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Re: Tuning, old versus newer instruments

Author: Djudy
Date: 2020-03-16 19:39

This is a very interesting thread which I had not yet seen. If I tried to do that with some of mine I'd go bananas !

I love my 'vintage' instruments but it disappoints me that their many tuning and intonation problems mean that I can only enjoy them at home. The only recent clarinet I owned was a very good E13 from 2016 but I sold it despite having good tuning, to finance yet another vintage (1928 Pedler!) mostly because I found it too 'tame', too bland, plus the keywork was obviously non-pro.

So now I only have really old stuff, all pre-1980s, several that I love to play but none are perfect. I would like to have just one recent instrument that really does the job and is beyond reproach for ensemble playing, so I keep trying more recent pro level instruments in the hopes of finding one with better tuning as well as the punch and the 'communication' that appeals to me. But no luck so far (looking in the under €3000 range, new & used).

Have I given up too soon on my old instruments (need to find the right repair person to check setup) and on developing my own work-arounds for the rough spots (I need to work harder !)?

And (sorry , OT) in passing, what is considered a 'modern' instument, one made in the last 10 years? 20 years? or one with a certain bore architecture regardless of age? or is vintage a more useful concept and how is it defined?

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