Klarinet Archive - Posting 000861.txt from 1998/09

From: Shouryu Nohe <jnohe@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] The Best Clarinets
Date: Wed, 23 Sep 1998 19:35:34 -0400

On Wed, 23 Sep 1998 JCLizmod@-----.com wrote:
> Does anybody know who makes the best clarinets these days?

I'm guessing you're relatively new to the list - otherwise you'd realize
that this is a dangerous question. But I'll answer it without any
particular bias.

First things first: do not buy a pro line stick unless your embouchure is
firm and well developed, and you have a decent set up. A decent set up
means, basically, reeds of good quality (at least Mitchell Luries, but
Vandorens, Grand Concerts, and Zondas are typically considered the highest
quality), a good ligature (not the one that came with your horn, but not
necessarily the most expensive), and a good mouthpiece (in nearly every
case, never the one that comes with the horn).

If you have a lousy embouchure OR a lousy set up, or both, whether you're
playing on an Opus, Vintage, YCL-CX, or a Bundy, Vito, Artley, the
clarinet will sound lousy. I can take my set-up to an Artley and make it
sound good. But a lousy set up on my Greenline sounds horrible.

Once you nail down the proper embouchure, purchase at least intermediate
level mpc/reeds/ligatures/barrels, THEN you should be looking at
clarinets.

There are MANY makers of professional quality horns. Which one is best is
completely subjective - only YOU know which is best, because Shouryu Nohe
does not play like Roger Garret does not play like Chriss Hoffman does not
play like Dee Hays does not play like Dan Leeson. Find which clarinet
suits your embouchure and set up (certain mouthpieces are custom designed
for certain bored clarinets).

The two biggest names in the clarinet business right now are Buffet and
LeBlanc. Also big, but slightly lesser known are Selmer and Yamaha (if
Selmer would actually publish prices and models, maybe more people would
consider playing them).

Buffet offers quite a few different professional level clarinets, each
with their own flavor. The R13 is the most popular, along with the RC,
the Prestige, and the R13 RCs and R13 Prestiges. Also available is the
R13 Vintage and the Elite. All of them are fine horns (although it is
often noted that the Elite is distinctly bright). The Greenline is a
relatively new option as well -you can get most R13 models in Greenline
now (I play a R13 Greenline...perhaps later we will see an Greenline
Vintage, which I will immediately jump at...Mr. Kloc?).

LeBlanc has an equally diverse selection of good instruments. The Opus
and Concerto models are their best sellers. The Symfonie VII, Infinite,
and Esprit are also good horns (although the Esprit's tuning is closer to
that of a student clarinet, rather than a professional).

I have no clue what Selmer makes. Blame them - not me. I have no time to
hunt down an authorized dealer when I can try Buffets and LeBlancs right
here and now. I am told, though, that their products are good. If their
clarinets are anything think their saxes, then they are an option to be
considered.

Yamaha produces the YCL-CX, -CS, -AE, and -SE. These are all pro horns
with varied bores. I have not tried them, but word is that they are
great.

Then there are the dark horse companies - they make proline horns, but get
nowhere near the distribution the previous four do. I'll list them, but I
can't give a review, not having played them.

Rossi - known for having a single joint, rather than two
Patricola - made from rosewood
Peter Eaton
Jupiter

The final word? All of these manufacturers make 'the best' clarinet.
Buffet makes 'the best' clarinet for Shouryu Nohe, Robert Spring, and
Roger Garret. Leblanc makes 'the best' clarinet for Dee Hays, Chris
Hoffman, and Nicole Glass. Yamaha makes 'the best' clarinet for John
Bruce Yeh.

Just remember that the best clarinet ain't worth jack if your
embouchure/setup is the worst.

J. Shouryu Nohe
http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe
Professor of SCSM102, New Mexico State Univ.
--------------------------------------------------------------
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