 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-03-25 19:49
How was the experience? And the final product? And communication?
I'm thinking about saving up some $$$ and getting some nice custom delrin clarinets. Want that custom touch, and want a material that will not be affected by temperature, humidity, etc. Please let me know (emails are fine too if you want to go in more detail or don't want to post). Thank you!!!
Alexi
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-03-25 20:34
Delrin (trade name for acetal resin) is good stuff! I'm currently in the finishing stages of building a bass clarinet low-C extension out of some Delrin tube stock. It machines very nicely, is very tough, and not at all brittle. The only concern I have about the material is regarding dimensional changes with changes in temperature, and if I weren't so lazy I'd look up that value in a plastics handbook.
Sorry for the digression, no info about Steve Fox..............
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-03-25 20:55
Delrin is affected by temperature changes, so the LH F/C key may need some end play between the pillars.
Howarth offered delrin top joints on pro oboes and cors, and all delrin bodied oboes - two of which were made in white delrin. These needed end play between the pillars on the long keys (top joint trill beam and LH feather keys) so they wouldn't bind when they were cold.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2009-03-25 21:03
I've dealt with Stephen...barrels, throat Bb key mechanism, extension for a bass clarinet. He's very busy ...but extremely conscientious. He undercharges in my opinion. First rate guy and great work.
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2009-03-25 21:12
Arnoldstang wrote:
> I've dealt with Stephen...barrels, throat Bb key mechanism,
> extension for a bass clarinet. He's very busy ...but
> extremely conscientious. He undercharges in my opinion.
> First rate guy and great work.
>
I looked at his website and he sure DOES look busy. I hope to maybe meet him and try his clarinets in next year's clarinetfest (austin, TX - only about 30 minutes from where I'm stationed!!! WOO HOO!!!) or maybe at TMEA (of course with MY luck, I'll be transferred across the country just before clarinetfest)
Alexi
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2009-03-25 21:31
Yes Mr. Fox is busy but you will get top-notch work. He is an artist with an incredible knowledge of the science of instrument acoustics - don't know how he manages this split.
My C clarinet (10 years old) still plays better than anything else available, except of course his new instruments.
If you are a US citizen, plan on going to Toronto if you need him to make adjustments. This will assure that your valuable instruments won't get lost by the bureaucracy (free trade is somewhat lopsided.) Besides, (at least looking for the american midwest) Toronto is a really cool place to spend some time.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-03-25 21:58
I agree with arnoldstang 100%. He does amazing work at bargain prices.
His instruments are not for everybody. I've tried several, but stuck with my R-13 because it has less resistance and makes different tone colors more easily.
Guy Chadash restores R-13s by putting a Delrin liner in the upper joint. I believe he does the same for barrels. This is less expensive than a new clarinet, and his waiting list is not nearly as long as Steve's.
Ken Shaw
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2009-03-25 22:20
My experience with Steve has been truly great. I consider him a friend. We have met twice in London over a few pints of ale and he is a man that knows his stuff.
He finished my 7key Grenser copy C clarinet last year and hand delivered it to me as he was in England at the time on business. The instrument is beautiful and playes like a dream. I had the oppourtunity to play it for the first time in a performance of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis. It has a great sound and the intonation is as good as can be for a classical clarinet. I hope to get a basset horn made by him in the future so I can complete my classical instruments.
I would seriously recomend him, it's well worth the wait.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-03-26 00:20
I seem to remember him bringing a taragato to ClarinetFest when it was at the University of Maryland a few years back; I played the thing and it was awesome (with workmanship to match).
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Author: Brenda ★2017
Date: 2009-03-26 02:22
For anyone from the U.S. planning a trip up to Canada, there are new re-entry requirements when returning to the U.S. These are outlined in several on-line sites, for example: http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/ready_set_go/land_travel/announce/chnge_in_proced.xml
http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders/
June 1, 2009 is when the requirements are tightened even further.
