Klarinet Archive - Posting 000686.txt from 2002/10
From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Selecting a clarinet
Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 23:55:12 -0500
Rebecca -
If you are planning on continuing with your clarinet studies through
college, at least as a minor, and plan to continue playing after college
perhaps as an avocation, I suggest that you take a serious look at the
Leblanc Concerto (with silver plated keys).
If you are really serious about your clarinet studies, the extra investment
in a fine professional instrument at this time will prove to be a wise move.
My teacher plays a Buffet R13 and when we play duets it seems that the
Buffet has more intonation problems than my Leblanc. I don't mean to say
that my horn has no intonation problems, but that they are not troublesome.
Also, I have been surprised and sometimes amused by the various "Buffet
problems" that I see discussed here on the list. Granted that there area
probably more R13s out there than Leblancs, but you seldom see any such
problems with the Leblancs.
I know that I have not had any of these problems. No stuffy throat tones,
no intonation problems on "middle B, C, C#, no searching for barrels to
correct these problems. Also, my teacher and I have discovered several
handy alternate fingerings that are much better in tune and with better
timbre on the Leblanc than on his Buffet.
All this is just my opinion based on my experience with my Leblancs (Bb & A)
purchased about 4 years ago after trying both Buffets and Selmers.
Good luck in your search,
Gene N.
-----Original Message-----
From: Rebecca Brennan [mailto:rjbrennan1221@-----.com]
Subject: Re: [kl] Selecting a clarinet
The main reason I want a new clarinet now is to raise my score at the
all-state auditions. The auditions are January 4th, so I'm wanting to get a
new instrument as soon as possible. I'm going to make a decision after
November 11. That is the end of marching band. A store recommended I buy a
LeBlanc because I play on a vito and that would not be too big of a jump on
intonation because of this system they use. I plan to look into it.
I want to do the woodwind brasswind try three clarinets and keep one deal,
but I don't know what to try.
I just think that now is a good time to get one because my birthday and
christmas are coming up and I have money right now to chip in and get a very
good clarinet.
-Rebecca
>From: b5w@-----.net (William Wright)
>Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: Re: [kl] Selecting a clarinet
>Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 09:27:11 -0800 (PST)
>
> <><> Rebecca Brennan wrote:
>I've been looking at a beautiful Selmer clarinet at a music store. It
>has unstained wood and gold keys. They let me play it and I think it was
>very easy for me to play. I had better intonation on my old plastic vito
>though.
>
>
>
>Rebecca, your post catches my attention because I have just recently
>become very disturbed by my intonation on one particular note (throat
>Bb) of my semi-professional clarinet.
>
>I don't know what to blame it on, nor do I understand why I didn't
>perceive it as a problem earlier. The only solid fact I have is that
>my *inexpensive* *plastic* *student* horn does not appear (right now) to
>have the problem, and the difference is so severe that I have --- with
>some sadness --- put my wood horn aside for the moment.
>
>The usual advice when someone asks "Which clarinet should I buy?" is:
>
>"Try different instruments yourself and _listen_.
>
>"Since you are part of the total 'acoustic system', what works for you
>won't work for some other people, just as the mouthpiece or reed that
>works for you won't work for some other people.
>
>"Give it a month or two, visit the store several times and play the same
>instrument more than just once or twice. Buy from someone who will
>allow exchanges if you hear something that you don't like after the
>first few days of intensive playing at home. That's how you should
>decide."
>
>As I said above, I'm happiest right now on my $400 ($350?) plastic
>student horn, even though I don't understand why. Perhaps you'll be
>happier if you use the money for something else, such as music camp or a
>prom dress.
>
>I find it especially alarming to hear you say that you are considering
>an instrument whose intonation you don't enjoy (at the moment). Each
>instrument is different, of course, and perhaps after a few weeks you
>will adjust to the handsome wood instrument. But 'looking good' is not
>what music is about. Looking good is icing on the musical cake, not
>the driving force.
>
>Cheers,
> Bill
>
>
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