 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Shelley Owens
Date: 2001-09-20 18:41
I need an A clarinet and found this one on Ebay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1465465891&r=0&t=0&showTutorial=0&ed=1001096351&indexURL=0&rd=1
What is the purpose of the donut key, and does anyone know the date of manufacture? Would this be an okay clarinet for around 400-500?
Thanks for your knowledge!
Shelley
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Author: Stephen Froehlich
Date: 2001-09-20 18:49
For a clarinet old enough to say LP (low pitch), its in excellent shape. It also has the wrap-around register key. I know someone will be far more familiar with this instument than I, so I'll leave it to them to explain.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-09-20 18:53
The seller is unsure of the serial number and those two numbers yield a major difference in age. However the fact that it is actually marked LP and has the wrap around register would indicate that the lower serial number would be the correct one. Based on the serial number list here on sneezy, that means it was made in 1932.
The donut might have something to do with the fact that it has the 3rd ring on the upper joint for the forked Eb/Bb fingering. Other clarinets with the forked Eb/Bb often have a small auxiliary pad in the neighborhood of the 2nd finger, which I don't see on this horn.
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Author: Stephen Froehlich
Date: 2001-09-20 19:32
Oh, I see, instead of the extra pad, it simply partially closes the existing tone hole. Not an unelegant way to approach the problem.
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Author: Shelley Owens
Date: 2001-09-20 21:02
Thanks for all your responses. More questions:
1. Explain to me what LP (low pitch) is.
2. What is a wrap-around register key?
Considering the age, the donut key, the wrap-around register key, etc., would this be a playable/decent instrument for a community orchestra? What drawbacks are there to getting this horn?
Thanks very much.
Shelley
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-09-20 21:47
Shelley Owens wrote:
>
> Thanks for all your responses. More questions:
>
> 1. Explain to me what LP (low pitch) is.
Once upon a time instruments were built to different pitch standards depending on the location. They varied widely. Instruments built to different pitch standards (unless extremely close) could not be successfully played in the same group. In the 1880s, an international convention tried to establish A=435 herz as a baseline but this was largely ignored. In the 1890s, two pitch standards became common. They were A=456 herz (High Pitch) and A = 440 herz (Low Pitch). Others however did exist. Low Pitch is the same as our standard pitch today although many groups, especially Europe) tune slightly higher (A=442). The old High Pitch is just enough different that the A is about halfway between our modern A and Bb pitches. From the mid-1890s to sometime in the 1930s, horns were typically but not always marked as to which pitch standard they were built to (LP or HP). In the mid 1930s, A=440 herz was officially adopted as the international pitch. Sometime in the 1930s, it looks like they stopped marking horns with the pitch standard.
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> 2. What is a wrap-around register key?
>
The hole and pad for the register are on the front of the instrument instead of the back even though the thumb lever is on the back.
> Considering the age, the donut key, the wrap-around register
> key, etc., would this be a playable/decent instrument for a
> community orchestra? What drawbacks are there to getting this
> horn?
If it is in good repair, yes it would be a very acceptable instrument for a community orchestra. It was probably a professional level instrument in its day. The main drawback would be that you can't try it out before you buy. Try to get a money back guarantee if you do bid. Look for cracks for one thing. Check the key action. Is it loose and sloppy? Or does everything fit well with a smooth action?
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Author: William Hughes
Date: 2001-09-21 02:17
My 1926 Buffet A is configured this way. The donut ring also closes the pad immediately above it. I assume that is just what Stephen has said, but I wasn't clear myself till I looked at it.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2001-09-21 20:07
Once I owned a donut key A Buffet clarinet. It is no better or worse than other Buffets of that vintage. The donut key is, of course, to implement the LH forked Eb/Bb. It is a complication I prefer not to have, being more difficult to maintain and repair than the basic design. The feel of the third finger on the wood is also preferable to me over the ring.
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