 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2003-12-16 15:56
If you were forced to give up your favourite clarinet and play a different brand, what would you choose?
Suppose also that you made a tape of yourself playing the old instrument, and, after a few weeks of adaptation, a tape of yourself playing the same music on the new one. Do you think you, or anyone else, could tell the difference?
Yes, I confess, this question is aimed primarily at those who insist that a certain brand beginning with B sounds better than anything else. Myself, I suspect the truth lies nearer to the statement, made recently in another thread, that "The vast majority of musicians cannot hear any difference between the top brands of clarinets."
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-12-16 16:35
1. LeBlanc
2.Yes......why? Because I doubt I could play the same piece identically and I would be able to spot the difference(s). But, assuming I could play it identically I just don't know if I could tell the difference because the recording wouldn't sound like the live performance. It does get complicated.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2003-12-16 16:40
To clarify my question, when I asked whether you "could tell the difference" I meant, could you tell which recording was made on which clarinet. I wasn't implying that the two recordings would sound identical. I was questioning whether differences in the recordings could be attributed to the change of instrument.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2003-12-16 16:57
If for some reason I had to play a different instrument than my favorite one I'm used to?... I don't believe it would make any difference to a listener. It might take a few minutes for me to adapt to the difference in 'feel' but, no, I sound just as bad :\ on whatever it happens to be.
I'm a little more particular about "my" mouthpiece/reed setup, however. Please, don't mess with that.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-12-16 20:15
David Peacham ... what is the point of the question?
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Author: William
Date: 2003-12-16 20:43
I have played clarinets from all major brands that were good enough for me to play on any given "gig". For me, the important things are intonation and eveness of scale. After a few days of playing any clarinet, I tend to project "my own" sound, so the particular brand of the clarinet does not matter much--just so long as it plays nicely. Currently playing LeBlanc Concertos, but my old 1960s Buffet R13s are still pretty good as well.
Now, if I had to give up clarinets all together, it would definately be the trumpet!! No more pesky reeds or concern about cold weather damage. No disassembly and swabbing, Just throw the trumpet into a bag and exit Orchestra Hall--simple as that.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-12-16 20:45
Diz, ? Possibly to consider our options? As in Fiddler "If I were a rich man/woman", what and where? The more exotic of our woodwinds?, or just top-of-line Big 4's on which we have had insufficient experience? I find it fun to ponder along with our lotteries!! The Fast Lane Life?? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-12-16 22:09
David peacham said:
> Yes, I confess, this question is aimed primarily at those who insist
> that a certain brand beginning with B sounds better than anything else.
Bestler, Barclay, or Bundy? What other brand could it be?
By the way, I am looking for a used Bestler clarinet to add to my collection. Will pay cash, up to $2.49, or 2 subway tokens ...GBK
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Author: Bob Schwab
Date: 2003-12-17 01:22
I like the question.
I play a Yamaha, so I supose that I'm not really the target audience for this question. But having said that I'd probably play a Buffet as my second choice. Of course I'd love to have a Pete Fountain LeBlanc just because I think it would be a fun instrument to have. The gold plated keys kind of make a statement too. I have a friend who plays an R-13. Not that I'm anything special when it comes to playing the clarinet (I'm not) but the Buffet seems to play a lot like my Yamaha. I played another friend's Selmer once and noticed a HUGE difference in the sound of the chalemeau (sp?) range. I liked it, but, if my memory serves me correctly, the fullness of that sound seemed to come at the expense of the tone in the upper ranges. My two cents.
Would I hear a difference? Probably. Definately if I played my other friend's Selmer. And the Pete Fountain LeBlanc? I've never played one but I'd love to give it a try and see how much of Pete's "fat" sound is him and how much is his setup. No doubt it's a little of both, but I'd sure like to find out if my tone would even resemble it if I could play one of his model clarinets.
Bob Schwab
"Men are God's methods. While men look for better methods, God looks for better men." E.M. Bounds
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Author: LeOpus1190s
Date: 2003-12-17 07:38
If i had to change brands... I would probably change to Wurlitzer....
