|  The Clarinet BBoard 
 
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    | Author: clockwiser Date:   2008-03-31 15:07
 
 The number 13 is considered to be unlucky by many people, they try to avoid the number 13, but there are so many 13s in the clarinet world...
 
 Buffet R13, E13 Clarinet
 Vandoren M13, mouthpiece
 Vandoren '13 series' mouthpiece
 Borbeck 13 Mouthpiece
 Grabner K13 mouthpiece
 Lomax Chicago 13 facing Mouthpiece
 Kasper 13 Facing
 Cicero 13 Facing
 
 ...but why?
 
 Must be many more.. anyone?
 
 
 
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    | Author: NorbertTheParrot Date:   2008-03-31 15:22
 
 
 Vandoren '13 series' mouthpieces are so called because they are optimised to work with an R13 at A=440. Maybe some of the other 13s also refer to the R13.
 
 
 
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    | Author: CPW Date:   2008-03-31 16:16
 
 Look at your clarinet.
 Then look at a Rock Star.
 
 Now ask yourself in a Clint Eastwood voice.....Are ya feeling lucky? Well, are ya?
 
 See, 13 is REALLY unlucky!!
 
 Against the windmills of my mind
 The jousting pole splinters
 
 
 
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    | Author: Arnoldstang Date:   2008-03-31 16:48
 
 Kasper 13 was approximately 1.13 mm tip opening.  He just left off the first 1.  Probably applies to Borbeck, Lomax, Cicero and Grabner as well.
 
 Freelance woodwind performer
 
 Post Edited (2008-03-31 19:00)
 
 
 
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    | Author: Brenda Siewert Date:   2008-03-31 16:51
 
 It's just a number like any other.  Usually a series.  No biggie.
 
 
 
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    | Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017 Date:   2008-03-31 22:08
 
 13 is a prime number, and clarinet is a 'prime' instrument.
 
 
 ![[up]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley24.gif) 
 
 
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    | Author: Gordon (NZ) Date:   2008-03-31 23:56
 
 If you didn't FOCUS on that particular number, then you would notice the prevalence of others  :-)
 I don't recall any 13s in the Yamaha catalogue, or Selmer, or Howarth, or ......
 A little superstition maybe?
 
 
 
 Post Edited (2008-03-31 23:57)
 
 
 
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    | Author: skygardener Date:   2008-04-01 00:08
 
 Maybe the unlucky "13" is the cause of cracks?
 
 
 
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    | Author: Gregory Smith ★2017 Date:   2008-04-01 00:29
 
 Buffet R13, E13 Clarinet
 Vandoren M13, mouthpiece
 Vandoren '13 series' mouthpiece
 Borbeck 13 Mouthpiece
 Grabner K13 mouthpiece
 Lomax Chicago 13 facing Mouthpiece
 Kasper (Kaspar)13 Facing
 Cicero 13 Facing
 -------------------------
 
 What these all have in common are two differing things.
 
 The Vandoren M13 attempts, by the number 13, to inextricably link itself with the Buffet brand. Both companies have always been closest of partners especially in Vandoren's attempt to produce an overall symbiotic design that they believe works well with the most popular of clarinets.
 
 Over many years, the top Buffet artist play-testers and designers in France have traditionally played Vandoren mouthpieces - stock or altered. There has always been alot of cross-pollination going on between the two companies.
 
 By coincidence the other mouthpieces identified with the #13 refer to tip openings of 1.13mm's (unless they deliberately vary in tip opening for whatever reason).
 
 One of my two Kaspar facings has a 1.13mm tip opening - I simply do not identify my models by "numbers". So you can add another to your list of "13"s.
 
 As a sidelight, as I understand it in the discipline of Numerology, the #13 is referred to as quite a powerfully influential number that can impart either great positive or negative influences depending on how it is understood and henceforth used.
 
 Gregory Smith
 
 http://www.gregory-smith.com
 new model, new barrel
 
 
 
 Post Edited (2008-04-01 00:31)
 
 
 
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    | Author: C2thew Date:   2008-04-01 02:14
 
 fine, you can give me all of your "unlucky" 13 equipment and maybe some luck will be restored!
 
 =)
 
 I still don't see why hotels opt out the 13th floor.  for christ sake its social conditioning!!!!!!
 
 Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things.  they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
 -Walden; Henry Thoreau
 
 
 
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    | Author: C2thew Date:   2008-04-01 02:33
 
 http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Why_don_t_buildings_have_a_13th_floor_Myth_Busted
 
 Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things.  they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
 -Walden; Henry Thoreau
 
 
 
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    | Author: ned Date:   2008-04-01 02:41
 
 ''...but why? Must be many more.. anyone?''
 
