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The Genius of David Spiegenthaler: Taking Wood

Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-04-06 15:58
Attachment: Spiegentha Tuning.jpg (140k)

You may have noticed my bitching about the intonation of my 1961 Buffet Full Boehm Bb clarinet.

In response to one of my complaining posts, David Spiegenthal wrote with some suggestions as to how to customize the instrument to improve its playability. After some soul searching (did I want a stranger to "take wood" out of my wonderful (?) old horn?

Well, I sent him the instrument last week; and it came back this week greatly improved.

I've attached a chart showing the difference that David's minstrations made to this instrument. The chart shows what comes out of the clarinet for all the fingerings I know --including some that just won't do except as rapidly passing tones.

Basically, he reduced the tuning errors by as much as 30-cents. The clarion is almost perfect --well withing an easy "lip" of being in tune. Most amazingly, look at the Altissimo! Its clean. No more screechingly out of tune fumbles.

The painfully flat lower Chaleumu is GONE; I can start and hold those low F#s with confidence.

The troublesome notes around the bottom line of the staff can be tuned up without compromising my tone structure.

I won't tell you how much I spent on this transformation except to tell you that David charges far too little for his genius.

Bob Phillips

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