Klarinet Archive - Posting 000887.txt from 2001/01

From: MVinquist@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Lyons Clarinet
Date: Fri, 26 Jan 2001 21:16:22 -0500

In answer to Terry's questions about the Lyons C Clarinet:

1. I own and occasionally play one.

2. It definitely sounds like a clarinet -- in fact, closer to my Buffet C
clarinet than to my Buffet Bb. The sound with the supplied plastic
mouthpiece is dull but acceptable. With my good Eb mouthpiece it is much
better, though still not as good as a "real" instrument. The intonation is
OK, but not perfect, and there's no barrel to pull out to adjust pitch

3. Since I have a Buffet C clarinet, I do not play the Lyons except for my
own pleasure and curiosity.

4. It is a good value for the money. However, it doesn't come close to the
Noblet, or to the new Buffet C, which retails for around $1000.

5. As others have said, the instrument is missing too many of the standard
keys to be useful for professional performance. Also, the key mechanism is
made of light plastic and is quite sloppy, particularly on F#/C#. The
hook-shaped thumb rest is too small for my thumb, and I think for most adult
hands.

It is certainly useful for introducing small children to the clarinet. I
have read that the sensational child prodigy Julian Bliss began on a Lyons.

It's a specialized thing, but it's not the holy grail of a super-cheap C
clarinet. For that, you need to step up to the Noblet or Buffet.

Best regards.

Ken Shaw

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