 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Nomenclature
Date: 2019-02-15 01:08
I've had a Buffet E11 since I was a music student and it's now 24 years old. It's been very well played and I use it to teach with rather than my nice new Buffet RC. Recently I've been having issues with the E11 and have noticed, in general, it sounds pretty flat despite me using a shorter barrel. I get a lot of water in the keys (A and Bb); more than I've ever done in the past. It just no longer sounds good.
I'm not sure if it's it or me to be honest. I practise most days and feel my embouchure isn't as it was. Not sure if it's due to getting older; I certainly haven't had any dental work done or major health changes.
For a while I used Fibracell reeds but they don't last very long before the see-through backing floats away from the reed so I've gone back to Vandoren ones, which I've used for years. I'm finding them really difficult to play now though. I've always used strength 3 but can hardly blow them and am getting a sore bottom jaw. I guess perhaps using synthetic reeds have made me a bit lazy.
I've never had the clarinet serviced (strange, I know) but it's always been ok and I was advised by a local repairer that if there's nothing wrong with it, just to leave it. I'm not sure if I should get it overhauled/serviced or if it's past its best.
Is 24 years good for a Buffet E11, or should I expect to get longer from it? It was brand new when I bought it. It's always been treated with care and never dropped etc. Should I just sell it as it is without a service?
I'm feeling a little deflated as I type this as it just sounds nowhere near as good as it used to. Could it be me? I'm in my 40s so not 'old' but does your embouchure change with age? My RC is in storage at the moment so unfortunately I can't use it to compare.
Any advice would be great thanks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2019-02-15 01:26
The problem may lie in the (24 year old) barrel.
Try upgrading/replacing the barrel and see if it makes a difference.
It's cheaper than replacing or overhauling the entire instrument.
...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Nomenclature
Date: 2019-02-15 02:02
The shorter Moennig barrel that I'm using is only 2 years old; sorry I should have made that clearer. It helped at first with the pitch, but it's almost like something has happened either to the clarinet or to me and it's all gone flat again.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2019-02-15 02:55
My advise is to get it repaired every year. Otherwise you may be compensating for problems with pads, dirty tone holes, cracks, etc, etc. (like I did as a kid).
Steve Ocone
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ursa
Date: 2019-02-15 07:09
I agree 100% with Mr. Ocone: Get your clarinets serviced at least once a year!
Clarinets are in a constant state of degradation after they leave the technician, and even factory-fresh clarinets often have issues. After 24 years, your E11 is undoubtedly in need of some TLC.
Nobody ever said clarinet ownership and maintenance is cheap or convenient. Having a good backup, or backups, is also an critically important failsafe.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2019-02-15 07:45
Ursa wrote:
Get your clarinets serviced at least once a year!
If that's the case, how many times within a one year period should they be serviced?
I recommend instruments get serviced regularly from every one to two years maximum depending on how much playing they get, plus a checkover during that time.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2019-02-15 21:24
I suggest that my customers come once a year (assuming that they're using the instrument). If it only gets used occasionally, I let them figure it out.
I don't have a specific tune up price and only charge for work that I do. I don't charge to take a look at it while they are waiting. This makes it easy for them to get it checked.
Steve Ocone
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Nomenclature
Date: 2019-02-15 21:59
Thanks for all the replies and advice so far.
So, is 24 years old not particularly old for an E11? Should I still be able to get a few more years from it, with a decent service?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2019-02-15 22:08
If it's serviced regularly, then you and others should get several decades of playing from it.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
