Klarinet Archive - Posting 000660.txt from 1997/01

From: Stephen Cole <wc10@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Plastik clarinet: which?
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1997 01:12:02 -0500

Dirk Kussin wrote:
>
> Hello, I'm new on this list.
>
> I'm 30 years old and want to start playing a clarinet. I'm absolut
> beginner. Many people say that for the beginner a clarinet in plastic
> is better than one in wood. Which one from the following four plastic
> clarinets would you recommend, and from which would you dissuade?
>
> 1. Yamaha 26 II M
>
> 2. Selmer (USA) 1400 Bundy
>
> 3. Armstrong (Artley?) 4001
>
> 4. Buffet Crampon B-12 (A 442 high pitch)
>
> The Yamaha is the most expansive one, the Selmer (USA) the cheapest
> one. Someone dissuaded me from the Selmer and the Armstrong, another
> one has recommended them.
>
> I plan to buy the Buffet Crampon. But still all is open and I can
> decide which to buy. I hope, you can help me for the decision.
>
> Can someone explain to me, what "A 442 high pitch" means? (there is
> also A 440. What is better?)
>
> Or, would you say, plastic is garbage (also for a beginner), and
> recommend to buy a cheap wood clarinet (for example Buffet Crampon
> E-11, or E-12, ...)?
>
> Thanks a lot in advance
>
> Dirk Kussin (dirk@-----.de)Hi there, Dirk,
>From one new guy to another, welcome! As you can imagine, I am not in a
position to give advice, but please share my experiences so far. I
started to learn how to play this beautiful instrument two weeks ago, so
seek advice from others, but....

I have a Buffet B12. It was bought for me by my wife for Christmas and I
love it. The main criteria for her choice were that the instrument was
matt black, and came in a nice box - God bless her forever being the
pragmatist. I've heard it being played by "a woman who can" and it
sounds just fine to me, so I guess at this stage of my "playing", and for
some long time to come, the weakest link in the chain is going to be me.
Ho, hum. After two lessons (more later) I have begun to realise that
there is one heck of a lot to learn, but I am now begining to make sounds
almost like a clarinet from this fantastic piece of kit. Others, I am
sure, will be able to give you a comparative "road-test", and I am
looking forward to the time when, as a novice driver, I too can handle it
through the chicanes at top speed before moving onto the Ferrari!

Seriosly, though, the strongest piece of advice I have is to take lessons
as soon as you possibly can. My teacher, Jane Gurden, from Hitchin in
the UK, is brilliant (forgive the commercial). I've had two lessons. On
the first she had me playing simple (5 note) tunes sight reading from
music, and I couldn't even read music before I went, let alone play a
musical instrument. It's an awesome experience to expose your ignorance
like this in public, but excellent for the soul. I'm now going up the
vertical face of the learning curve, making progress from a zero base,
and loving every moment of it.

Good Luck

Steve

I have a Buffet

   
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