For the question at hand. The most expierence i have playing would be with the Leblanc Opus and the Buffet R-13. There is a difference and for myself, I could never adjust to the opus's to bring out the "real me" in my playing. There is definatly a different recordings on both instruments. On buffet I forget about the kind of clarinet i am playing on focus on the real goad, making myself a better player. when I played leblanc, i couldn't focus on myself because the instrument presented to many problems with in itself.
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2003-12-17 08:22
diz - the point of the question is to see whether anyone - in particular, any of the professional players on the BB - would answer "I play brand X and would, if forced, change to brand Y, but I could never make Y sound as good as X."
I have an open mind on this issue - but, as I said above, a strong suspicion that a good player will sound exactly the same on any decent instrument.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-17 09:06
Basically diz, this question is asked of people who are very partial to a certain brand (whatever the brand may be). To people like me, who will play anything that sounds good, it really isn't that great a question. But people who are very brand oriented and tend to stick to one brand are now forced to choose their "second best". Hmmm . . . I wonder what a certain person that has 10+ R-13's would say . . . . I have an idea, but I could be wrong . . .
Alexi
LeOpus1190s - I'm curious as to why you have that name if you say you couldn't get an Opus to work for you and prefer your R-13. . .
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2003-12-17 09:08)
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Author: javier garcia m
Date: 2003-12-17 10:24
Belcanta? Blessing?
an old Buescher?
I think we, clarinetists, are lucky to have many good brands to choose our instruments. Beside the big 4', there are now many specialized makers as Chadash, S. Fox, P. Eaton, Rossi, Patricola (and others) from where you have more options to look for a good instrument.
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Author: graham
Date: 2003-12-17 11:43
I am far from being the person the question is framed for, but of all the clarinets I would like to try for an extended period, and which are currently in production (to my knowledge) I would go for Rossi French Bore. I have a feeling that would be the closest to my current instruments, so the recording would probably not sound too different. I may be wrong though.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-12-17 12:05
1) Buffet
2) Yes
I play on one of the "other" major brands (Selmer 10G).
One of the major drawbacks playing something other than the current market leader is the dearth of off-the-shelf accessories available.
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Author: Tim P
Date: 2003-12-17 14:02
I would happy to just be able to switch TO my favorite instrument and retire the one I play.
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2003-12-17 14:46
I would probably switch to a Selmer. I know I was a bit hesitant when my school made me play on Selmer bass clarinets, but I think I like them more now. I never tried anything outside of my Buffet... and other people's Buffets... so I guess I don't know much about other instruments. :P
--Contragirl
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Author: wyatt
Date: 2003-12-17 14:48
I would buy a Rossi.
i know the maker---super guy.
I loved the horn----sounds and feels great.
supports a man who loves his craft.
bob gardner}ÜJ
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-12-17 15:33
David: your query was made more complicated than you anticipated when you threw in the "taping" issue. Some of us probably wanted to answer that issue precisely rather than generically. For openers......what kind of tape and recording instrumentation? ....etc etc. When one listens to any tape of oneself,however, he doesn't hear what he hears live....etc,etc.
I think a lot of us spend our lives searching for the holy grail clarinet that makes us sound the way we dream of sounding. I do appreciate what you are trying to get at......
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-12-17 16:05
Alexi, I suspect by that "certain person" with 10+ R13s, you may mean GBK. If that's right, remember that he also has both an open mind and another Clarinet from outside the "Big 4" which he enjoys playing
Mark C, wide availability of accessories is an excellent reason to buy anything, and I'd never thought of it regarding Clarinets. What a good comment.
If my whole stable of Clarinets vanished, I have no idea what brand(s) I'd buy. It would mean starting all over, with lots of trials. Having listened to my own playing with earphones "live" and recorded, my sound is pretty much the same on any decent Clarinet. With different mouthpieces and reeds, it's all over the place.
But David, I haven't played for real money since 1962.
Regards,
John
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Author: GBK
Date: 2003-12-17 16:18
Actually, if I had to change brands from Buffet (the thought sends chills) I would probably try and corner the market on Couesnon clarinets, as I have yet to ever play a bad one.
As far as newer brands, for overall value and pricing Amati wins hands down.
