 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: wjk
Date: 2005-10-20 14:07
Having purchased and sold more than a few guitars, I've come to the conclusion that a fine, "hand-made" guitar often justifies the purchase price in terms of tone, quality and longevity. The "mass-produced" guitar, while perhaps still expensive, often cannot compete in terms of absolute quality. Being the owner of a Buffet R13 (Bb) clarinet, and seriously considering a near-future purchase of an A clarinet, I wonder if I should pursue a "hand-made" clarinet (such as a Chadash). What do others think?
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-10-20 14:22
I think you've answered your own question already. I think you deserve the best available and I base this on having read all of your submissions on this Board. I do think, however, that it is difficult to make the comparison you cite.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-10-20 15:23
Guy's stuff is an exemplar of careful assembly, and design innovations.
That said, I would spend BIG money to get one from Stephen Fox, first.
Stephen's a serious player, and experimentor. I found ALL of the design samples he showed to be brilliant executions of the craft.
I also felt that the fit and finish of Stephen's instruments superior.
As a less expensive option, get your favorite horn to Dave Spiegelthal.
He might even put on a nifty sticker afterwards.
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2005-10-20 15:23
I would suggest to see if you can try them. There are also other outstanding makers of handmade clarinets, a few to check into are Stephen Fox, Schwenk and Seggelke (in Bamberg, Germany: you'd think it was odd that he makes Boehm system clarinets, but he does, as well as period instruments and Deutsche System instruments, and they are all outstanding instruments), besides the aforementioned Chadash. One of the perks of owning a Chadash instrument is that lifetime maintenance is included in the price of the instrument. Having spent almost $1500 in repairs, adjustments and acoustic fine-tuning this year on my Bb and A clarinets, I think that this alone is worth the added cost. (This is odd though I think, I had both instruments overhauled this year) And, his instruments are really outstanding. Just to name a few, Steven Barta of Baltimore Symphony plays them as does Pascual Martinez Forteza of the New York Philharmonic. At this point, there is a rather lengthy waiting list.
Christopher Nichols
1st Infantry Division Band
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Author: Ed
Date: 2005-10-20 17:12
I have played Guy's clarinets a couple of times and they are very beautiful instruments. VERY even and smooth, very consistent timbre, great intonation they key work feels terrific. There is great care and workmanship in these clarinets. They are wonderful instruments in all respects. They are a real pleasure to play. I would love to own a set. (unfortunately my bank account says otherwise at the moment)
If you are in the market, you could always shop around and look at some of the other hand made clarinets out there as has been mentioned. I played a couple of Rossi clarinets at one of the fests a couple of years back that were quite good. Jonathan Cohler and Paquito D'Rivera are both Rossi artists.
http://www.rossiclarinet.com/
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Author: nickma
Date: 2005-10-20 20:38
Unless you try them first, ideally for a few days, you won't know what feels best to you.
I have had a Peter Eaton clarinet that was a beauty to behold and sounded just as good if not better, but I just felt more at home, more comfortable, with my Selmer 10G, a really nicely made but less hand-made (hand finished) model.
With the Selmer I never think about the instrument, just the music. I trust it to deliver.
Will spending twice as much on a hand-made clarinet give you absolute happiness? Maybe, maybe not, it depends......on you!
Nick
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2005-10-21 00:23
I strongly suggest a Wurlitzer! They have to be the best clarinets I have ever played, and I would be willing to switch over to a german mpc setup from playing one. They use a reform boehm, so you wouldn't have to learn Oehler. :P
You can get them completely customized, down to if you want rollers put on certain keys. Mr. Wurlitzer told me "if you can think of what you want done, and it can be done, we'll do it."
--CG
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Author: saturnsax
Date: 2005-10-21 00:45
A hand made instrument may or may not be right for you. I personally love the Buffet clarinets for their sound quality and intonation. Not to mention that just about every clarinet player worth anything owns a Buffet R13 in college or orchestra.
Pretty much any pro line clarinet has their advantages and disadvantages. I've found out that Buffet clarinets as well as Selmer Paris clarinets have a wide range of good and bad clarinets. This means you have to find a good one after playing on several of them. Yamaha and LeBlanc clarinets pretty much fall about 80% of them play great and the rest have minor problems in tuning or sound.
Remember what you get for a hand made instrument. You are at the mercy of the people who made it and unfortunately some craftsmen/women are better than others. I played on a few "Monday or Friday" instruments from where you wonder if the person had a hangover when they built the instrument.
I personally have an old G Penzel/Mueller Bb clarinet from the 50's in my collection. It isn't completely handmade but supposedly it does have some personal wormanship from what I've read on the internet. I can't afford so spend a couple grand on a Buffet R13 since clarinet is my second instrument at this time. Besides, i've never heard anyone playing jazz on one anyways.
My motto for any instrument is If it plays great and you are happy with it. It doesn't matter who made that instrument. It could be an old wooden Bundy for all i would care.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-10-21 01:57
Really the only thing that matters is how it plays and feels. Guitars have much thinner wood and, as far as the ones that I have seen, are much more frail than a clarinet, so I don't know if longevity would be too much of a factor here.
Although I have to say, it sure would be mighty convenient to get a clarinet that's already been tried, tested, tuned, and ready to play instead of going through 30 clarinets side by side to find the best pick of the lot, and then even possibly sending THAT one away to the brannens or someone else and getting it further adjusted and have that upper stack corked. And then the possibility of a custom barrel. Hell, why not a bell while we're at it? Total cost? Getting close to that custom clarinet . . . .
Not to mention that to me there's a certain pride in owning a custom clarinet. If I were to ask you what clarinet you have and you respond, "Buffet R13", I'd say, "Oh. That's nice." But if you were to respond, "I have an Eaton International" or "Wurlitzer Reformed Boehm", you'd get alot more oohs and ahs from me. And then I'll beg you to have a go at it, which will allow you to then scoff at me.
Me personally? I can't WAIT for the day that I can afford a pair of Stephen Fox Benade NX clarinets. I'm going to have to though. And while I'm playing the waiting game, I play a very nice Selmer 10G that sounds terrific (better than any pro clarinet I've ever tried off the shelves save for one particular Buffet Vintage R13 that I unfortunately will never see again).
Hope I've helped clear up the situation and helped you come to a concrete decision, WJK.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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