 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-12-04 21:27
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1Ool42gji8
Because it's not a Buffet and there's more to clarinets than Buffet.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: donald
Date: 2025-12-04 23:17
Looks worth trying out, of course no A clarinet yet which is a drag. I personally like all the adjusting screws, but I also have discovered (after 40 years of teaching) that the more screws there are, the more screws there are to go out of adjustment (for multiple reasons, including students messing with them) so if this catches on teachers better make sure they're tooled up!
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Author: ruben
Date: 2025-12-05 00:11
I find this rather exciting! I tried to talk Lorée into making clarinets. -unsuccessfully.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-12-05 00:38
Loree made some clarinets in the past.
Josef are probably the only other oboe maker who still make clarinets:
http://www.josef-oboe.com/en/clarinet.html
Other oboe makers that made clarinets were Howarth and Marigaux - both ceased in the 2000s because they simply couldn't compete with Buffet. Marigaux also made student model clarinets for Howarth in the 1980s through to the 1990s.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2025-12-05 14:14)
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-12-05 04:13
IMPRESSIVE! I had seen Jay Hassler (ClarinetNinja) interview Melanie Wong who was his repair tech and was pleasantly surprised to see she was consulted by Fox. Jay says he'll try to get her back on his channel to talk about this project.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-12-05 08:27
Ruben wrote:
"I find this rather exciting! I tried to talk Lorée into making clarinets. -unsuccessfully."
Loree did make clarinets back in 1920s-30s but they did not survive competition from Selmer and Buffet. I have a Loree clarinet. The workmanship is very high quality- it's got silver plated keywork that works very well and the wood seems very dense. Maybe, they could not make any profit producing such high quality instruments that faced steep competition from Selmer and Buffet who made their clarinets in much higher quantities.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2025-12-05 10:20
1964: Marigaux also made clarinets at one point.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-12-06 01:31
Trying to learn more I did I watched the originally linked video.
There I watched an interesting video where Fox Clarinet Vice President of Engineering, Sarah Thelen talked about how she sought to leverage Fox's core competencies in creating (double reed) instruments during (what I presume was some down time during) Covid to work on the company's foray into clarinet making.
https://youtu.be/p1Ool42gji8?si=YYTahPRnxNaF8qp0&t=247
While I completely get that strategic move, especially given the company's experience working with grenadilla and machining wood, another part of me wishes they had started the project from the ground up using another material whose life as instrument raw material isn't proving so finite.
Perhaps they'll perfect their designs using the materials they know first.
Post Edited (2025-12-06 01:32)
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-12-06 02:33
If it were me (obviously it isn't), I'd want to prove technical and artisian competence and acceptance with familiar materials first before branching off.
Plus, they're already familiar enough with grenadilla with oboe manufacturing, so no reason to change - at least right away. Perhaps they'll add other woods or materials later? They do have a 'proprietary plastic' that they use even for their entry-level professional models.
They're well positioned to create similar models for various price-points.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-12-06 02:51
The one aspect of the video I had the most trouble with was all the vocal fry. Why do American women and hoity-toity English toffy-nosed men speak like that?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
Independent Woodwind Repairer
Single and Double Reed Specialist
Oboes, Clarinets and Saxes
NOT A MEMBER OF N.A.M.I.R.
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2025-12-06 02:53)
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-12-06 02:55
Smoking?
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: Erez Katz
Date: 2025-12-06 19:19
Fox also makes a resin (polypropylene) Bassoon. I hope they offer a non-wood Clarinet further down the road.
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-12-06 20:00
Erez Katz wrote:
> Fox also makes a resin (polypropylene) Bassoon. I hope they
> offer a non-wood Clarinet further down the road.
I'm glad to see this, thanks for the reference, not simply because Fox has made their way to synthetic materials, but considers this one of their professional models.
And I feel this way because materials like plastic have gotten a bad rap IMO as a material out of which to make a clarinet, I think, in large part because we've always associated this material with entry level poorly designed instruments.
I hold the opinion that it isn't the plastic that made them (although I'm sure that some plastics are better than others) so but the instrument's design, and that plastic and hard rubber are strong options, designed correctly, to replace granadilla.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2025-12-06 20:33
It's nice to see their engineers talk about it from a (sort of layman) engineering perspective, as opposed to most other companies who rave about their instruments being built on a moon eclipse by someone with a red tie and that's why they project better (to give a mild example).
Being made entirely in the USA probably doesn't have the aura it used to have... but maybe still does to some Americans.
The price is good for what it seems to be compared with supposedly equivalent models from other companies.
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-12-06 21:23
Attachment: ChatGPT Image Dec 6, 2025, 12_19_52 PM.jpg (340k)
clarnibass wrote:
> It's nice to see their engineers talk about it from a (sort of
> layman) engineering perspective, as opposed to most other
> companies who rave about their instruments being built on a
> moon eclipse by someone with a red tie and that's why they
> project better (to give a mild example).
>
Hi Natai:
I want to assure you that my response to your thoughts is no way meant disrespectfully but rather as some comedy we all could use, and to demonstrate the power of AI.
ChatGPT: "draw me a picture of a man in a red tie observing an eclipse of the moon" 
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-12-06 21:52
clarnibass wrote:
> It's nice to see their engineers talk about it from a (sort of
> layman) engineering perspective, as opposed to most other
> companies who rave about their instruments being built on a
> moon eclipse by someone with a red tie and that's why they
> project better (to give a mild example).
>
> Being made entirely in the USA probably doesn't have the aura
> it used to have... but maybe still does to some Americans.
>
> The price is good for what it seems to be compared with
> supposedly equivalent models from other companies.
Admittedly, because of various levels of clarinets from major manufacturers being made outside of France, it does tend to leave that imprint that anything outside of France is going to be 'less than.'
Leblanc USA made student & intermediate instruments
Selmer USA made Bundy and Selmer student & intermediate instruments
Buffet didn't manufacture in USA, but did manufacture student & intermediate instruments in Germany (Schreiber) and in China for their Prodige or Premium student clarinets.
But thanks to Backun being in Canada and being a top artist quality instrument manufacturer, I think the American 'stigma' may lessen? I've also heard good things about Jean Paul instruments (although still student level) and they are made in USA as well.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2025-12-06 22:43
What is the price of the 5800 again?
I see that "Music and Arts" is a Fox dealer. Can one try a 5800 at ANY Music and Arts location?
.............Paul Aviles
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2025-12-07 03:44
AH!!!!!!!!
4200 dollars…… thank you SweetWater.
Still, if anyone knows how to go about trying one out, just let me know.
………….Paul Aviles
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-12-07 04:01
They offer a tour of the factory in IN. Maybe, instrument trial is possible.
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