 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: interd0g
Date: 2012-06-12 15:32
I have read many comments on this topic but most get back to m-"try a bunch and find what suits you"
Living in Antigua i can't handily do that and I have someone going to UK who can carry one back for me if I get it delivered to an address over there.
I have played a 7 ring Buffet since 1970, believe it or not ,but am now told it is not worth overhauling again. Certainly the last two attempts ( in USA) were not a success.
The Buffet had a fine sound but you had to fiddle quite a bit to get the tuning acceptable, and lately the mechanism needed frequent adjustment.
I want good intonation, an easy response and reliability because there are no skills here so it needs to work properly without an immediate intervention from a genius.
Looks like I can forget the 7 rings.
I am not worrying about price.
Anyone willing to venture a suggestion?
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-06-12 16:47
Thankfully Antigua tends to have pretty mild weather that is consistent throughout the year so I wouldn't be concerned about having a wooden clarinet there unlike in other tropical locations.
You may not necessarily need to give up on having the forked Eb (7th ring). The Patricola CL.5 is and "enhanced boehm" clarinet (full boehm minus the low Eb). I have no personal experience with this model but it seems they are fairly well regarded. (see thread here: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=340731&t=340731)
Woodwind Brasswind is selling these now so you could order one on trial and return it within 45 days if you don't like it.
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Author: CocoboloKid
Date: 2012-06-12 21:47
If you are truly not concerned with cost, then I would VERY seriously consider the new Backun MoBa clarinet.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2012-06-12 22:29
No reason to get fancy. The intonation of the Buffet Greenline instruments is much more consistent than with the wooden horns. Since you are already use to the Buffet sound and feel, you may want to seriously consider the standard R13 in Greenline...........just decide if you want silver plated keys or nickel.
Shouldn't cost you more than $3000 US dollars.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2012-06-13 12:50
Consider buying two clarinets, rather than one. You are rightly concerned with maintenance. Two will serve the purpose. Which make and model? All well-known names make some fine quality instruments. To keep total cost reasonable you may wish to consider Ridenour professional clarinets.
richard smith
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-06-13 12:56
"Not worth overhauling again"??? My main instruments are Buffets from around 1972, and they play great. I have a 7-ring Buffet from the 1930s, which plays like new. My Buffet C clarinet from the 1920s is my best instrument, and I have a Bb/A pair from 1908 that restored beautifully.
I agree that the mechanism is a problem. Coordination of the standard fork Eb/Bb and the additional one added by the 7-ring mechanism is fiddly and touchy, particularly if the instrument also has the articulated C#/G# (as mine does). I believe Marcellus said he saw no reason for it, since he could play everything on the standard 6-ring clarinet.
I suggest going to the clarinet specialists listed at http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Resources/Retail.html?sort=1#Repair. Peter Spriggs http://www.pspriggs.com/ did beautiful work on my 1908 Buffets. Brannen http://brannenwoodwinds.com/ is famous (and very expensive).
If you're set on a new clarinet, consider getting one selected by Greg Smith of the Chicago Symphony http://www.gregory-smith.com/Hand.html. I've also read that Mark Nuccio http://www.facebook.com/mark.nuccio.3 selects new Buffets.
Ken Shaw
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Author: interd0g
Date: 2012-06-13 13:36
Thanks to all for the advice. I was very encouraged by Ken Shaw's remarks and I am now considering giving my 1960 7 ringer another chance.
Obviously most great performers are proof that the standard modern layout is completely adequate. It's just that after a lifetime of playing the 7 ringer, its hard not to go for the extra Ef/Bf options when in panic mode.
I may have been unlucky with my choice on the last overhaul. The man ( a well known name and charismatic Youtube star), really didn't want to work on it and when persuaded, did a poor job of it. In fact it was unplayable without some further tampering on my part.
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-06-13 13:52
interd0g wrote:
> I may have been unlucky with my choice on the last overhaul.
> The man ( a well known name and charismatic Youtube star),
> really didn't want to work on it and when persuaded, did a poor
> job of it. In fact it was unplayable without some further
> tampering on my part.
That's unfortunate. I guess the fact that he was reluctant to take the job in the first place probably should have been a warning sign.
If you are going to go for another overhaul I would recommend contacting Wesley Rice (http://www.clarinet-repairs.com/). He did a great job overhauling my Selmer CT Omega and my Leblanc Dynamique, both of which were 7-ring models. He was very meticulous about tightening up all of the keywork and both clarinets felt like brand new instruments when I got them back.
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