Klarinet Archive - Posting 000349.txt from 1998/12

From: "Dee D. Hays" <deehays@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] A question of Clarinet Preference
Date: Sun, 6 Dec 1998 23:44:24 -0500

-----Original Message-----
From: John Fry <donjuan157@-----.com>
Date: Sunday, December 06, 1998 10:22 PM
Subject: [kl] A question of Clarinet Preference

>Hi All,
> I am a high school clarinetist(9th grade), but I think( and hope!) I
>am an above average player for my age. I am seriosly thinking of
>getting a degree of music in college. I would either do music education
>and do performance stuff on the side, or I would be a performance major.
>At the present time I own a Leblanc Esprit B flat clarinet( I got in the
>7th grade.) My head band director prefers all his honors band clariet
>players to play on Buffets.(any model, but he prefers R-13's.) I
>recently moved to my new high school(from a different city) and he is
>going to put me in the Honors Band next semester.( FINALLY!) When I am a
>Junior, or a Senior I am going to look into purchasing a clarinet that I
>can play through college as a music major, and later on when I
>graduate.) I had considered an R-13 of my own, the Buffet Festival, the
>Leblanc Opus,Infinite,Concerto etc.... I was wondering what kind, model,
>and brand is generally preferenced among most players.( I realize that
>every one has their own opinions, I am just curious.)
>
> Thanks in Advance, John( the Buffet he gave me to use is an R-13,
>an old one, but it has great tone & response)

A professional clarinet is a major investment. It should be chosen to meet
your needs and preferences. If *YOU* prefer the Buffet R-13 and can
afford it, fine go for it. If you prefer something else, you will never
quite be happy at passing it up and picking something to satisfy your band
director. Also popularity of a given model doesn't mean that it is the most
suitable for you.

As for the Leblanc Esprit, the company classifies it as a professional grade
instrument (entry level). It should be more than satisfactory for high
school and adequate for your first couple of years of college.

To make this selection, you should try several horns of each model. (Even
the best companies put out an occasional lemon.) Then pick the one you
like. Every person is different. I've tried the Buffet a time or two out
of curiosity to see what the fuss was all about. To me, they seemed stuffy
throughout and sluggish in the altissimo. I have played a Leblanc ever since
high school and prefer its greater agility in the altissimo.

Make your selection with care. Although you can sell one you aren't happy
with, a used horn (even if almost new and of pro caliber) generally won't
return more than 1/2 to 2/3 of the new discount catalog price.

Dee Hays
Canton, SD

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