Thursday, 7 April 2016

Introducing A New Plateau (Covered Hole) Key Clarinet

Introducing A New Plateau (Covered Hole) Key Clarinet


I have recently (March 2016) had the pleasure of the final testing of several wonderful plateau key clarinets prior to supply to customers. Each of these instruments had new touch pieces done altering all the formerly open rings into covered touches with other keywork, notably the left hand Eb/Bb and the right hand chromatic B/F#, altered as required for ease of use.

These custom alterations, done to a design by Daniel Bangham and executed to perfection by master craftsman Peter Worrell, have the effect of transforming the clarinet in a most wonderful way - adding complete ease and confidence of fingering and, due to the small additional mass of the keywork, enhancing the power and resonance of the instrument itself.

Over many years I have come to know the limitations of other familiar commercially available covered hole clarinet options, notably from Noblet and Vito. I can honestly say that this new version is in a completely different league to anything I have ever previously played. I had no feeling of compromise over the performance and tonal quality of a standard instrument when playing these clarinets. Indeed I experienced the unexpected feeling of freedom that I attribute to being able relax my fingers and not worry about precision in my fingering position. It was very much like fingering a fine soprano sax but hearing a wonderful clarinet!

I can imagine this customisation to be of great interest to any clarinettist suffering from a loss of finger dexterity, touch sensitivity or arthritis and I will venture that the covered holes could be a great boon to any saxophonist who longs for the comfort and relaxed feel of their beloved saxophone when required to pick up and perform on a clarinet.

Any model clarinet can, in theory, have this work undertaken but I would recommend that it be considered on higher value professional models as this is where the outstanding comfort and additional resonance will be most likely to be perceived and be of the greatest value. The converted models I have tried have been from Buffet and included both R13 and Prestige versions.

I cannot praise the design and craftsmanship enough. Wood, Wind & Reed are keeping a converted Buffet R13 in stock for customers to experience and are able to take orders for both new instruments and existing personal instrument conversions. Please speak to Daniel Bangham or Timothy Taylor at the shop. Contact telephone 01223 500442 or email shop@wwr.co.uk.

Thomas Dryer-Beers

2 comments:

  1. Hi,
           Are there pictures and prices of these new plateau clarinets of yours? Do they compare to the sound of a Buffet R13 non-plateau?
              Thanks, Cliff

    SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY (bass clarinet)https://vimeo.com/380164697

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  2. Can you convert a LeBlank full boehm to a plateau.If so how much would it cost? Alan

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