 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bazzer the Jazzer
Date: 2003-01-27 20:42
Does clarinet snobbery abound at all, I have been guilty of it and I know of players who thrive on it, I once heard a clarinet player some years ago who had a wonderful sound, I asked him what he was playing, it was a cheap plastic clarinet and he used a plastic reed, I have also met a player who paid more than £2000 for his instrument and I thought he had a wimp of a tone and no technique. I now play an old Selmer Metal Boehm, its the best conversation piece I have ever had, lots of people, musicians and punters ask me about it, so am I suffering from metal clarinet snobbery!
Any comments on plastic reeds, I have been told that Artie Shaw used them all the time, true/untrue? I always have one in my clarinet case, part of the kit 'the emergency reed'!
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2003-01-27 21:30
Hi Bazzer:
Two comments on plastic:
1) I recorded "And The Band Played On" by Carter Burwell, for one of the first AIDS movies, on a plastic Fibercell sent to me by Dave Shaffer as a prototype to try out. It worked well for that application, and I still use them for certain pieces.
2) The great Jazz clarinetist, Kenny Daverne, plays a vintage Conn plastic clarinet. On a resent concert we did together, he played his famous plastic Conn, it sounded great. I asked to try it, and it does play great.
So, there you have it. I use Vandoren vintage reeds, and a Buffet R-13, but I also use the Fibercell and I'd love to find a vintage Conn like Kenny's to use for certain recordings.
JJM
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-01-27 22:10
Metal clarinet snobbery? That's a good one, Bazzer! I play a metal horn occasionally and no one seems to notice(much) - or care. So, how does MCS work? Maybe I'm just out of it... :[hahahahahaha]
Nothing wrong with plastic reeds, in my opinion (they can last a lot longer than cane) but I have a slight preference for the 'real thing'.
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Author: Bryan
Date: 2003-01-27 23:35
I don't know what kind of reeds Shaw played, but since he quit playing in 1954, it's unlikely there was anything even remotely like a playable plastic reed at the time.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2003-01-28 00:50
The Silva Bet metal clarinet I have seems to be in better tune than my R13! The plastic reeds I've seen from that ancient era were of a homogeneous material with a slick surface and I still have one. Good luck!
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2003-01-28 02:56
Usually you can get a Selmer metal clarinet on eBay for $500 to $700, but I have seen a full boehm Selmer fully restored go for $1700. They were sold as professional clarinets in the early 1930s. That plastic Conn my not fetch $75 (but of course may play better.) Whatever floats yer boat.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-01-28 05:30
To whom it may concern :])
In the mid-50s plastic reeds had been around for quite a few years. Of the ones I know about, some were bluish/clear, some sorta cream color and I think maybe there were other colors. Plastic coated(brown color) cane reeds never seemed too popular in my recollection. I liked the cream colored variety. They were a bit pricey but very durable.
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Author: Bazzer the Jazzer
Date: 2003-01-28 12:47
Comments about two postings to mine.
My Selmer metal clarinet cost me the princely sum of £100, it is not in perfect condition, some of the plating gone but it plays very well, also I find it very much in tune(when it has warmed up!) the throat notes are very strong, I have a Selmer Centeredtone I play on occasion, but I prefer the metal one, there is no doubt that I lose out on tone to an extent, but the tuning. the strong throat notes and the ease of playing make it worthwhile.
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Author: jez
Date: 2003-01-28 13:26
I've been trying plastic reeds (Legere) for a couple of weeks and have had no problem. While they say that you can just 'pick up & play' not requiring wetting, I think they sound awful at first and only start to work properly when warmed up. I suppose plastic would be more susceptible to change of temperature than cane. People must be put off by their first impressions if they don't stick with it.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2003-01-28 18:11
In the U.S. plastic reeds came out during WWII when cane was not available. Whether one could call them playable or not is a matter of opinion. I can't comment on plastic before WWII.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-01-28 22:24
Sure ya can - you're old enough.
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Author: Christine
Date: 2003-01-30 08:09
I have been quite satisfied with the lEGERE plastic reeds and use them for practice and as a back up reed. However, I do not like to use them in a "legit" gig. Snobbery is definietely alive and well!
Christine
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