 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-12-24 16:40
SACRILEGE!
(unless it's beyond repair I think an instrument deserves better than to end as a lamp) ![[frown]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie2.gif)
(is this a Noblet Artist or am I wrong?)
--
Ben
Post Edited (2008-12-24 16:42)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2008-12-24 16:45
tictactux wrote:
> SACRILEGE!
>
> (unless it's beyond repair I think an instrument deserves
> better than to end as a lamp)
If it's just a threaded rod through the clarinet and the clarinet is suitably protected there's no real damage done (except perhaps to aesthetics ).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2008-12-24 22:32
As the owner of a metal clarinet that is a very similar lamp (rod through the center; no change to the clarinet), I think the test should be, "would it be playable with no more than a little work?" If the answer is yes, it should be offered as a donation to a school.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hinotehud ★2017
Date: 2008-12-25 01:15
Beautiful job Ralph! Do you need to finger C# to turn it on?
Keith
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2008-12-25 01:28
This was by no means my first instrument lamp, and it is always my rule not to alter the instrument. The lamp rod is taped to prevent scratching the bore. The register vent tube on this instrument is short, giving plenty of room for the lamp rod.
I won't say what kind of instrument this is, but I was surprised enough when I opened the case to double-check whether this was indeed the correct clarinet. It is a nice looking, 31-year-old instrument, with a couple of option keys, and the silver plating in good shape. This may be enough information to allow some people to correctly guess the make and model.
The owner, a college freshman who is not going to make music her living, is thrilled with her new intermediate level Buffet. Her teacher said that her old clarinet plays flat with a standard mouthpiece, is old enough, and the last overhaul failed to fix some significant problems. A play test corroborated most of the teacher's findings.
This is the owner's grandfather's clarinet, and as such it has significant emotional significance. She (having seen my living room) talked about turning it into a lamp, but it was her parents that asked me to do this. I will try to report her reaction this weekend.
And no, it uses a standard switch. My trombone lamp turns on by pulling on the slide, though.
Post Edited (2008-12-25 01:31)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-12-26 14:13
Looks like a perfectly nice Leblanc to me. Glad to hear that the operation might be reversible. Nice layout. All it's lacking is a low Eb.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2008-12-26 15:19)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2008-12-26 18:36
Jeff.
You win the prize. Serial number says this Pete Fountain model Leblanc was made in 1977.
73 es Congratulations de AA8RK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-12-26 18:50
Tnx de N8WR!
Yeah, it looked like one of the earlier Fountain Models, but I wasn't exactly sure. I remember a kid at the Ohio State Fair Band back in the late '70s who had one similar, but without the LH Eb Ab lever. He sounded great on his, but I still liked my 1971 vintage R13 better at the time. For some reason, the keywork just fit my hands better.
BTW.... AA8KR is a good friend. Now I know AA8RK, too! ![[toast]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley15.gif) It you make it to the Hazel Park ARC swap nest month, be sure to look me up!
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2008-12-26 18:53)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2008-12-26 23:45
"Her teacher said that her old clarinet plays flat with a standard mouthpiece, is old enough, and the last overhaul failed to fix some significant problems. A play test corroborated most of the teacher's findings."
can't help thinking she could have had a ground up rebuild for less than the price of an intermediate buffet. maybe a different tech and a different mouthpiece is all that's needed; as for "is old enough", there are plenty of great horns around a lot older than 31 years.....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2008-12-27 09:59
Young Katie is thrilled with her clarinet, and is also to a lesser degree thrilled with her new lamp.
Chris: Yes a complete overhaul would cost less, but this clarinet would still play flat. The relative intonation was not acceptable to me with a short barrel. Bottom line: this clarinet is performing its owner's desired function.
A late friend had a 1924 Conn Bass Sax, with pristine original lacquer. Not a great low reeds player, I fingered the low Bb, breathed, and out came this incredible sound. It was an awesome LP horn, that we couldn't bring up to pitch to use in the pit. What a shame. Same issue here.
*warning - ham radio spoken here*
Jeff: Yes I have spoken with Phil AA8KR on the DART repeater. His callsign is first-issue but mine is a vanity. I am also an HPARC member, but have never been to a meeting - I use the repeater a fair amount and pay dues to support it. Catch me on the DART during my commute, typically 6:15AM - 7AM and 3:30PM - 4:15PM. I also listen on 146.92/100.0 and 442.500/107.2. Will try to make it to the swap.
