 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mike L
Date: 2002-11-10 18:47
I have recently inherited a Buffet clarinet. This instument is in standard Bb and appears standard except for the bell. This horn has a metal upturned bell like an alto,but this is definatly a regular ,but old,Bb. The Buffet stamp and matching serial #"s are also on the the bell that must be original.What is this?
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-11-10 21:39
Two keyed body sections?
Measure the overall length, from mouthpiece tip to the bottom turn (bow) on the bell.
How many RH spatula keys?
Is there a key on the bell, itself?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-11-10 21:57
Mike, you may have a near-museum type horn, I recall a thread-posts discussion here, not long back, re: "upturned-bell" insts. I cant recall the names, but Saxello might help in a Phorum Search. Others, please help. Don
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-11-10 22:21
There was a thread about "saxonettes" a while back. The saxonette is a Bb soprano (I think) clarinet with an upturned bell--similar to the bell on a saxello--and a metal crook or curved barrel. Very sharp looking axe in my opinion but from what I gather they didn't play very well.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-11-10 23:51
I seem to recall a thread some while ago about these, Mike. I don't recall whether there is a particular term for them but Robert's memory is no doubt much better than mine and "Saxonette" is most probably correct. They look cool but don't play worth... well, use any term you wish after you've played one, but they're reportedly not remarkable in that respect. I've seen several pictures of them, mostly Albert systems. They look like regular clarinets except for the curved metal barrel and bell. It might be classified as a 'fad' or 'period' instrument since it seems they came in and went out of style in a rather short time span. Interesting to a collector, I suppose, but not remarkable for their playing characteristics according to those who've tooted 'em.
You might have a nice collectable piece, especially a Buffet, and it's probably worth a tidy sum of money to the right party - if that's what you're wishing to find out about. If so, you might do better at finding out its actual worth by posting to the EarlyClarinet site.
Mentioning Saxellos, I saw a Saxello (soprano sax) just last week that had a little V shaped metal accessory that, when inserted 'upside down' into a slot in back, a few inches up from the curved bell, allowed it to stand tripod-like on a flat surface - it's own cute little semi-self-contained A-frame stand. Spiffy lookin' horn
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-11-11 02:07
bob gardner asked: "What or how much of an effect does the bell have on over all sound.?"
That has been a topic of almost endless speculation. Steve Fox has produced a totally straight-bore clarinet, which he says is quite stuffy. Despite this, my suggestion (and belief) is that the answer is "nothing good." Some others disagree a whole lot. I have used a straight "foot" on an ordinary Clarinet with some success, but the actual audio spectrum of the instrument was not analyzed (due to my lack of proper equipment for such a test). Maybe someday we will actually know.
Some believe the best-sounding Clarinets avoid "bell tones" by extending the bell a bit and placing a perpetually open hole through it. This seems curiously odd to me, puitting a bell on the instrument and then adding a tone hole so that the bell's function is minimized.
"Bell tones" can be awful. I recently heard a broadcast of an interesting and generally well-done clarinet solo (unfortunately, I did not recognize the selection nor do I know who was playing). When a low E was hit, the tone sounded like something that might have come from behind a hunting blind. A Goose Call couldn't have sounded more raucous.
Regards,
John
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Author: Willie
Date: 2002-11-11 02:59
Maybe its an Opera bell, designed to help project the sound up and out of the pit. Though most of the sound "leaks" out ot the tone ports, I don't think they helped much.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-11-11 04:10
I've heard that the "opera bells" were popular with some of the early New Orleans jazz clarinetists. But, as Willie said, I doubt if they had much of an effect on projection.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2002-11-12 02:15
A metal clarinet that I own has a curved bell with "Buescher" on it. Dr. Albert Rice told me that it was a "clariphone". It plays like a metal clarinet, ok, but not as nice as my R13. One of these days, it will be auctioned on ebay.
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