 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sarah3099
Date: 2010-01-12 15:54
I seem to be having constant problems with my Buffet Prestige Low C bass. It's about 6 years old, school owned. It seems very finnicky and I am afraid to try to fix it myself (so I don't). Is this just a trait of the buffet low Cs to be very fragile?
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Author: William
Date: 2010-01-12 18:26
Lisa A--of Lisa's Clarinet Shoppe--told me that I would be constantly re-adjusting my new Prestige low C bass. She thought that, while they are great instruments, they were quite "finicky". So, as a result of her warning, I made it a point to be extra careful in assembly, disassembly and storage and I have had few mechanical problems averaging only a once-a-year tune-up by my favorite repair tech, Mary J. If you are not SUPER careful, the long rods octave mechanizms and jumper keys can be easily bent out of alignment causing a world of problems. But when properly adjusted, Buffet Prestige bass clarinets are a pleasure to play. Proper adjustment can best be done by an experianced repairperson and not at home. They are fragile instruments and should be marked, "HANDEL WITH CARE".
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-01-12 21:02
Any low C bass clarinet can be a problem because of the long rods. It's so easy to bend a rod, especially with the automatic octave key. Handle with TLC when putting together or taking it apart. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2010-01-12 22:09
Binding keys can also be a problem, especially this time of the year when the humidity is so low indoors for many of us. I keep my clarinets in a small room regulated to 50% humidity all winter and avoid many of these adjustment problems.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
1193 Bass clarinet Center
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-01-13 03:11
Bass clarinet is a finicky rube goldberg machine. Take it in to a really good tech (preferably one that has a reputation for good bass clarinet work). If you can't remember the last time your bass clarinet was looked at, it's been too long.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-01-13 05:01
The model Buffet bass clarinet you have is IME better than most in keeping adjustment and shouldn't really have any significant problems. Once in a while it can get out of adjustment but not often really. Some hinges can bind but usually only in very cold weather but usually not if it was adjusted before.
Actaully I would say almost all problems of bass clarinets that seem to the player like it's getting out of adjustment often are a result from it not being set-up properly in the first place. I don't think I've seen a new bass clarinet from Buffet, Selmer, etc. that was already in excellent condition and I've seen very poor condition even after an overhaul. So like Alex wrote it's important to have it repaired by someone who can really do a good job. Then it is unlikely to get out of adjustment often unless you are especially clumsy.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-01-13 15:49
William -
Who is Mary J? Name, address, phone and email, puhleeeeeze!
The current Buffet bass is considerably more reliable mechanically than the older "Professional" model from the 1970s, particularly in the register key mechanism. When he returned my old model, the late Jimmy Yan said "You're going to be seeing a lot of me with that horn. It sounds great, but needs a lot of attention."
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2010-01-13 19:20
"not being set-up properly in the first place".
That reminded me, when I first got my Buffet Prestige at the old IMS store in Evanston, IL. it too Tom Fritz and I about two hours of minor adjustments to get it working exactly right. But since then, it has required only periodic checkups by Mary Jones, my favorite repair tech at the Ward-Brodt Music Mall, here in Madison, WI. She has been doing my clarinet maintainance for over 23 yrs and I would highly recommend her to anyone. I've never been disappointed.
http://ward-brodt.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=9&Itemid=6
[Ken--Mary J is in the middle with the green derby]
Post Edited (2010-01-13 19:32)
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