 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Larry
Date: 2000-10-02 20:22
For those of you interested in Buffet clarinets, Boosey&Hawkes is putting on a Woodwind Showcase in New York City on October 3, 4 and 5. According to the announcement: "You are cordially invited to attend a special NYC presentation of professional instruments from Buffet Crampon, Keilwerth and Schreiber. Clarinets, oboes, saxophones and bassoons will be available for you to play test and purchase through the music retailer of your choice. Woodwind master, Francois Kloc, will be available to assit you in your selection as well as adjust your present instrument -- regardless of make." Appointments recommended but not required. Location: Empire Hotel, Room 524, 44 W. 63rd Street, New York City. Phone number for appointments/info: 847-816-2500.
I picked up this information at a music shop in New York and haven't seen any postings or other publicity. Perhaps some of you have received invitations in the mail. In any event, this might be an opportunity to answer for yourselves oft posted questions about R13s, RCs, Prestiges, Elites, Greenlines, Vintages, etc. etc.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-10-05 18:15
I went there this morning, and Francois worked his magic on my Bb, A and bass clarinets. A few simple adjustments and they all play noticeably better.
Anyone in New York should run over right away. It's not crowded, and great people keep walking in -- Steve Hartman and David Weber while I was there.
They have a bunch of instruments, but not a complete selection:
3-4 each of
-- R13 Bb and A
-- R13 Prestige Bb and A
-- R13 Greenline Bb and A
-- Vintage Bb
1 each of
-- Elite Bb
-- RC in A
-- RC Prestige in A
-- E11 in Eb
-- R13 in Eb
-- RC Prestige in Eb
-- a new upper-level student model grenadilla instrument in C
-- Prestige bass to low C
I was a bit disappointed that there were no Bb RC instruments. Maybe they had been sold.
The Vintage Bb has a wonderful feel. It just nestles into your hands. The outside diameter is more than a millimeter smaller than the current R13, which makes a big difference.
The Prestige has a resonance hole in the bell and an extra key to bring the E/B twelfth in tune. It played well and with a larger sound than Prestiges I have tried.
The C clarinet played quite well, though not with the flexibility of tone of the top models. They have adopted the Leblanc "jump" style for the trill keys. The rep said it's made in Germany and will sell for around $1000.
They also have a bunch of Chadash barrels to try.
Francois was lovely, and his English is much better than it used to be. (He said he married his English teacher.)
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2000-10-06 16:49
Sorry -- It's the Elite, not the Prestige, that has the resonance key for low E/middle B and played "big."
Also, Francois Kloc told me that most C#/G# pads are set much too low. The way to tell is to play low F, F#, G, G# and A, and open the key (making no other change). You should be able to get a fairly clear multiphonic 2 octaves up. If not, keep bending the key more open until you do. He did this on my R13 Bb and A, and it made a noticeable improvement on all the notes using that key.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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