 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: timtin66
Date: 2005-10-11 11:49
History:
I have been playing clarinet seriously now for several years, and I finally feel like I have achieved some status, and mastery of the instrument. Playing at Church, in several bands, in the park, and even on some street corners. Also, I have to play for Mom who made me take lessons for 8 long years. (I guess Mom's are always right).
I still have my original plastic Vito that I started on 30 years ago, and take great care with it (It will be buried with me). Several years ago when I was getting serious I purchased a Buffet International, and it is performed admirably. I use a hite mouthpiece with it, and Mitchel Lurie Premium #4 reeds. I am constantly told that I get a good sound, and the horn is always in tune with the tuner just by putting it together.
I am 39, and understand that I will never be Franklin Cohen of the Cleveland Orchestra, Richard Stolzman, or Benny Goodman. But I am not that bad.
Dilema:
I keep saying that I should buy a new, and better horn(My 12 year old says go for it, my Father says what am I waiting for, and friends who here me play say just do it - that for the amount I play it will not go to waste). If I did it would be an R-13. Just depends which one.
Question:
What do you guys think: Should I splurge, and make the investment - It would be the last horn I ever buy, or just forget it and stick with what I got.
Will let the BBorard make the call. (And no cop-outs with that it's up to you stuff)
Timothy Tinnirello
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-11 12:02
The International is not an R-13.
We don't know your financial status, but if you can afford to, you should upgrade to the R-13.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-11 12:57
btw, I'd switch reeds too if I wanted to get better quicker than I'd upgrade the Clarinet. Try the Grand Concert reeds if you like the ML Premium.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-10-11 13:29
Well, you won't get a unanimous vote from the BB either way. My opinion is to get the R13 if you can afford it but don't get rid of the Vito.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-10-11 16:04
I'm very impressed with players around here that have old Vitos. They seem like great horns.
I just got my R13+ back from an overhaul, and its just wonderful (I'll put up a new thread on that). BUT, for a week, while waiting for the Buffet to come home, I played a borrowed student-grade Yamaha plastic horn (Nesei Vito?). With a decent mouthpiece, that horn is in every way (but for the extra keys I have on the Buf) as compentent as my Buffet.
Still, my hot-rodded Buffet is easier to play, and I love her.
Be sure when you get your R13 that it is a really, really good one, that the mouthpiece communicates freely between you and the horn.
Bob Phillips
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-12 12:17
Keep the Vito for outside playing.
Sell the International if you need the $ from it. It will pale compared to the R-13, but is much better than the E-11 (student of mine recently upgraded from the E-11 and it is a noticeable difference).
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-10-12 16:23
From what I read, you certainly (IMO) have no reason NOT to undulge and treat yourself to a professional quality clarinet (if it's not going to break the bank, that is). I'm in the same boat you are (I practice seriously, however will never be in a professional group or achieve a 'great' status of some sort). But when I looked at the cost of clarinets versus the cost of ANY other professional instrument, I realized that by saving up just a little, I could have an instrument worthy of the pros, and sacrifice very few greenbacks in comparison to any string player, or pretty much any other wind player that I know of either.
So I went for it. And I think it was completely worth it. My clarinet sounds great (looks are a different story as I bought mine used . . .), but I'll tell you it's such a great feeling when every now and then when you pick up your horn and play it, your simply amazed at the clarity and ease of producing a nice tone. Technique? Well, that's a different story . . . but the sound quality is there!
So if the love of playing is there, and the $$$ is there, I say go for it. Be smart in how you choose your instrument (there's PLENTY of threads on that, as well as a nice article on Tom Ridenour's website on how to choose a new instrument), but all in all, why not?
Alexi
PS - As per which instruments you look at, that's where I 'cop-out' and say, "It's up to you."
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2005-10-12 16:32
You don't have to be Michael Schumacher to treat yourself to a Ferrari. You just need the money and some requisite skill to handle the beast.
Get that R-13. Don't overlook the used market, either. That's how I got mine two years ago. It plays better than any new horn I tried and looked almost as good.
________________
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: rogerb40uk
Date: 2005-10-12 16:50
Ralph G wrote:
> You don't have to be Michael Schumacher to treat yourself to a
> Ferrari. You just need the money and some requisite skill to
> handle the beast.
>
Although I take the point, the analogy isn't really valid, as a pro quality clarinet will be much easier(and less hazardous) to 'drive' than a Ferrari, or so I am assured
Sometimes 'professional quality' means 'unsuitable for amateurs' but I don't *think* this applies to the clarinet.
IMO, it's just a pleasure to handle & play such a high-quality instrument, and you'll know that virtually none of any shortcomings in the resulting sounds are down to 'inferior tools for the job'.
If I had the money I'd have an Eaton International right now - I'd enjoy the look on my teacher's face, too
Best regards
Roger
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2005-10-12 17:22
I feel that in your situation you may want to consider keeping your current horn and upgrade to a quality mouthpiece/reed combination. If your mouthpiece is a Hite Premere, then I feel you can do MUCH better. I think the International is a fine instrument when paired with a nice barrel like those that are readily available.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-12 17:50
But he didn't say he played on the plastic hite.
He wrote "hite".
What MP do you play of the Hites? (facing, model)
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2005-10-12 17:58
Why not go to a music store with some favorite pieces of music and try an R-13 for an hour. Then decide whether to go for it.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2005-10-12 18:14
get the R-13. if you pro-rate the cost over the next 20 years of enjoyment, it will come to less than $150 per year.
while you're at it, get an A clarinet and a basset horn too - you'll be glad you did.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-12 19:27
A Basset Horn player was playing in the Mendelsohn #2 Concert Piece at the Juilliard MasterClass w/ Morrie and Ricardo.
Never liked the Basset Horn, probably never will. He was a very good player, but I just don't like pretty much anything about the instrument from the tone to the timbre of it.
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