Klarinet Archive - Posting 000090.txt from 1994/12

From: Walter_Quan@-----.CA
Subj: Re: Yamaha Clarinet
Date: Wed, 7 Dec 1994 13:10:15 -0500

in response to David's question on Yamaha clarinets...

I have owned a Yamaha YCL62 b-flat for about seven years. I like it very
much - I think that the equivalent instrument south of the 49th parallel is
the Yamaha 52. (and YCL82 up here @-----. At the time, my
teacher, Wes Foster (Principal, Vancouver Symphony) was a "Yamaha Artist"
and was playing the 82s. [I was under the impression that the 62/52 is also
a 'pro' model, but not as prestige as the 82/72 - they're both wood
instruments... I tend to recommend the plastic student models as well].
The description that I tend to use with the Yamahas is that they've taken
Japanese technology and used it to copy the old French instruments. The
nice thing about the Yamaha is that you can take it out of the box (as it
were) and play (making a good "dark" sound - whatever that means!) -
without having to make too much adjustment to your playing or the
instrument. And after the clarinet doctor has had his kick at it, it's
better than new! (plus the rubber-lined barrel and my favorite mouthpiece,
of course!)

[As a totally pragmatic aside...if price is a concern, and there is a sale,
it would not be such a horrible mistake that you wouldn't be able to live
with if you found a reasonable instrument at a great price...]

Subsequently, Wes has gone 'back' to Buffet (I think) and there is a
general consensus that, although it's much harder to find a 'good
instrument', the tried-and-true Buffets are better.

What intrigues me now is that Buffet used to be THE only clarinet we
were taught to aspire to. What with competition, technology and a
more discerning clarinet populace, I would generalize (as have others)
that you _must_ try them all, it strikes me that Yamaha made a big
splash in the mid 80s in making a stronger competition for Buffet, but
now the big three or four need to be compared side by side.

I _still_ haven't wandered out to try the new super-sonic Leblancs -
I've heard that they're sooo good - I don't need the temptation!

Good grief, what a ramble!

Walter K. Quan
Walter_Quan@-----.ca
Support the Arts in your Community!