomorrow!
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-04-06 19:10
Thanks, all -- to quote an old friend of mine, "I'd rather be lucky than good".
And Chris P -- overseas shipping works very well, though it can be a bit slow (depending on how long things get tied up in Customs at the receiving end). FYI, I had sent Bob P a loaner clarinet so he'd having something to play while his instrument was being worked on, and I'd be willing to do the same for anyone else on the BB.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-04-06 22:57
OK, Dave (Spiegenthal), you shameless I'll tell the gang here about your loaner.
Dave sent me a reincarnated Carl Fischer wooden Bb so that I could keep my (deligent) playing and practicing schedule while Boofy was in his care. NOW, this is really something. A little known, but greatly disrespected hunk of wood.
BUT, this one had evidence of shifted tone holes, leather pads and a couple of "aftermarket" keys.
And, ...
It plays wonderfully. It instantly solved several of my playing problems. Of course, it is in tune with itself. It makes a wonderful, liquid tone (I didn't know what that meant until now). AND, it brings the altissimo into easy reach --no harder to get those high notes than those of the clarion register. The alti is in tune; all of the alternate fingerings work; its there when you want it; and those notes blend with the loudness and harmonics of the clarion so smoothly that no one knows I've been reaching for them on Boofy.
HAHA, my Buffet now has that same facility.
KOOL
Bob Phillips
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-04-07 05:21
Too bad about the BB's policy to ignore spelling errors. Sorry about the extra "ER."
Bob Phillips
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2006-04-07 12:36
I teach high school physics, and built a lesson around that chart. Most of my students are also in the band, so when we work on waves and sound I can do some fun things. That chart fit my lesson plans beautifully. Thanks to all !
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