 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Marcowelby
Date: 2004-04-04 01:47
Hi!
I just discover this clarinet board and I find it so interesting.
I am an amateur but really love playing the clarinet (I wish I was a better musician though).
I am thinking of buying a new clarinet and I sort of agree that it is best to try the clarinet.
For instance I just try new clarinets today at a local store and I must say that the best clarinet today was a Yamaha YCL SEV (even though there was a lot negative about Yamaha clarinet on this board and on the internet) beating easily a buffet R13 and RC as well as a Selmer Odyssey because it was easy blowing, beautiful round tone, and the altissimo notes seems easier to get than on the other clarinets.
I do not want to start a new discussion on which is the best clarinet but rather to find what would you want to test on a clarinet that you want to buy.
I have a few suggestions but would like people from the board to suggest others
Mine would be:
Obviously how round is the tone?
Is it easy to play the altissimo note and are the note nice to the ear?
Does the Bb play well in the middle register?
Is there a big jump in blowing pressure necessary when go From A to B in the middle register?
Is there a big difference when you play the regular fingering for Eb or Bb versus the fingering with the 1st and 4th tone hole closed?
Thanks
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-04 02:04
Actually, Tom Ridenour has a great article on testing clarinets. I would go to his website (http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/articles/select.htm I think is the one) and read that. It has wonderful suggestions (some of which I never even thought of before reading it).
And if you take a good CLOSE look, you'll see that Yamaha isn't picked on at all really on this board! It's considered one of the "big four" that you "can't go wrong with". So people like them. A lot of people do. Although you will probably see plenty of buffet lovers out there. Buffet just has the largest share of the market and probably WILL have the largest share for many many MANY years to come (probably throughout mine and your lifetimes)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2004-04-04 03:06)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-04-04 02:13
Re "Buffet just has the largest share of the market": that may prevail with professional-level Clarinets, but it hardly applies to student instruments (intermediates? I don't know).
Regards,
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-04 02:48
Yeah. That's what I MEANT to say. Sigh. I'm running on very little sleep lately.
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-04-04 02:59
One thing to remember in testing clarinets (esp. since you seem to be testing the higher-end models) is that in many instances, even a high-end instrument will need some expert set-up that many music stores can't/don't provide -- or do only halfway.
Case in point: my 10-year-old R-13. I originally chose it from among many others because I was seduced by its gorgeous "round" sound. It was, and is, an exceptionally rich-sounding clarinet (not just my opinion). But some of the intonation was bothersome to me, especially in the chalumeau. And the keywork -- well, it felt like it had sponges instead of springs. It also made you work hard for the altissimo, and the throat Bb -- well, don't even go there.
After years of struggling with this thing, I finally heeded the wisdom of many on this board, and took it to a Buffet specialist to see what he could do. I picked it up today, and Oh, my . . .!! It is a TOTALLY different horn, in terms of its intonation, clarity, responsiveness, easy, easy access to the highest notes, crisp keywork, and -- wonder of wonders -- a beautiful throat Bb. And it is still round and gorgeous sounding. A complete winner!
I only wish I had done this sooner. The $325 I spent to have this work done would have been a small price to pay to save myself 10 years of grief and aggravation over an outstanding but improperly adjusted instrument.
Susan
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Peacham
Date: 2004-04-04 08:40
When buying a house, the main criteria are:
1. location
2. location
3. location
When buying a clarinet, they are:
1. intonation
2. intonation
3. intonation
Marco: sounds like you might be in a similar position to me when I upgraded late last year. You might want to read http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=135821&t=135821, where I describe my experience.
-----------
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.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2004-04-04 15:07
ohsusan....so what did the tech say they did to your horn that improved it so much?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hans
Date: 2004-04-04 18:00
Marcowelby,
The first requirement of a woodwind is its scale; i.e., each note should be in tune without much favoring. This is a difficult area of compromise for manufacturers, since the worst intonation problems tend to occur in the altissimo register but addressing the problems there can affect lower tones adversely.
The instrument should respond easily throughout its entire range, giving easy tone production and adjacent notes that speak and sound alike. If you are not very experienced, you may want to have an experienced player help you check this.
Resistance is a matter of personal preference, but should be balanced from note to note.
The tone quality should be good throughout the entire range of the instrument without unusual effort.
The clarinet's range in loudness is important;i.e., it must be playable in tune with good tone quality from piano to forte throughout its practical range.
Good workmanship and design will reduce maintenance expenses.
This list is not exhaustive but IMO includes important considerations.
Regards,
Hans
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-04-04 18:40
The YCL-SEv model is a superior instrument.
If you're paying for it, and you like it - BUY!
The idea is to have an instrument with strong fundamentals;
Tuning - even voice of all notes, through all registry - nice feel in your hands
If it feels good, sounds well, and checks out well with a tuner, you have a winner... what kind of price is asked for the Yamaha in question?
(Trust your ears - it's YOUR money.)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-04-04 22:24
<<so what did the tech say they did to your horn that improved it so much?>>
Bob --
He takes the instrument totally apart, and cleans everything. Then repadded the whole thing, with cork on the trill and side keys, and some kind of fancy leather on the big ones. He did "swedging" (whatever that is), and adjusted the height of the keys in some cases. I don't know what he did with the springs, but the action is incredibly crisp now, and it surely wasn't before!
I know I sound like this repair has been tantamount to a religious experience -- and I guess maybe it has been, for me. Maybe there was some laying-on of hands and casting out of demons?
Susan
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-04-04 23:16
Oh, and I also had a new adjustable thumb rest put on. It's really spiffy.
Susan
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Marcowelby
Date: 2004-04-05 00:53
"what kind of price is asked for the Yamaha in question?"
The asking price is $CAN 3425.00 for the Yamaha SEV
Marc
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: coasten1
Date: 2004-04-05 17:20
He did "swedging" (whatever that is)
Swedging is stretching the key tubes so there is less wiggle between the posts.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
