Klarinet Archive - Posting 000653.txt from 1996/12

From: FROM ME MAN <musicandkeyclub@-----.com>
Subj: New Clarinet
Date: Fri, 27 Dec 1996 20:33:33 -0500

Hi everyone,

I am new to the Clarinet Network. I am 16 years old and attend a
secondary
school in Market Deeping (lincs) in the UK. I am a competant clarinet
player and I am at the UK (AssociatedBoard of Royal Schools of Music)
grade
7 standard ( the max. is grade 8) I play in various concert bands and
orchestras including the county (state!) band.

I currently have a really rather cheap Buffet plastic clarinet, while
okay
for the beginning is now below me!! <g> I can produce a quite respectable
tone from this instrument, however some of the notes are becoming hazy
(windy!) and the notorious Bb is particually sharp - even with various
combinations of right hand fingers - which means I have to blow it in
tune!

---You need to get rid of the plastic ASAP...no offense...

I am hoping to replace this instrument with either a Buffet or Yamaha
brand
clarinet which will cost approx $1300 (700GBP) I'm about to disappear off
to my local music shop to try both names, but what models would you
recommend I look at (plus other brands if worthy). Please all opinions
will
be gratefully accepted!! If you live in the UK perhaps you could
recommend
a supplier around the midlands for me to visit (cheap, cheap!)

---Buffets are the most popular among professionals, however, I would
also suggest the LeBlanc proffesional clarinets (Infinite, Concerto,
Opus) I have been through all 3 of these and they work better with me
than the Buffets do. I think it's all a matter of preference and
opinion.

Many thanks,

Alex (reply to: bellamy@-----.com)

PS. I play a vandoren 2.5. Do you think this is the best sounding/quality
reed??

--vandoren 2.5 reeds are pretty soft...but it really depends on the
mouthpiece you are using. In my opinion, a 2.5 is too soft.

Kenneth Chin
Dover, NJ USA
New York Youth Symphony
Manhattan School of Music Preparatory Division
http://www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/7413 (<--check it out!)