Regards
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2008-12-27 12:09
I can't help but get the feeling this is sort of like an "assisted dying" scenario.
"Duh, my grampa can't function properly anymore, can we put him on the shelf?"
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-12-27 12:23
>>A late friend had a 1924 Conn Bass Sax, with pristine original lacquer. Not a great low reeds player, I fingered the low Bb, breathed, and out came this incredible sound. It was an awesome LP horn, that we couldn't bring up to pitch to use in the pit. What a shame. Same issue here.
>>
If you made a lamp out of a Pete Fountain Leblanc Noblet, I don't even want to think about what you or your late friend did to that 1924 Conn bass sax, valuable to musicians whether it can play in an ensemble with modern instruments or not. I play and love a 1926 Conn bass sax that I had restored after the previous owner had dropped and rather badly damaged it. With regret, I've passed up other formerly-fine old saxophones, including 19th century antiques, because some bleeping bleep had drilled holes in them and had done other catastrophic damage, in order to hang these splendid instruments on restaurant walls.
I've seen a silver-plated Conn baritone sax from the 1920s ruined this way. Apparently the sax stuck out too much from the wall. The bleeping decorator had not only removed the entire array of left-hand pinkie keys and drilled holes in more convenient places for hanging the sax -- but had simply sawed the back of the bell off, so the horn would hang nice and flat. I walked out of that restaurant without ordering anything and told the manager why.
A Noblet clarinet isn't in the same class of rarities as pro-quality bass and baritone saxophones from the 1920s, obviously, and I'm glad to hear that you think whatever you've done could be reversed -- but I'd like to see musicians vehemently reject the whole concept of turning musical instruments into decorations or household goods. Someone who sees that lamp might think it's a bright idea for that funky old boxwood and brass clarinet the kid can't figure out how to play because it hasn't got enough keys. By undoing the modification and restoring the clarinet to its original function, you could teach your daughter about musical values and encourage her to take positive action herself, if she sees someone about to do something horrible to a musical instrument.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-12-27 20:24
Actually, if it's a Pete Fountain model, as Ralph says, it's not a Noblet at all, but one of the higher-end Leblanc pro-level horns.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2008-12-30 02:53
Ralph: I didn't for a moment mean that you and your daughter can't do whatever you want with your old clarinets....if it was that flat even with a short barrel then I'm aghast at LeBlanc for making such a bad instrument....However, next time you have an old PF LeBlanc let me know and I'll trade you a leftover lamp from when we closed up the beach house....
must say though you seem to have stirred up some religious feelings here.....
cheers
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2008-12-30 04:40
Chris,
This doesn't bother me. What bothered me was when one of my acquaintances cut down two black walnut trees that "spoiled his view", and then burned up the $40K worth of hardwood in his fireplace. "It burned good," said he. I sure hope so.
Bottom line: grandpa's old Leblanc is still there intact. Who knows - that lamp may be disassembled yet.
Regards
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: modernicus
Date: 2009-01-06 16:25
Huh? While I hate to see beautiful trees cut down for arbitrary reasons, I grew up heating with wood in the midwest and we burned walnut, oak, etc... all day long. When I was a kid (I'm not that old now-31) a truly massive, straight walnut tree was damaged by a windstorm in our front yard. My dad thought it would be a shame for it to go to waste and called a local mom and pop sawmill (5-6 miles away) and asked if they wanted to buy this massive walnut trunk that was cut and ready to go. They told him it wasn't even worth their effort to come get it even if it was free. It ended up being a royal pain to deal with because of the bulk, but it ended up split and burned for heat eventually.
As for the clarinet, I equate turning one into a lamp with about the same level of taste as black velvet Elvis paintings, and entirely disrespectful. Why not build a glass-front display case to hang on the wall or something?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2009-01-06 21:26
If someone told me a walnut tree was not worth milling, much the same as for medical surgery, I would want a second opinion before turning the patient over to hospice.
A display case will take up more room than the owner has available.
The first instrument lamp I ever saw was once a reasonably good oboe that a band director friend had on his desk at school, and I have been respectfully turning instruments into lamps ever since. No screws, no sawing, no drilling.
Regards
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
