 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2013-10-31 02:26
looking for info on Kleartone Professional MPC..
who made it? when? what strength reed does it need? how does it stack up against other brands? thnx
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2013-10-31 17:58
Kleartone was a stencil brand most often associated with the M.J. Kalashen music shop that was located in NYC from ~1903 until ~1931. Reportedly the Kleartone instruments were sourced from manufacturers in Europe as well as in the US so it will be very difficult to tell just who exactly made your mouthpiece. Unless someone else started to use the Kleartone brand at a later date you would probably be safe in assuming that your mouthpiece was manufactured sometime between 1903 and 1931.
The required reed strength cannot be determined without knowing what kind of facing the mouthpiece has. Assuming that the facing is in good condition your best bet would be to start out with an intermediate strength reed like a #3 and then adjust to a harder or softer reed as necessary.
It's tough say how the Kleartone mouthpieces stack up against other brands since they very well may have been sourced from multiple manufacturers. The few that I have run across I would probably put it the "decent but not great" category. With a good facing they can probably play quite well but I seriously doubt they will ever be sought after.
Post Edited (2013-10-31 19:56)
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2013-11-18 14:18
Steve,
thnx for the info. I finally got the horn sealed enough, clipped VD blue #3 and tried. Seems to be working fine, but it is hard to blow anything above high-C. with Lurie #3 it was not playable at all. Waiting for 3.5 GC to arrive.
It works fine, well in tune but not sure I like the sound. This is eefer; still too piercing/oboe like.. definitely not for Bolero. Well it would have to do for now, can't afford good Eb MPC at this point.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-11-18 18:13
Bolero is all (and only) about the hypnotic ostinato, overlaid with the ever-changing aurora of tone colors and crescendo. It's like a kaleidoscope.
I think the Eb should sound distinctly *unlike* the Bbs, much brighter, thinner and in fact piercing. It's the same as the difference between a flute and a piccolo.
Ken Shaw
Post Edited (2013-11-18 18:52)
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2013-11-19 02:29
Ken,
thank you comment.. but it sounds so shrill it could make Jessica Phillips shiver. Proly just inexperienced operator and wrong reed to blame for. we'll see how it goes, but looks like Moba mpc is definitely off my shopping list; just not my cup of tea
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