Klarinet Archive - Posting 000226.txt from 1995/02

From: Henrik Faltstrom <etxfalt@-----.SE>
Subj: German Boehm, advice needed
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 1995 03:52:27 -0500

Hi all,

First, let me introduce myself. I am a swedish, 25-year old computer engineer
who also plays the clarinet with great pleasure. I play in a small amateur
symphony orchestra i Stockholm. I have been messing around with my Noblet
school clarinet for fifteen years now, so I feel it is time for an upgrade.

Yesterday I had the privilege to try a Yamaha YCL-856 "German Boehm" clarinet.
For those of you who don't know this model, it is an "Oehler with Boehm
fingering". When I assembled it, I discovered that my standard A/Bb reeds
were too wide for the mouthpice. The dealer told me I needed "German cut"
reeds, but he didn't have any at the moment. Instead I replaced the mpc
with my standard Bb mpc.
It played beautifully, and I was amazed how light the keys were. I thought
they would be much harder due to the complex mechanism.
The sound was clear and steady, I couldn't possibly tell wheter it was
german, french or anything else. To me, it just sounded very good, much
better than my Noblet. The dealer would sell it to me for $2100. He claimed
that normal retail price was around $5000 but this instrument had been used
for demonstrations. It looked just like new, and the plastic covers were still
there.

For comparison, here are swedish prices for some other common clarinets.

Buffet RC $1900
Buffet RC Prestige $2600
Leblanc Concerto $1600
Yamaha CX $1600
Yamaha CS $2100

The R-13 isn't very common in Sweden, so I have no up to date price.
In a five year old catalog, it was priced about $100 below the RC.

I now have a few questions:

Has anyone on the list had any experience with this type of instrument (the
YCL-856 in particular)? How did you feel about it? All comments are welcome.

Are there other manufacturers of german boehm clarinets?

I guess all the alternate fingerings presented lately don't apply, or...?
I didn't bring my fingering sheet, but I will next time...

There is a limited availability of german cut reeds, so I wonder if replacing
the supplied mpc with my ordinary Bb mpc would bring it out of tune.
It also seems such a hassle dealing with the string ligature.

How would you clarinet repairmen feel about adjusting and/or repairing
such a clarinet?

Should I go for a standard Boehm instead, at the same price level?

I'm sorry if I don't make myself perfectly clear, I haven't been practicing
my english as I should...

Regards,
Henrik Faltstrom

etxfalt@-----.se