 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SteveT
Date: 2002-03-13 15:30
I have Buescher Bb clarinet (serial #74852). A few problems and observations:
1. Its a Buescher Aristocrat and I don't believe the Aristocrat was manufactured in that serial # range. The clarinet is grenadilla except for barrel and bell. I have done a lot of research on the net and here on "Sneezy" and cannot find a good date on this instrument. Any help with this would be appreciated.
2. I thought it was an inferior instrument when I purchased it, but was quite pleased with the sound. I recently have been thinking about purchasing a new one, BUT in play tests against several Buffets (E-11's and R-13's), WITH MY MOUTHPIECE (VANDOREN B-45), this clarinet has beaten them all for intonation, timber and playability. Obviously no problem here, but a bit puzzling. I did change out the barrel that came with it in favor of a Monnig type barrel and that spruced things up quite a bit. Mechanically this instrument seems to be very sound and well made.
Obviously I won't change clarinets until I can find one that plays better. I have to wonder if I lucked into the one in a million, or is this clarinet a better grade instrument than I initially thought. ????????
Any thoughts????
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Author: jbuter
Date: 2002-03-13 16:19
Steve,
Your clarinet is similar to the older wooden Signet clarinet. Selmer took over the Buescher Co in the early sixties and kept the name. Selmer produced them in the same plant as their Bundy and Signet line. Selmer and LeBlanc marketed a wooden bodied clarinet supplied with a resonite bell and barrel at one time. They both listed these instruments as "Signet Special" and "Normandy Special" respectively. I try to find wooden bells and barrels, from my cadaver pile to put with them, when possible for resale. The clarinet you describe have a bore modled after the older Selmer Balanced Tone. That's why you get the full sound you describe. It probably dates from the sixties.
jbutler
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Author: SteveT
Date: 2002-03-14 13:42
Do wood bells make much of a difference in sound quality over the resonite?? If so, it might be worth it to go out and find one. Where would I look??
thanks
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Author: jbuter
Date: 2002-03-14 15:40
Steve,
Take a trip to your local music store and ask if they have any cadaver Signet clarinets. Signet 100's or Signet Solists will do since the barrels and bells are the same except for the labeling. I bet they would let you have them for not too much. You might want to bring the repair tech a coffee and danish (or similar) as a bribe. I've gone to other stores to find missing parts and have just been given to me. I also take them out to lunch once in a while also!
jbutler
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