 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: andrewsong
Date: 2011-07-30 17:14
I guess I am representing my high school's music department right now as we are wondering thsi about the school's A clarinets. They are 2 A E-11 Germans and quite frankly...they are really stuffy. We've had proffessional musicians try them and they reported that they were stuffy. I've played other A's and some play quite similarly to my Bb. Is it jsut that the E-11 A's are bad or should we (school) invest in a higher quality A like R-13 and up? The school bought them only 4 years ago so it seems strange that they are this...."bad"... I have played lots of other A's and they are all much nicer.
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2011-07-30 17:42
First, make sure the pads seal. I've had success frreing up clarinets with different barrels. If that doesn't work, there is a more radical solution: One of my students had a stuffy Noblet A clarinet, and Guy Chadash reamed out the top of the lower joint. This fixed the problem, and it is quite a good instrument now. I don't know what he would charge you to do this.
Chris
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-07-30 19:21
If the ventings are good, check the toneholes (especially the top joint ones) aren't blocked up with fluff where they meet the bore - you can only do this by removing the keywork to have a proper look.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: William
Date: 2011-07-31 16:45
DB--let's not characterize the Buffet E-11's as all being "bad" or as you put it, "I wouldn't expect much more [implied, bad]" There are plenty of Buffet R-13's and other brand name A clarinets that have major response problems and uneven scales. I have a vintage Buffet R-13 that is not much better than a Louisville Slugger and another that plays so much like my very excellant Buffet Bb that I could easily get them confused with each other. And I have read on this BB about others with quite good E-11's, so lets not throw the "baby out with the bathwater" by declaring them all "not much"--I'll give you "some", but not agree to *all*.
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Author: andrewsong
Date: 2011-08-01 19:38
Pads are airtight and holes are clean. I've tried different barrels but the problem still persists...
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Author: salsacookies
Date: 2011-08-01 22:48
I had the same problem with a Selmer Series 10 A clarinet that the college that sponsors the symphony that I play in let me borrow for a bit. It probably needs a ton of work, but I also think that it's the tendency in A clarinets. I have a Leblanc LX now and it doesn't seem stuffy to me. Maybe it's because the Selmer was so horribly stuff that a clarinet with normal stuffiness isn't even a close comparison. lol
My setup
Leblanc Legacy Bb with grenadilla barrel and bell, B45 w/Optimum lig.
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