Klarinet Archive - Posting 001292.txt from 1998/05
From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Plastic?/the big 3
Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 20:19:20 -0400
Selmers are once again considered primarily jazz horns--hmmmm. At one time
(pre-WWII), Selmer advertised that the entire Boston Symphony played
Selmers; they used to be the "only" classical horn folks would play until
the advent of the R-13.
True, the old big-bore Series 9 is indeed sought after by the Dixielanders,
but so is the huge-bore Leblanc (see Pete Fountain). Many, many players use
the small bore Series 10 for "classical" playing. I believe that David
Schifrin's main A is a Series 10--I know is was at a master class I attended
15 years ago. Anthony G. helped design the 10G.
Methinks that Buffet tool the market for so many years for 2 simple reasons.
First, they were cheaper--the street price for Selmers has always seemed to
be about 20-30% more. Second, the R-13 was a true revolution in
design--much more stable tone and intonation.
As more and more performers switched to the R-13, their students wanted them
too. So, until fairly recently, the Buffet was the "only" horn to
play--unless of course you played something else.
2 final thoughts. IMHO, the mouthpiece is far more important than the brand
of horn. I would gladly keep my Johnston and trade for any of the big
3-1/2, rather than have to switch mouthpieces.
Second, all of the big 3-1/2 can point to endorsers who sound terrific--and
so can Boosey & Hawkes, Peter Eaton, Patricola, Rossi and the other draft
picks to be named later. Perhaps knowing how to drive the thing is at least
as important.
kjf
-----Original Message-----
From: Bill Hausmann [mailto:bhausman@-----.com]
Subject: Re: [kl] Plastic?/the big 3
At 04:48 PM 5/26/98 -0500, Ed Lacy wrote:
>On Mon, 25 May 1998, Roger Garrett wrote:
>
>> Buffet, Selmer, and Leblanc. Yamaha is a close fourth.
>
>This is certain to start WW III! My list is a little different. I think
>it would be useful to ask how many players in major symphony orchestras
>are playing Selmers. I suspect it is not very many. To me, Selmer makes
>some good instruments which are ideal for certain specialized uses. I own
>a Buffet, but when I play shows or double clarinet in a jazz band, I
>always wish I were playing Selmer.
>
>So, the bottom line is, my big three would be Buffet, Yamaha and LeBlanc,
>in order of my estimate as to the frequency with which they are chosen for
>use by orchestral players.
>
>Fire away! ;-)
>
Well, if you limit the discussion to recent orchestral players only, you
may be right. But by your own admission you would rather play a Selmer for
jazz and shows. Those of us who play primarily in bands and shows are
probably a larger overall group. Yamaha is the "Johnny-come-lately" to the
clarinet business, and that is why they are #4. Remember: GM, Ford, and
Chrysler are the Big Three of automobiles, regardless of HOW MUCH you like
your Honda Accord!
Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265
If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.
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