 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Aaron Diestel
Date: 2001-02-07 23:48
In my search for a perfect A clarinet there are of course many different brands. I have been trying many, many R-13 A's. Morehtan 11, and all were absolutely horrible. The one I ended up buying of the bunch plays with great resistance, is very stuffy, and is not even in tuning throught the range. I play a Bb R-13 which is a great horn, and I wouldn't ever trade it for anything, at least not yet. However A clarinets are a different story.
I am wondering what brand of A clarinet would everyone reccomend? I am going into a masters for clarinet performance next year, and play in a couple orchestras. So it will get much use.
I know a question may be what length barrel could I use to bring the pitch up. Well i'm using a Buffet Caddash 65mm barrell and it is still falt enough that i cannot evenn lip it into tune. Yes I have even tried the Moenning and Standerd barrels on it.
Also the 3rd line Bb, (bb1) is extremely airy. So extremely air to the point that after placing all resonance fingers down it barely sounds respectable, not even close to the clearness of the A(a1). I have had much done to the horn by a very respectable technitian. Register tubes have been replaced with that of an R-13 Prestige, Hasty Pad put on the register key. Pads seated correctly.
My only outcome from this is that the R-13's of today are just not manufactured well. It's a shame that I have to say that, but it's true. After playing 11 horns and none of them comming close to even a intermediate level horn's quality I don't know what to do anymore.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Meri
Date: 2001-02-07 23:58
I think you have to try different makes, or at least different models. I didn't like the regular R-13 A, but I loved the Prestige. (also tried at the clarinet clinic mentioned in my other message) Only it didn't seem to match my late '60's R-13 Bb too well.
Generally you would stick with the "big four"--Buffet, Selmer, Leblanc, and Yamaha, but do try a few of the others known on this site, such as the Patricola and Fox instruments. (although I did give my opinion of them in your previous message; yours may be very different)
So, try different makes, and find out what you like.
Meri
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2001-02-08 01:22
A good clarinet technician can make adjustments and fix alot of the stuffy notes. When I got my buffet festival Bb, I tested about 6, chose the one I liked best after my teacher tested it also, and I have had to take it to the technician twice. The first time before I bought it to adjust the tuning of the throat A...The second time was to open up some of the tone holes more to get a clearer, less stuffy sound. When I first got my R13 A years ago, it was pretty awful, but back then I wasn't as aware of it. I had some pads replaced with gortex ones, and asked the tech. to sort of liven the instrument up a bit......there were so many discusting stuffy notes. Now it plays really well. The instruments that come straight out of the factory's are not always 100% playable. There are people such as Peter Spriggs and Charles Bay who overhaul and adjust the instruments before they put them to sale. Anyway, as usual I've forgotten what the point to my little story is, but I just thought I'd share it with you.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-02-08 04:03
Curiosity - if none of the 11 were what you considered good, was it going to be hard to get another 11 or 12 to try.
I was a little surprised that you didn't have an A clarinet well in advance of going into a masters in clarinet performance, too ... unless you're starting a masters program program well in advance of when that would normally start in the US - at age 22 or 23.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2001-02-08 14:59
FYI--I have played a LeBlanc Concerto A for about 11 years (bought it while I was still playing a vintage 60's R-13) and, while it does hve a bit more "resistance" than my current Concerto Bb, it has an even scale, a good middle B, a great sound and in tune from bottom to top (tweeked by Tom Ridenour). I recently began using a Chadash 64mm (640 A) barrel which makes a slight difference in the tone "color" but it was a great horn even with the stock LeBlanc-issue barrel. The only other "A" that I have played and liked as well was an" American bore" Luis Rossi clarinet at IMC. Hope this helps a bit--good luck in your search.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Aaron Diestel
Date: 2001-02-08 15:12
In reply to Mark.
I am still in my undergraduate program. I haven't started graduate work, but will be next year, Fall 02. So I'm on the normal plan at starting masters wwork at 22.
I am just looking for an A that plays well enought to be a respectable horn for solo and orchestral playing.
To the Aussie,
my repair tech is really great, she works on many horns of symphony players from the St. Louis Symphony to Denver SO. She is great friends with Francois Kloc and she talks with him frequently about problems she encounters with Buffet products. She has done all she can to work on the horn without having to take drastic measures.
I'll look into the Prestige and even try a Festival if I can find one. Rossi would be great, only if the price was a little better...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: 'nifer
Date: 2001-02-08 17:32
hi.. i hope that you are not truly expecting the a to play JUST like your Bb does because most a's require a LOT more air and inherently feel a LOT stuffier than Bbs do.. It took my "a" about a year to fully open up and play a lot more clearly.. but now it plays GREAT!
'nifer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-02-08 19:06
Still - all the clarinet performance majors I've ever talked to have had an A clarinet obtained in their Freshman year (1st year of college/conservatory) since it's pretty much required for orchestra and chamber music work. I'm surprised you didn't need one well before now.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Aaron Diestel
Date: 2001-02-08 23:28
mark,
I have had this A clarinet for about little over a year and a half now. I bought it for the specific task of playing in orchestra and solo work. However, when i entered college my freshman year, I wasn't planning on a music performance degree. I was just here to play and have fun, but now that I'm getting a Music Ed and performance degree and plan to go to grad school for performance. I love playing, however I need an A that will play better than the one I own now.
aaron
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2001-02-10 10:07
Dont blame the tool. Try to learn how to play an A clarinet first. They play altogether different to a Bb. You need to centre your embouchure and air flow and adapt your ear. The main problem I have found is that that my students are trying to blow the A the same as the Bb and get an airy stuffy non-centered sound. Think a half tone lower from the word go.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
