 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tommo84
Date: 2016-03-19 00:46
Hallo everyone,
about one year ago I moved from a Buffet Rc to a Yamaha CSG III Bb clarinet.
Fantastic horn the yamaha, really loved it.
But my A clarinet is still an old Buffet Rc prestige. Nothing wrong with the clarinet, plays well, in tune, and it is really open and easy to play for an A clarinet.
BUT there is of course a difference in feel and resistance and sound when I switch from the CSG to the Rc. Should do I change the RC ( that has nothing wrong really) with a CSG in A only to be more "matched" with my Bb CSG, or can I found some ways to smoothen the differencies between the two? if so, what should I do?
I am not a professional player, but an "advanced amateur" and I play in amateur symphonic orchestras mainly.
thanks in advance
Tommo
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Author: Morrigan
Date: 2016-03-19 00:50
For many years I struggled with a Buffet Bb and Leblanc A. The best thing I ever did was buy a Buffet A! It made a huge difference playing on a pair of the same make & model.
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2016-03-19 01:56
Well, the only one that can answer this question is yourself.
There is nothing wrong playing different brands of Bb and A clarinets. But if you feel the difference has a negative effect on your playing and/or musical expression, you could try to find a better matching A clarinet.
Also, it is not obliged to use the same mouthpiece and reed on both instruments, though it is practical. With different mouthpieces you can also try to match the two better.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2016-03-19 02:24
My first A clarinet was a 1950s Selmer Omega. It had a big, rattling tone, played in tune and had just the right combination of ease and resistance. Unfortunately, the companion Bb wasn't nearly as good, and I traded it for an R13. The two were different enough that I had to keep in practice on both, but when I did, I had no trouble switching.
Eventually I found a good R13 and sold the Selmer, but there's nothing illegal, immoral or fattening about playing a mixed pair.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2016-03-19 16:53
Tommo - for several years I played a Rossi French bore Bb and a Buffet Fesitval. Although the playing characteristics were significantly different, I never had problems changing from horn to horn.
I did ultimately want to be playing two of the same horn. Since my performing career is steady but small, I decided not to buy a Rossi A to go with my Bb. I tried to go back and match a Bb to my wonderful Fesitval A -- and couldn't find anything I liked.
I play CSGII's and am quite happy with them. If you need an A frequently and you have the cash to spend, go get a CSG A.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: jcm499
Date: 2016-03-19 17:21
Like you, I used to play in “advanced amateur” level orchestras: a youth orchestra and a university orchestra, though both admittedly had a lot of aspiring pros. I used a Buffet E-12 (Germany) in Bb and a Noblet 45 in A, with a different mouthpiece and reed on each. Légère made that easy. Each clarinet did sound and feel noticeably different—to me—but during the six or seven years I played in orchestras, not once did anyone notice or comment, not even other clarinetists. They noticed and commented on other things, just not that! The other clarinetists I played with did have matched pairs, but I suspect that at least some clarinetists, even those who get matched pairs, eventually switch to a different “A” clarinet if they find one with less resistance, or just one they like better for some other reason.
So it’s likely no one even notices you have an unmatched pair, and frankly even a matched pair probably has differences in feel and resistance, but I’m assuming that since you’re an advanced amateur and have some really nice horns, that you have a good nonmusical career and you're able to spend the money. If your goal is to be as good as possible, why not just buy the Yamaha “A” and see if it homogenizes things? If I were still playing classical, that's what I would do. If you hate it you can always sell it at a fairly reasonable loss, I'm sure there's an up-and-coming youth orchestra kid who would be thrilled to have it.
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