 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Redhedclrnetist
Date: 2003-04-29 23:07
I was looking for a good marching clarinet on ebay when I stumbled across a description of one that had 14 keys. 14 keys? I didn't know there could be different "amounts" of them...
So I did some research on the subject and all I could come up with was even more possible numbers of keys (such as 19 and 17). What's the deal with that? Do the different numbers of keys make the sound different, or make it easier to play, or is it just the history and brand of the clarinet?
Can anyone enlighten me?
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2003-04-29 23:18
It's history. I think the cheap 14 key clarinets on eBay are Albert system. It was a respected 'simple' system at the turn of the century, and Greek and other folk players, and some jazz players still like them. Search under 'Albert' in clarinets on eBay, and you'll find some pictures. Keep doing research; there is a lot of interesting history.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-04-30 05:58
Also there are 13-key Clarinets on eBay. Most of those identified with numbers of keys (13 or 14) in the item titles are offered by sellers in India. They leave a great deal to be desired for playing. However, their decorative effect is very good, as they are very shiny and have flashy red pads.
Another different Clarinet is shown at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=10182&item=2525686332&rd=1. (This is not promoting the item, which has already sold.) Look at the pictures and you will see an instrument probably quite unlike the one you play. It is a current production German System Clarinet, not an antique.
Look in your library for _The Clarinet_ by Geoffrey Rendall, or perhaps the other book of the same name by Oskar Kroll. Each of these has some excellent pictures of various Clarinets with historical perspective.
Regards,
John
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2003-04-30 06:44
Albert and Oehler clarinets are described by the number of keys and rings. Most modern Oehler's are sold on the number of gadgets I play a Yamaha 457-20 which has for example a register key, G# & A throat, 3 upper rings, C#/G# and chromatic key, side Bb/Eb , speaker key and 2 trills, 3 lower rings, F/C, Eb/Ab,E/B, F#/C# extra and a LH Eb/Ab. Making a total of 20 keys and rings. They make instruments with 24 Keys and Rings or as few as 18. Most manufacturers of Oehler system do the same My most sparse clarinet, an 1870 Eb has only got 11 or 12. Some of the options include LH Bb/F like an oboe, E to F chromatic key and a bell vent key. Boehm's are pretty much all the same except for the LH Eb/Ab option, the extra full boehm ring or a low Eb. Some even have a bell vent key.
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Author: javier garcia m
Date: 2003-05-01 15:17
Standard Boehm clarinets have 17 keys and 6 rings. Some add the left hand Ab/Eb key. The full boehm system has 20 keys and 7 rings (adding for the third LH finger, to play the forked Eb/Bb), the 3 supplementary keys are the low Eb, the left hand Ab/Eb and the banana key for the C#/G#, operated by the RH middle finger.
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Author: geo
Date: 2003-05-01 16:15
Redhedclrnetist, there are some basic pictures of various types of clarinets at the following links, all of them have variations of course with additional keys, rings, tone and/or resonance holes:
Boehm,Oehler,Kinderklarinetten and Albert
But you say you are looking for a "good marching clarinet", for North America? for playing outside in a band? You are probably looking for a Boehm system (17 keys/6 rings) clarinet and if played outdoors, one *not* made of wood.
Although you can be lucky and get a very good clarinet on eBay, I would suggest great caution. You may need to have quite a bit of work (new mouthpiece, corks, pads, springs, key adjustment) done to such a clarinet which could knock the price up a couple of hundered dollars. Even if you should get one which requires little of the above work, you may not get one which is in tune.
If you should have little experience with clarinets, I would stongly suggest finding a friend or better a clarinet teacher with experience who would go to a shop with you to test and help you choose a clarinet. The Vito clarinets (among others) are often highly praised here for outdoor playing and you may find that you would be able to get one of these new or slightly used in proper condition for less than an unlucky eBay bargin.
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Author: Redhedclrnetist
Date: 2003-05-01 20:19
Thank you all so much! Your information and links have been very helpful. In all of my five years of enjoying the clarinet I have had no idea how diverse the subject is. I thought all clarinets were the same!! I will certainly keep pursuing this...
By the way, the clarinet I was looking for is purely for outside marching (yay for marching band!). My friends and family sometimes tease me about how many I already own. I'm not very concerned about how it plays or sounds, because I will most likely be drowned out by the other 18 in the section (but maybe not. They are somehow incapable of playing louder than mezzo piano all the time). Fortunately I picked a Vito!
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