Klarinet Archive - Posting 000169.txt from 1995/06

From: John Baetens <JSBtens@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Re Eddie Daniel's clarinets
Date: Sun, 11 Jun 1995 00:49:21 -0400

Dan Leeson says:

>Recently there have been several postings that imply that
>Eddie Daniels' use of LeBlanc clarinets is a significant factor
>in his magnficent ability. Comments are being made that this
>or that person picks out Daniels' clarinets for him personally, >presumably
to increase your confidence in that person's ability
>to make you sound like Daniels.

Whoa, Dan, where did that come from? Are we reading the
same messages? No one suggested that the brand of clarinet
that Eddie plays is significant to his ability. Nothing of that sort
was even mentioned. Eddie's ability obviously came from:

a. A great deal of natural talent.
b. A lifetime of good teachers.
c. A whole lot of practicing.

The point I was trying to make was that professionals seem to
be playing the Concerto model instead of the Opus, which costs
more. Eddie Daniels was mentioned not because I thought that
by buying the clarinet he uses would make someone sound like
him. It's just that with what Eddie knows about clarinet playing,
I would imagine that he knows a good clarinet when he plays
one. Now I think that we previously established in this forum that
Eddie plays Leblanc because of a deal he made with them. He
gets the clarinets free. But why the Concerto and not the more
expensive Opus? Do some pros consider the Concerto a better
clarinet? Or is this just part of Leblanc's marketing strategy;
pitch the model more people can afford? I have no idea.
That's why I'm asking this group.
Also, this thread was really about where to buy a good clarinet.
One thing I have learned from this mailing list is that there seems
to be significant differences among clarinets of the same make
and model. If Eddie Daniels trusts a specific person to pick out
his clarinets, he must consider that person to be someone who
knows clarinets and who is an honest dealer who will try to get
the best instrument for her customers.