Klarinet Archive - Posting 000341.txt from 2001/05

From: Christopher MacIver <maciver@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Which clarinet to purchase for schools
Date: Sat, 12 May 2001 16:36:55 -0400

My vote is for the Vito.

I had my Vito since fourth grade (1968), and still use it for parades and
outside daytime concerts.
Until mid 1984, it was my only clarinet, and it was for everything from school
concerts to summer
community band performances. From 1986 to 1991, in addition to using it for a few
outdoor concerts, I was using it in over 20 parades / year, from 1992 - 1995 it
was over 40. Now it's about ten.
Vito, at one time, claimed that unlike other student instruments, it was
built to A440, not
sharper. When I've tested mine against the tuner, their claims seem to hold
up.(If my memory serves me correctly, I remember that Avrahm Galper e-mailed some
excellent material to this group concerning the nuances of measuring an
instrument's intonation, and stated the Vito was slightly sharp. (AG please
correct me if I'm wrong)). I've found the tone quality to be good, and I've found
the instrument durable, as it has needed only two complete overhauls in 30+
years.
The bunch of Bundys that my High School had always seemed to be falling
apart.
There seems to be a lot of used Vitos always on sale on Ebay. If your school
district is wants to
spare a few pennies, it would be better to go this route, as opposed to buying a
bunch of new
instruments of lesser quality. Since these instruments are mass-produced, and are
plastic, as opposed to wood, I'd have faith in buying them before trying them
out.

In my opinion, the Vito stock mouthpiece is a good choice for fourth and fifth
graders. As
high-school freshmen, students should be encouraged to buy there own mouthpieces
(Vandoren B45). Sixth & seventh graders wishing to upgrade should consider Rico
Royal
(large chamber) mouthpieces.

My two cents,
Christopher MacIver
e-mail:
revicamc@-----.net

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