 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: clarinetkathleen
Date: 2006-05-18 17:29
I am looking for information about the Yamaha YCL-72A clarinet. As
well as opinions both good and bad.
Thanks in advance,
Kathleen LeBlanc-Hood
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2006-05-19 00:09
There were two formulations of the -72 which was later rebadged as the -CX;
one has integral wooden chimneys for the toneholes, the other had plastic chimneys installed.
The YCL-72 is one of the hidden gems in the clarinet world, well built and not too expensive. Most had an even scale, not to wide a resistance pattern and a solid (if none to bright) tone.
They felt more resistant than my Ridenour and LeBlancs, less than the R13.
What price is asked for the clarinet in question?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-05-19 10:54
The CX still has inset tonehole chimneys though they're in grenadilla - you can see the end grain on them (probably made from the off-cuts from their piccolo billets).
Only the higher Custom series clarinets (SE, AE, CS and CG) have the integral wooden chimneys.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CJB
Date: 2006-05-19 12:52
I've been playing on a CX A for the last 14 years. It has a nice even scale with no projection problems for either chamber or orchestral settings. Mechanically it has also been a fantastically reliable instrument. It took me a while to get used to it but I find it very flexible in the variety of tone colours it can generate.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2006-05-20 22:26
Here's some additional information from the Yamaha website. The YCL-72(A) was made from 1985-87. It was succeeded by two models, YCL-72CS(A) and the YCL-72CX(A), which were made from 1988-94. These evolved into the Custom YCL-CS(A) and Custom YCL-CXA (I can find no evidence of a Custom CX Bb clarinet on the Yamaha site but I think I've seen them on eBay.) These date from 1994-??. All are now listed as discontinued, though the Custom CS and CSA are also listed as current! The Custom CXA is listed as discontinued with no current equivalent.
From what I have seen, the original 72's are identified by a 72 in the logo. The 72CS and 72CX are identified by a CS or CX in the logo (my CS has no 72). The Custom CS and CX have a very large "Custom" in the logo.
The only difference between the 72CS and 72CX models is that the CS has integral tone holes and the CX has insets. AFAIK, the original 72's had integral tone holes but I could be wrong about that.
I agree with SB that these clarinets are hidden gems. I have a pair of 72CS clarinets that I bought as practice horns/backups a few years ago. I paid a little over $600 each on eBay (separate auctions). The first one I bought was the A. When I got it, I couldn't put it down. I practiced everything on it, including Bb parts. It is a wonderful instrument. My Bb is almost as good. I think Yamaha clarinets probably have the highest value/cost ratio among the big 4. New, the 72CS and 72CX clarinets sold for about the same price as an R13 but, except for the extra Eb key are closer to a Prestige in features.
Best regards,
jnk
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vytas
Date: 2006-05-21 00:37
Maybe I'm a bit paranoid but I've noticed Yamaha clarinets that are actually marked "Made in Japan" are slightly better that the same model without this marking.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2006-05-21 02:07
Great instruments, Highly under rated. Good intonation, nice resistance, very even, very comfortable to play. Some Buffet players found they had trouble going to them as they wanted to favor notes in the way they are are used to on their R-13's. On the Yamahas you can play without doing that, as the resistance and intonation is generally better.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CJB
Date: 2006-05-22 13:05
Ed wrote
Some Buffet players found they had trouble going to them as they wanted to favor notes in the way they are are used to on their R-13's.
Indeed, I remember with some amusement lending my Yamaha SE Bb to a Buffet Prestige player when he'd managed to bring his case with just the A in it to a rehearsal..........all was going well until he attempted to play a middle of the stave Bb. It is a little sharp on my clarinet but he managed to play something closer to a B.
I often think that we don't really give other brands a fair wack when dismissing their intonation characteristics. I've never found a Buffet I'm happy enough with to purchase........but is this only because I've favoured Yamaha since I was 15?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-05-27 19:22
I bought one of these for my niece from an eBay seller for $500.00. It was in absolutely perfect condition and was one of the best buys I've ever made on eBay. She has played it since 6th grade (her teacher was amazed she had such a great instrument with which to start) and is now entering her senior year. It has had one repad job and otherwise no problems whatsoever. If she continues to play in college she'll still be set because it plays and sounds as good as the R-13 I was playing when I bought it for her.
After a couple of years I forgot it was a 72 and remembered it as a 52, but about 6 mos. ago I picked it up to look it over and discovered that it was not a 52 but a 72. So, I got a better buy than I even thought.
Post Edited (2006-05-27 19:23)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: oldreedguy
Date: 2021-07-07 08:27
Talk about old threads!
but yes, I found a 72A here in Seattle for $1799 US. Ugh...what a price increase from back in the day...I had a 1990s Yamaha custom A that I paid for $700US back around the turn of the century (boy, I really feel old at 60 now lol!). Anyway, good used As under $2K (I almost hooked a used E11 for $1200 but a nice young kid scarfed it up before I could get to the store! I see one was recently sold on eBay for $1499 US and Kessler sold one for an undisclosed amount. I have yet to play it but just got an unexpected $900 check so I'm going to put a down payment on it if it's worth it...what do you think...sorry about digging up this old thread...from an old timer, the "oldreedguy!"
YouTube channel is "Barnett Plisko"
60 year old cat getting back into the clarinet world in Seattle area...hopefully COVID will let the music play again...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
