 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: matilda
Date: 2004-02-18 14:36
I`ve been paying clarinet for about 9 years and have always had a Buffet B12. I`ve manged to create a pretty good tone even tho it`s plastic but have finally saved up the money to buy a wood one. I`ve been told by my teacher that I sould be looking at professional instruments such as the Buffet R13, Selmer 10SII or Selmer 10G. I`m not really sure how to choose between them. I have heard that The 10G is more of a solo instrument but that`s about it! Because I`ve always had a Buffet and loved it I`m kinda biased towards them too but don`t want to ignore something that could be better. I`m not going to do music professionally, but I want a really good instrument that I can keep for ever and I will never grow out of. Have you got any experiance of the instruments mentioned? Can you offer me any advice? I want to choose the right instrument but it`s kinda scary! Thanks!!
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-02-18 14:54
That's a pretty open-ended question, one that's been addressed many times before and for which there's no clear answer, other than "get what works best for you." Use the Search function to find past threads, but the basic advice is thus: try as many horns as you can, check critical intervals like low F to middle C and thumb F to thumb C with a tuner (especially if you're thinking R-13), and evaluate the quality of the sound you produce. Have your teacher help you.
Also, assuming by your IP address that you're in the UK, consider a make that's popular over there. The R-13 is very popular here in the States, but its sound and tuning are geared more toward an "American" sound (whatever that is -- I'm still trying to determine). The RC is quite popular in Europe and is available tuned at 442 Hz as well as 440. Howarth and Peter Eaton clarinets are also fine choices for UK players if you can afford them.
Have fun.e
________________
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: David Peacham
Date: 2004-02-18 16:54
Ralph G wrote:
"The RC is quite popular in Europe and is available tuned at 442 Hz as well as 440."
True. But in England we play at A=440. Just for once, it's only those chaps on the continent who insist on ignoring international standards.
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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: Ralph G
Date: 2004-02-18 17:30
Now let's work on getting you to drive on the correct side of the road.
/terrified of renting a car over there
________________
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: David Peacham
Date: 2004-02-18 18:16
" Now let's work on getting you to drive on the correct side of the road."
Correct??????
It's not our fault the French changed the rules in revolutionary fervour and much of the rest of the world followed like sheep. There were good reasons for riding a horse on the left: leaves your sword-arm free to attack oncoming riders. There are good reasons for driving on the left: keep your right hand on the steering-wheel while you change gear with your left. Bicycles everywhere are built with the chain on the right, to be wheeled and mounted from the left. Horse-riders everywhere mount from the left (in France, Spain and the USA, at any rate, I haven't ridden in other countries). Oh, and we have the lowest road accident rate of any major European country.
FWIW, I have driven on the continent both in left-hand drive and right-hand drive cars, even changing directly from one to the other, with no difficulty at all.
Now, about those left-handed 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: Ralph G
Date: 2004-02-18 18:41
Hmm, I kinda like the idea of having my gun hand free...
/road-raged ugly American ponders moving to UK
________________
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
Post Edited (2004-02-18 18:46)
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2004-02-19 04:47
At any rate, LH and RH aside...
Have you yet upgraded to a more professional-quality mouthpiece?
That usually works better before just getting a whole new clarinet...
If you have taken this step, then look at the R13, by all means. But don't ignore Leblanc. They make rather fine instruments as well. I find the Selmer horns to be more difficult after starting on a Buffet or Vito (the Leblanc student line) because the Selmers' tone holes are usually larger. Just be sure that whatever horn you choose is one you feel _more_ than comfortable with, because you'll likely have it for quite a while!
Katrina (who has played the same R13 for more than 20 years...and it's from the year after she was born...1969)
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2004-02-19 05:51
"Just for once, it's only those chaps on the continent who insist on ignoring international standards"
Well that just shows that there is no "international standard"!
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Author: hemisboats
Date: 2004-02-20 02:13
YOUR TEACHER IS A WELL SCHOOLED PERSON I AM SURE BUT, DO NOT BE SOLD ON A COMMERCIAL NAME. I PLAY A PAUL DUPRE WOODWIND (WHICH HAS MANY OF THE SAME FEATURES AS A BUFFET OR LEBLANC) NEXT TO A GENTLEMEN WITH AN R13 AND HE ENVEIS ME. THE POINT I AM MAKING IS, THERE ARE MANY EXCELLENT CRAFTSMEN OUT THERE WHO MAKE JUST AS GOOD, IF NOT BETTER, SOUNDING HORNS AS BUFFET. THEY MAY ONLY MAKE 800-1,500 PIECES IN THEIR LIFETIME BUT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOUND, BYPASS THE MEDIA HYPE AND BUY A HORN THAT IS CRAFTED, NOT MASS PRODUCED.
ALWAYS LOOKIN
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Author: Alyra
Date: 2004-02-20 02:19
Hemisboats...can you not talk all in CAPS it makes it terribly hard to read your post
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Author: hemisboats
Date: 2004-02-20 02:37
Well said! Do not close your ears or let your fingers explore other named horns.
ALWAYS LOOKIN
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2004-02-20 11:26
I would also suggest looking at a Yamaha SE-V or CS-V. The SE-V has a brighter sound than the CS-V so use that as a guide. It's a very nice clarinet with good tuning and also very nice keywork.
MOO,
Matt
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