 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-07-12 21:35
I dropped by the local music store today on a whim and, to my surprise, they had some R-13s and a Festival in stock. They normally just have student horns available.
I've never held a new pro-level Buffet until today. I was surprised at how light they felt; they hardly felt as though they were made of "premium" wood. (I didn't play them since I didn't have my mouthpiece with me).
I currently play on a 15-year-old R-13 Prestige, and that thing feels heavy and solid compared to these things -- like a big 70's model American car compared to a modern car. Even the silver-plated keys almost felt like the difference between an older coin and a new one -- lighter and less dense.
Just my imagination, or has today's wood supply resulted in clarinets that don't feel as solid?
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-07-12 21:42
The few people I have entrusted to hold my clarinet (or even play a little on it) have remarked that it seems "unusually heavy" - it's a 39-year-old Selmer. Part of the weight is due to the crystal mpc, but when those who have acutally played it try it our with their own mpc, they still say it's a bit heavy.
And, yes, when I've held/played a current clarinet, it does feel a little bit lighter to me. I'm not sure whether it's the wood, the keys, or maybe a combination of both.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-07-12 23:19
I have two R13's of similar vintage, and one--the gold plated one--always seems noticably lighter than the silver. Other's, including my old clarinet teacher, Glenn Bowen and a grad student of his, have remarked how "light" my gold clarinet feels. And I recently auditoined a RC A which also seemed lighter than my R13 A. Perhaps its the consistancy of the particular log from which the clarinets were carved. Bottom line, I dont know..........
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-07-13 00:47
The big question is, of course, whether that translates into clarinets of lesser quality than yesteryear. That one has been debated since before even today's crop of quality vintage clarinets were the new kids on the block and thought inferior.
Guess some of us prefer the heavies. As Ian Faith might say, "Certainly in the topsy turvy world of heavy rock, having a good solid piece of wood in your hand is quite often useful."
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-07-13 02:17
Well, when us old geezers are faced with a problem like this we revert to what we call a "scale."! All kidding aside, has anybody bothered to weight these dudes? Also, consider this, when you alter your thumb-rest you actually change the balance point of the instrument and your mind say's "What the heck." mAre these thumb-rests identical? Think about it!
Bob A
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Author: Fred
Date: 2003-07-13 03:07
Bob, that's not very touchy feely artsy of you. Are you trying to confuse an otherwise delightful departure into subjectivity by introducing hard cold facts?
![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-07-13 03:48
Bob A -
I checked out the difference between my Series 9 and my Vito (true, the original topic was comparing pro horns to other pro horns, but the Vito is at least of recent vintage), and the thumbrest on the Selmer is about 1/8 to 1/4" lower than on the Vito. Good suggestion to check that out!
I've never weighed my clarinet . . . I don't want it thinking it's fat compared to these new clarinets it sees in all the magazines.
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