 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2024-01-12 18:06
With low clarinets, a good rule of thumb is to set the pads as high as you can go without being excessive (in other words as high as you can go without grinding off metal or using paper thin key corks). Alto clarinets especially need all the venting they can get, for some reason many manufacturers set the pad heights too low from the factory which doesn't help with the reputation of alto clarinets as a whole... If unsure, it's better to have them set too high than too low.
Older Buffet alto and bass clarinets work best with thin pads for everything from RH3 up and thicker pads for the Ab/Eb key down. Generally I get the best results when using Ferree's B32s on the upper end and Ferree's B42s (which are actually sax pads) on the 5 or 6 largest pads.
For synthetic pads, I would probably either use Valentino .110" Greenbacks or Master Series pads on the upper end and Valentino bass clarinet pads for everything from the Ab/Eb key down.
I would probably not recommend sandblasting or lacquering nickel silver keys. Personally I like leaving them as is and letting them get a nice patina, but if that's not your style I would send them to Anderson Silver Plating and have them plated in silver. It will be a few hundred dollars, but you will have a very nice looking horn when you are finished!
Best of luck getting it fixed up, these older Buffet alto clarinets are great players!
-JDbassplayer
|
|
|
Klarnt |
2024-01-12 11:53 |
   |
Re: 1954 Buffet Alto Clarinet Pads & Keys |
|
jdbassplayer |
2024-01-12 18:06 |
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