On the high end, Guy Chadash is making great strides in improving and taking the clarinet into the 21st century...GBK
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2003-12-17 16:42
This is an interesting question, but is it important? Every year at the stock car track there are winners in Fords, Chevy's, Dodges, Pontiacs, you name it.
I come to gigs with Brannonized R13 & R13A, and a Stephen Fox C. These instruments all play very differently, but I can work with them. If money were not an issue, I might make some changes, or I might not. Still waiting for that big lottery check.
What if you were marooned on an island with only your old student instrument. Would you keep playing or quit hoping for that great pro horn to wash up on the beach?
|-(8^)
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2003-12-17 20:27
I would have to say that if I were forced to change(actually in my case it would be just to afford), I would switch to either Wurlitzer or Dietz. These are two of the big clarinet makers in Germany. Could I tell a difference between my Prestige and a Wurlitzer? You bet I could. My current setup is already geared more towards a Germanic setup. With German instruments, there is more resistance in the horn. Many younger students and even some younger professionals seem to the think that the resistance should come from the reed. That is why many people play on stronger reeds. To compensate for a lack of resistance in the horn. A clarinet should not be easy blowing. How in the world would you ever be able then to play something requiring fast staccato? This is one problem I have encountered with LeBlanc horns. They are too easy to play. Maybe I just have not played enough LeBlancs. I have spent too much time though. I guess I am just partial to that style of playing, as my teacher played on Wurlitzers. When you play a Buffet and have to match a Wurlitzer, if you have a good ear you can change your voicing and produce that Wurlitzer sound.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-12-17 20:32
Ralph Katz wrote:
> What if you were marooned on an island with only your old
> student instrument. Would you keep playing or quit hoping for
> that great pro horn to wash up on the beach?
>
> |-(8^)
I might just whittle a clarinet of my own out of driftwood! It'll be the first "driftwood" clarinet. With a harsh, and sandy sound. And the barrel could be out of coco-nut, which provides a sweeter tone and closer twelfths due to it's special ream.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Meri
Date: 2003-12-18 19:07
Yamaha! Four of my students play on them (three student-grade, one intermediate-grade), which I thought all played very well. Also having a good experinece with a Yamaha YCL-280 Eb that I rented to do Cabaret.
Meri
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-12-18 22:15
"A clarinet should not be easy blowing. How in the world would you ever be able then to play something requiring fast staccato?"
Fast staccato has nothing to do with whether a clarinet is easy blowing or not. It has to do with tongue speed. If you disagree with me- I challenge you to a staccato race! :-)
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2003-12-18 22:45
Liquorice wrote:
> Fast staccato has nothing to do with whether a clarinet is easy
> blowing or not. It has to do with tongue speed. If you disagree
> with me- I challenge you to a staccato race! :-)
Tongue speed is only one part. You can have the world's fastest tongue, but if you do not have resitance it will be like trying to stop on ice. So in that regards I must disagree with your rebuttal. Perhaps fast staccato was too broad and not really what I meant to say. I do say that resistance is necessary to tongue well. Take Midsummer for example. In the scherzo, most people can tongue that passage. It will be a lot easier and clearer with resistance. If you disagree with that, we will have to agree to disagree.
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2003-12-18 22:51
Why do you need resistance? You only need to tongue lightly enough to stop the reed from vibrating.
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Author: Clarence
Date: 2003-12-18 23:12
<<A clarinet should not be easy blowing.>>
Hey, Give me a clarinet with no resistance or no more resistance than a saxaphone.
And also a perfect playing reed.
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Author: LeOpus1190s
Date: 2003-12-19 01:42
let me do this again...
1. Selmer Signature Series Clarinets
2. I could tell the difference between both horns but I really liked the sound of the Selmer Signature.
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Author: fredackerman
Date: 2003-12-19 23:52
I'm not a professional clarinettist like the rest of you, gee my first lession awaits! I am a photographer and this subject [which camera] comes up all the time. I can pick up any camera from point & shoot to a 8x10 view and take a "professional" picture...but, the quality of the image is always different. You give me a Nikon or a Canon 35mm pro camera and I'll produce the same [more or less] quailty print. The thing is "professional tools" be they cameras, clarinets or handtools feel better, look better and I believe make us...well, better! I know that any of you can pickup any clarinet and make it sound just fine.
Fred
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