Klarinet Archive - Posting 000704.txt from 2002/10

From: "Rebecca Brennan" <rjbrennan1221@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Selecting a clarinet
Date: Mon, 28 Oct 2002 16:19:49 -0500

I'm going to try a Leblanc Opus, a Buffet R13, and a Leblanc Symphonie VII.
I have played an R13, and I liked it, but it took more air than most
clarinets I have played. Pretty much the only reason I want to go Lebland is
that I have played on a vito for 6 years.

It may have sounded like I insulted my vito by saying it had better
intonation than that selmer clarinet, but the vito has good intonation.

I happen to like my old plactic vito. Afterall, if it wern't for that old
plastic vito, I wouldn't be on this list right now. I would be playing
saxophone. It used to belong to my mom and we didn't have the money to buy a
saxophone when I started band, so she pretty much made me play clarinet.

-Rebecca

>From: "Gene Nibbelin" <gnibbelin@-----.com>
>Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
>To: <klarinet@-----.org>
>Subject: RE: [kl] Selecting a clarinet
>Date: Sun, 27 Oct 2002 23:52:30 -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]
>Sent: Sunday, October 27, 2002 6:19 PM
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>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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