 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TheOtherJon
Date: 2016-09-07 05:49
Hello guys (and gals),
This may be a silly question to ask and it is far from a technical one, but here goes:
I bought a Yamaha 250 a few years back just to test the waters and see if I enjoyed playing the clarinet. Well I do, and would like to upgrade to a (used) 450N. My question is, did they redesign the case at any point? Most of the 450Ns I'm seeing come in a very square, boxy case with angular corners, with the slots for the barrel and mouthpiece oriented diagonally in the case.
Then sometimes I'll see them in a (Yamaha-branded) case with the mouthpiece slot oriented vertically and the barrel slot oriented horizontally. Does this mean at some point a replacement case was purchased? I don't mind not having the original case, it just makes me worry about the barrel not being original, and also makes me wonder how well-cared-for the instrument was.
I hope that's not a weird question, and I thank anyone who could shed some light on that.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2016-09-07 06:35
The case is immaterial. That you have seen both cases in significant numbers indicates (to me) that Yamaha provided most of the cases. Otherwise the upgrade/replacement case would be one of several brands.
Always try before you buy - the only way to determine it the instrument (with or without original barrel) is appropriate for you.
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: TomS
Date: 2016-09-10 17:55
Yamaha 450 is superb, IMHO.
I'd make sure the original barrel is with the instrument, if possible. I tried one a few months ago and it did not tune as well with my "C bore" Ridenour barrel (that works perfectly with my Libertas).
Yamaha should have designed the stock barrel to play well in tune and that should be your starting point of reference.
Tom
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Author: TheOtherJon
Date: 2016-09-11 09:43
Thanks Tom and Tobin.
I do realize the case issue is immaterial, I'm just super curious about a possible case redesign. A replacement case tells me the instrument's owner may not have been the most responsible horn-owner. On the other hand, if they redesigned the case, I'm guessing this vertical/horizontal arrangement is likely newer (since I'm seeing less of them), and therefore the instrument itself is newer, which (in my years of experience playing many other instruments) can be either a good or bad thing. Such as: maybe they've made certain improvements to the design or manufacturing process? On the other hand, perhaps grenadilla wood has become protected and the good, old-growth is in short supply and lesser-quality "farmed" wood is being used?
Maybe I'm over-thinking this. I'm looking on "the" popular local buy/sell/trade site so I can try those ones out, but am also looking on a certain popular online auction site. In either case, it is often non-musical parents selling their child's instrument, so who knows?!
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Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2016-09-11 13:33
Yamaha's 450N is fast becoming the standard in intermediate-level clarinets. They've been on the market since the early 2000s, and have had several case redesigns. The clarinet itself seems to be quite the warhorse, and with proper care should be a long-lived instrument. The standard barrel is a 65mm length. Yamahas are squirrelly - in that they are particular to their own type of barrel bore and length.
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2016-09-11 16:44
Quote:
A replacement case tells me the instrument's owner may not have been the most responsible horn-owner.
That's not necessarily true, but even if it is: You describe seeing largely two different sets of cases. It's impossible that a large group of different people all chose the same replacement case in numbers significant enough to be confused with a manufacturer's change of equipment.
Quote:
Such as: maybe they've made certain improvements to the design or manufacturing process?
Yes -- that will be the primary reason. The 450 is also essentially the same as the 34, which was their previous designation for the model.
Quote:
On the other hand, perhaps grenadilla wood has become protected and the good, old-growth is in short supply and lesser-quality "farmed" wood is being used?
I haven't heard of this being the case for any company. Are we harvesting the wood faster than it grows? Yes. Are manufacturers drying the wood faster than they used to? Yes.
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: TheOtherJon
Date: 2016-09-12 01:24
Fantastic info, guys. Thank you!
And Ken, that was precisely what I wanted to know. It seems like the vertical/horizontal cases tend more often to contain instruments where the lettering is less worn, so I will assume those are the newer ones. Guess I could go either way...
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