 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SuffolkSaxhams
Date: 2019-09-29 16:53
Hello all, I'm currently looking at buying a low C Buffet bass. Seems to be from around the 1960,s, fantastic condition and plays nicely. One question concerns that it has an enormous bell, much larger than is usual. Be grateful for any comments on these bells - the whys and wherefores, drawbacks if any. Are they for volume or what? Many thanks in anticipation.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2019-09-30 13:40
What I was told by one of Buffet's bass clarinet specialists is that it's an old model made for a short time (can't remember when, maybe 70s), with a great sound, but intonation, ergonomics, evenness are not as good as other (mostly newer) models. There was no advantage to the longer bell, just a different design.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2019-09-30 15:46
Attachment: r13eb.jpg (60k)
Bell shapes are constantly changing - the same is true with Leblanc basses as some had much smaller bells than others depending on what they happened to find worked best at the time.
I had a 1962 Buffet Eb clarinet and that had a really short bell compared to some earlier and later models I've seen which were a much tighter fit in the case (see attachment), so Buffet and others are constantly changing things according to what works best at any given moment.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2019-09-30 15:47)
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Author: JTJC
Date: 2019-09-30 16:54
Having designed a clarinet and considered the effects of bore, barrel and bell on intonation, resonance etc, why would they go about changing a bell at different times. In another thread, it’s suggested that the makers’ barrels are best - they know best, rather than after-market makers. Doesn’t Buffet’s practice of changing bells in the way Chris P identifies suggest they may not always get it right?
On the other hand, I can see that designers might need to keep themselves in a job between major re-designs or before the next new line of clarinets.
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Author: SuffolkSaxhams
Date: 2019-09-30 21:01
thanks for your comments. I've discovered that the bass is indeed from 1975 and the bell is marked 'Buffet' so probably the original.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2019-10-01 13:58
It's all trial and error with instruments and bass clarinets are no exception.
And sometimes it takes the word of one influential player to have makers change things for the benefit of that individual, but not necessarily for everyone else's benefit.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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