[Dixielandjazz] Boehm vs Albert Sound + Glisses + Whoopee

[OArkas at aol.com]

I've been watching the thread on Boehm/Albert clarinets.   I've been playing 
Albert only since 1963.   I think Steve is correct (as are most of the others) 
when they say that some people can't tell difference.   But I DO believe 
there is a difference.   I have picked up and tried various Boehms just for fun 
over the years.   I do not like the system for how the notes are made, and I 
really don't like the sound.   When I play some notes on the Boehm, it sounds 
more like MY sound, but not the way I sound on the Albert.   It never does.   
This may be crackpot theory, but I think the more holes in the instrument and the 
more "hardware" stuck on in, the more of the overtones are lost.   In my case 
I like the Albert/Simple systems with no rings on the upper joint.   They 
sound even more rich than the Alberts with the extra rings and extra keys (like 
the German style Amatis for example).   There are many clarinet players on the 
Greek Turkish clarinet forum who are saying the same thing.   
I know that a lot of this is subjective evidence, but I much preferred Willie 
Humphrey's tone (I heard him play live, and I've heard the recordings of the 
other old time Albert players) over that of most Boehm clarinet players.
Whatever, though, I love the clarinet in traditional (OKOM) jazz!!
John Pappas


John
oarkas at aol.com



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