 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2015-03-05 07:22
Attachment: Clarinet crack.jpg (441k)
This is what happens at pit rehearsal when high school kids insist on running outside at random times, the outside doors to the school are near the auditorium, and the auditorium door is open.
I know it could've been a lot worse. I took it to my repair guy today and they said anywhere between 4-8 pins. So, worst case scenario, the entire $300 I'm making from playing "Into The Woods" this weekend wll go to my repair guy to pin my clarinet that cracked while rehearsing for said show.
NY winters suck :(
EDIT: It's hard to see, but the crack starts at the top of the joint and goes all the way to where the register key attaches. And, of course, lots of register hole involvement (including a formerly glued crack that's cracked again).
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
Post Edited (2015-03-05 07:25)
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Author: rmk54
Date: 2015-03-05 17:11
You lost more than $300. The resale value of your clarinet is now practically nil.
If you have good insurance, it may cover this loss of value.
Otherwise, sue the school.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-03-05 17:56
I wouldn't condemn it that fast - if repaired well then that shouldn't have any impact on playability and resale value will be lower, but not zero.
Three carbon fibre bands will put that right.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Clarineteer
Date: 2015-03-05 19:32
Why don,t you consider selling your wooden clarinet and purchasing one made from alternative material that will not crack?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2015-03-05 19:42
Such as the notoriously brittle Greenline? They don't just shed their middle tenons with ease, but can also crack between toneholes.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2015-03-05 21:28
The Greenline should take it ... much less likely to crack than wood, if you don't stress the center joint.
I've heard that Robert Spring, because he travels extensively to and from variable climates, uses the Greenline instruments, due to experiencing a lot of cracking with wood clarinets.
However, I know of one lady that has had to abandon her Greenline Buffet due to a bizarre allergy to the material!
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Until we can get Buffet to build R13s in special secret plastic or hard rubber, it's just a matter of compromises in durability for bad conditions.
As another possibility: Try a Ridenour Lyrique RCP-576BC. Hard rubber, better in tune than the Buffet, more uniform resistance and a warmer sound. Won't crack, more stable tuning and ideal for pit orchestra hazardous duty. And, inexpensive.
Tom
Post Edited (2015-03-05 21:30)
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2015-03-05 22:06
One of my teachers actually has a Lyrique on trial that a few of us have taken some time to play. It was too resistant for me. I'm not sure if more mouthpiece exploration would change that (I play on a B46 right now). I've considered getting a non-wooden clarinet for pit and outdoor playing (of course, that wouldn't help my A clarinet) many times, and that's why I'm hesistant to upgrade my bass because I play it outside all summer (just a Bundy, but it'll take a beating and keep going).
Even if I was going to go after the school, there's no way I could prove that it happened there. It's not like I took pictures after the last rehearsal I went to last week before I stopped going to them to go to pit rehearsals. The music director knows I'm upset about about it and was willing to lend me an instrument if I couldn't come up with one. I'll actually see her after the show as I play in a community orchestra with her (she's an oboist, so she understands my pain of cracked stuff).
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2015-03-05 23:01
Ridenour does make a nice A clarinet. I just bought a pair (Bb Libertas and an A Lyrique) and although it took a couple weeks of playing for me to fully adjust to them and be convinced, I now prefer them to my Buffet. When I stopped trying to "muscle" the instruments as I was accustomed to doing with the Buffet, they began to respond and tune beautifully. The tone is great, but feels less resonant in the hand than wood. That took some getting used to.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2015-03-05 23:07
I've heard all sorts of impressions about the Lyrique (576 and Libertas) resistance ... some say it's easier and some say its harder in respect to the R13. I think one of the reasons for this difference of opinions is that the Buffets vary at bit, and the Ridenour instruments don't.
The slightly added resistance can be compensated for by a slightly softer reed or closer MP ... and the advantage is that usually this is a usually more responsive setup. Swap out that B46 for an M30/M30-lyre (easy blow) and see what happens ...
Buffet needs a Super Pro B12 ...!
The Alpha might be worth a try ... heard good reports.
Tom
Post Edited (2015-03-06 01:59)
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