Klarinet Archive - Posting 000968.txt from 1997/10

From: jensmore@-----.net (Moren, Jennifer)
Subj: Re: Question
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 00:56:40 -0400

----------
> From: P. A. Kent <krownoss@-----.com>
>
>
> "The
> instrument is an Armstrong, made in Elkhart, Ind. there is a number on
the
> lower half (234819), and also another number on the upper half (4001). It
> came with a H-COUF 2* special mouthpiece, metal ligature, and I use a
Zonda
> #3 reed."

You poor soul! The microwave stand would have been much more useful... I
worked at one of those over priced rip the ignorant customer off music
stores for three years. Our school rental program consisted of mostly
Armstrong/King instruments and some Yamaha and Selmer, which cost more. I
unfortunately had to rent Armstrong clarinets to all of those poor little
4th graders, and then face the some of the same kids in private lessons.
I'll start with the few positive points about Armstrong:
1) The right hand holes are smaller in size to accommodate little
fingers. This is not good for an adult...
2) They're cheap (and made so)
3) They now come with 64mm barrels instead of 66mm
4) I like their flutes...

Now, the bad points:
1) They're plastic. A good sound is very unlikely
2) The bore is smaller than most clarinets. This results in a tiny
pinched sound with no room for dynamics.
3) The keys bend every which way and are awkwardly placed, especially
the right hand pinky keys. Just putting the instrument together can cause
a need for repair!
4) The "corks" on the instrument are made of neoprene and held on by
double-sided tape. They cannot be adjusted by sanding, and will slide off
in warm weather!
5) The mouthpiece is absolutely the most difficult student stock
mouthpiece I have ever played on! I could barely even get my high notes
out!
6) I have never heard of a "Zonda" reed, which could be frightening. If
that reed cost's under $1.50, you get what you pay for...

If you mean to give this clarinet playing a decent try, I can recommend a
couple of things. First, sell this horn! You should be able to unload it
in the paper for $300 to some other sucker. I recommend purchasing a upper
end student wood clarinet for between $500-600 (by mail order.) My
favorites for my students are the Buffet E-11 ($516 through
Woodwind/Brasswind), and the Yamaha 34. Leblanc and Selmer are two other
decent names to look for. If you decide to brave the used horn market,
avoid anything but these names. The old Selmer Signets and Leblanc Noblet
weren't too bad. don't waste your time with a Bundy!

An inexpensive reliable mouthpiece is the Hite Premiere. Even children
playing for less than a month tell me that this is easier to play,
especially the high notes, than an H-couf stock mthpc. or any other. It is
usually under $20. I also recommend Vandoran reeds, but Mitchel Lurie
reeds will do for a while.

By the way, this Armstrong is almost identical to an Artley and from what I
remember seeing, a Conn also. Artley and Armstrong are made by the same
company which includes Conn, King, and H-Couf. All of them come from the
lovely town of Elkhart, IN. (I used to be a "Hoosier") Selmer used to be
(or still is) in IN for their American models but are unrelated to the
above. The two A's make OK flutes, Conn and King used to make good saxes
(10M, 6M) but now are known for their brass (French Horn and trombone esp.)
and H-Couf Used to make decent hand made saxes, but the new ones are junk.
The new Armstrong, Artley, King, and Couf saxes are even worse than the
above mentioned clarinet!

Order all of your stuff by mail cheaper! Woodwind/Brasswind (Southbend,
IN) is 1-800-348-5003. Weiner Inc. (NY) is 1-800-622-CORK.

Good Luck!

Jennifer