Klarinet Archive - Posting 000367.txt from 1998/12

From: "Carl Schexnayder" <carlsche@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] A question of Clarinet Preference
Date: Mon, 7 Dec 1998 09:23:47 -0500

In a message dated 12/7/98 12:22:49 AM, John wrote:
(the Buffet he gave me to use is an R-13, an old one, but it has great tone
& response). John, I think you have answered your own question. If you
liked the tone and response of the Buffet R13, that's probably the model for
you.

Cindy

Dee Wrote:

Actually he liked that particular individual horn. It may or may not prove
that it is the model for him as I have heard of people trying 20 or more
before finding the one they liked. And who knows, he may find something
else that he likes even better.

Dee Hays
Canton, SD

Hi Dee,

I have to agree with you on that as well. Before going to college, I bought
an R-13, which is what was recommended. Nobody mentioned that I should try
out a bunch to find a good one. I can tell you that the one I had was NOT a
good one. I was unhappy with it from the start, (I won't try to go into
details).....tuning and tone issues, plus key-work problems. Anyway, I got
rid of it and bought a Selmer Series 9.....That was in 1968 or so. There
were many things I liked better about that instrument. I thought the metal
was harder, the key-work more logical, the feel better, (although that's a
personal issue), the tone was clear, the timbre was consistent throughout
the registers, etc. I didn't know much about bore sizes or tapers and I
still don't know the bore size of the series 9, but I matched it not too
long ago with an R-13 that someone had selected, and could find nothing
different in the playing characteristics of the two, although I still thing
that Selmer used better metal, (or harder metal), and I still think the
mechanism is better.

Lately, Selmer has come out with a new model, (the Recitalist, I think),
which is being endorsed by Tom Ridenour. I haven't tried one yet, but I'd
be surprised to find out I didn't like it at least as much as the R-13.
Also, the Opus and Concerto by LeBlanc, as most people already know, are
wonderful instruments, (though all of these are expensive). But there's the
Patricola, which is no more expensive than an R-13, and the cheaper
LeBlancs. One of my students just purchased a LeBlanc Sonata for less than
$1000.00, (I don't remember the exact price), but I really don't see that
the R-13 has anything on that instrument, and you don't have to wade through
20 of them to find a good one. I can't see why any band director or
clarinet teacher would say that he didn't want that clarinet in his band or
that instrument in his studio. I just think it would be nice if all of
these people try all of the new stuff that comes out instead of just taking
it for granted that the R-13 is going to be better than anything else.

Carl Schexnayder

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