 Silly superstition of course, and there are many examples of buildings with 12+ levels to back up this superstition.
 
 They are mainly hotels, I suspect, as hoteliers need to accomodate many and varied patrons, people with dogs, the rich & famous, politicians and superstitious folk as well.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Dileep Gangolli Date:   2008-04-01 03:23
 
 I would rather the number be 13 than 666.
 
 Perhaps it's because the way so many clarinet players sound remind me of Damien.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Lelia Loban ★2017 Date:   2008-04-01 11:28
 
 I do all I can to enourage people to fear the number 13 because the superstition is such a convenience for those of us who don't share it.  For instance: want a less-crowded airplane flight with shorter waits in the security lines?  Fly on the 13th day of the month, because a lot of people won't.
 
 Lelia
 http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
 To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Brenda ★2017 Date:   2008-04-01 11:39
 
 Different cultures have different numbers that they consider unlucky.  Here where we live there are many Chinese, and they avoid the number 4.  Now if you focus in on all the bad things that have happened on the 4th of the month, or the 11th of the month.....  you can see that it's just a number.
 
 Have you ever bought a car and then all of a sudden realize that every 3rd person on the road has your car?  It's what we look for that makes a difference.
 
 
 
 
 
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    | Author: Chris P Date:   2008-04-01 14:37
 
 Then there's Mueller's 13-key clarinet of 1812 (would have been even more relevant to the topic if it was 1813!).
 
 Former oboe finisher
 Howarth of London
 1998 - 2010
 
 Independent Woodwind Repairer
 Single and Double Reed Specialist
 Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
 
 NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
 
 The opinions I express are my own.
 
 
 
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    | Author: ned Date:   2008-04-01 21:58
 
 Further to my little piece about buildings with 12+ levels.
 
 I just reminded myself that you Americans call the ground floor of any building 'level 1', if I'm not mistaken. I have travelled to your fair shores scores of times and this is how I recall the numbering in lifts.
 
 In Australia we start with ''ground' then proceed to 1,2,..............etc....
 
 So in the USA the unlucky level is actually the 13th, in Oz it's actually the 12th. I wonder how the numerologists would explain this anomoly?
 
 
 
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    | Author: Chris P Date:   2008-04-01 22:19
 
 Have we got any triscadecaphobics in our midst?
 
 No need to worry if you are, Lelia Loban has already made the 13th reply in this thread.
 
 Former oboe finisher
 Howarth of London
 1998 - 2010
 
 Independent Woodwind Repairer
 Single and Double Reed Specialist
 Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
 
 NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
 
 The opinions I express are my own.
 
 
 
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    | Author: stevesklar Date:   2008-04-03 00:51
 
 ok, i admit it Chris.  I had to look it up
 
 triskaidekaphobia
 
 Main Entry: tris·kai·deka·pho·bia
 Pronunciation: \ˌtris-ˌkī-ˌde-kə-ˈfō-bē-ə, ˌtris-kə-\
 Function: noun
 Etymology: New Latin, from Greek treiskaideka thirteen (from treis three + kai and + deka ten) + New Latin phobia — more at three, ten
 Date: circa 1911
 : fear of the number 13
 
 
 
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    | Author: BobD Date:   2008-04-04 13:03
 
 Why?  Otis Elevator had a lot of "13"s left over....
 
 Bob Draznik
 
 
 
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    | Author: Lelia Loban ★2017 Date:   2008-04-04 13:48
 
 >>...Lelia Loban has already made the 13th reply in this thread.
 >>
 
 It figures.  My full legal name has 13 letters....  BWAAAA-HAHAHA!
 
 Lelia
 http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
 To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Chris P Date:   2008-04-04 14:02
 
 SPOOOOOOOKY!
 
 You don't by chance live in flat 13 on the 13th floor of No.13, 13th Avenue, in the 13th largest city in the 13th state?
 
 Former oboe finisher
 Howarth of London
 1998 - 2010
 
 Independent Woodwind Repairer
 Single and Double Reed Specialist
 Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
 
 NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
 
 The opinions I express are my own.
 
 
 
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    | Author: Lelia Loban ★2017 Date:   2008-04-05 16:29
 
 >>You don't by chance live in flat 13 on the 13th floor of No.13, 13th Avenue, in the 13th largest city in the 13th state?
 >>
 
 Nope.  But I do own a Buffet R-13!
 
 Lelia
 http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
 To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
 
 
 
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    | Author: clarinetist04 Date:   2008-04-05 16:35
 
 "13 is a prime number, and clarinet is a 'prime' instrument.
 
 
 ![[up]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley24.gif) " 
 That's just too much!  Haha.
 
 
 
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