Klarinet Archive - Posting 000290.txt from 1996/06

From: Bernie Hunt <bernie%lancaster.ac.uk@-----.BITNET>
Subj: Re: LYONS PLASTIC CLARINETS
Date: Wed, 19 Jun 1996 11:04:08 -0400

> I have just returned to a trip to Helsinki, Finland, and I was surprised to
> see an all-in-plastic (even the keys!) clarinet in a music shop. I got in
> and asked the owner to better examine the instrument. It was in C and with a
> very good tuning.
> It was not for sale and there was no information whatsoever about the
> maker. It seems to be from England. Does anybody know anything about that ?

I can remember a few things about the Lyons clarinet. It appeared about
10 (or just under) years ago. It was designed to be an instrument aimed
at young children - it is smaller and lighter than a Bb clarinet (wood
or plastic), uses a smaller mouthpiece (I think it was an actual Eb
mouthpiece - I'm sure it was the same reeds anyway) and is supposed to
be more resilient. It was designed so that any parts that broke could be
easily replaced with 'snap on' new ones. Being a C clarinet also meant
it was easier to share music with non-transposing instruments.
It was endorsed by a few name players - I only remember Johnny Dankworth
for sure.
I always thought it might be a nice idea to get one as a cheap C for
those odd moments of needing one, but didn't know if they would really
be good enough tonally and playability wise. (I never actually saw one
in real life).
I think cost was around 150 pounds, including a long tube case.

Bernie