Many of us simply won't attempt to cross the U.S. border anymore without a passport. This simplifies things so much - the border officer swipes the passport through his machine and sends us on our way.
Another note in one of the the U.S. sites suggests registering any expensive items with the border before crossing into Canada, so that these aren't taxed by the U.S. when you return to the States. The same applies to Canadians returning to Canada with something that could be mistaken for an item purchased in the U.S.
Knowing these things should keep a visit to Stephen Fox from becoming anything other than pleasant at the border.
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Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2009-03-26 02:36
Steve made me a basset extension. The workmanship was superb. He totally accommodated me in regards to my time schedules, payment options and other minor hassles that I caused him. Communication was clear and effortless even though I have never met him or even talked on the phone with him. I think he is a class act.
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2009-03-26 07:03
I can also highly recommend Mr Fox. He made a basset extension for my B-flat clarinet, as well as two Baroque clarinets. His work is truly excellent and he charges a lot less than most other people.
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Author: graham
Date: 2009-03-26 08:45
This encouraged me to visit his site and read his material on the Benade NX design. This seems quite exciting. Has anyone tried this instrument? Anything to report on it?
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2009-03-26 13:39
Graham, I haven't tried it, and I know appearances mean nothing...but I think the term "salivating" best describes my feelings.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Joseph LeBlanc
Date: 2009-03-26 19:44
He added a Bb mechanism to my horn about a year ago. Great communication and couldn't be happier with the work.
-Joe
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2013-06-20 08:00
How successful and how expensive is the Bb mechanism addition? Theoretically if it improves the throat Bb and the entire clarion register, and softens the altissimo, this is something that every clarinet manufacturer should be doing. Why is this modification not more popular? The theory is that the register key should be thinner for the clarion but wider for the Bb. The Fox mod provides for two separate tubes for these two different purposes.
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-06-20 12:24
Be aware that Delrin doesn't hold a glue bond. It will seem to hold at the start but is prone to failure. I have seen special products that claim to prepare the surface for bonding, but I don't know how well they work.
Steve Ocone
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Author: maxcoletti
Date: 2013-06-20 14:41
I also wonder why the basset extension for Bb isn't standard, or at least optional for all clarinets... the thought of a Bb that goes down to written C3 makes me drool!!
Post Edited (2013-06-20 14:44)
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Author: JamesOrlandoGarcia
Date: 2013-06-20 15:59
I actually just emailed Mr. Fox about basset horns today. I can't wait to hear back.
As for the question about not making every clarinet play down to Low C that is because the mechanism is very expensive and timely to produce, its more complicated for techs and especially on Bb clarinet, you'll rarely if never see anything below E in the normal orchestra/chamber repertoire.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-06-20 17:53
Steven O: regarding bonding to acetal resin (e.g. Delrin), check this out:
http://www.reltekllc.com/adhesives-for-delrin.htm
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2013-06-22 15:41
Well, I have dealt with him. He's really honest. Once I naively considered sending my plastic bass(though it sounds excellent for its level) to him for an extension, he advised me not to and told me it is not wise to do so.
And later, he made an a delrin German bass mouthpiece adaptor for me to fit my German bass mouthpiece(not the ordinary bass mp) to a French bass. And later this year I'm planning to buy his R1 touchpiece which allows the right index finger to play the lower C# on the Bb clarinet.
Even though I have not purchased anything bigger the 2 things I mentioned, I would highly recommend him as he really cares about his customers and his work. Just if you ask him, and you will get something brilliantly made!
Josh
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Author: martym
Date: 2019-02-23 19:58
Steve added a C extension onto my Selmer bass clarinet last year. He was fantastic to deal with and his work is impeccable. I'm very pleased!
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Author: DD
Date: 2019-02-24 04:08
I recently ordered an A basset clarinet extended to low B from him. Very responsive to questions and friendly. And the price is very reasonable !
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