 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Wayne
Date: 2001-10-14 04:07
My current clarinet (an old Evette, with 2 pinned cracks) is "holding me back" according to my teacher. After much switching back and forth, we have both come to realize that this instrument has an especially poor B flat. My teacher tried different barrels etc, and when compared to his R13, it wasn't in the same ballpark.
He mentioned that he had his horn picked out by someone named Lomax (spelling). He reports loving it from the day it arrived, even though he did not pick it out. I'm thinking of spending some money on a clarinet in the future and wonder what experience others have had with having a "3rd" party choose their instrument. He tells me that several companies will send three horns for trial, but that there are folks who have access to many more and can do a better job of choosing. Seems like a lot of money to put in another's "ears", but since I've never chosen an instrument, it may have proven to others to be a better route. Thanks
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-10-14 12:45
The third line B flat is generally of poor quality even on the finest of instruments. The problem is that the register key is doing double duty. Make it the right size and location for good register to register tuning and the Bb is horrible. Make it the right size and location for a good B flat and the register go out of tune relative to one another and it may be difficult to get the clarion register to speak. So it is always a compromise. Most makers tend to sacrifice the B flat.
However, you can improve the situation a great deal by keeping the register hole absolutely clean. Even a slight unnoticeable film can really affect this note.
The key may be slightly out of adjustment. Too low and that note is very bad.
In addition to keeping the tone hole clean, adding some fingers of the right hand can help. In passages that are not too fast, sometimes you can use the side key fingering.
It may help to change mouthpieces and/or reeds. If you are using the Buffet mouthpiece, definitely get a better one as these are not very good mouthpieces.
If your horn is properly maintained and adjusted, generally an Evette is of sufficient quality that it should not be "holding you back." Things can get out of adjustment and cause poor sound and difficulties with technique even though it seems to play fine.
Of course if you can afford better, go for it. Having a really fine horn is indeed a joy.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-10-14 19:02
I find myself in a "3rd party" situation at times, and having profited in the past myself from non-prejudicial advice, I do my best to advise a potential purchaser without bias. Sometimes it is difficult!! LOL. Don
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2001-10-14 19:08
Having a third party select a horn makes pretty good sense to me if the third party is knowledgeable and reputable and has available a half dozen or so horns to select from.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-10-14 20:42
Yes, people who play-test clarinets all the time are probably more able to select a good one than those who just try them out for a single purchase. We kind of keep up with what's happening at the various factories, etc. Also, a good third party will keep in mind your style of play and future goals as well as your pocket book. It's good to keep a "flexible" mind-set and not try to force the player into a mold of one particular brand and model.
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