 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-08-23 23:12
DizKlaymer....I get no kick from Champagne, nor kickbacks from Forte or Dr. Henderson:
I got my Forte C today!!
Out of the box .......case is nice, durable, even handsome. Looks like the kind that expensive microphones come in --if they had black canvas coverings. Black legend swab and Omar's cork grease stick and a shoulder strap and warranty card tucked into a nice accessory flap.
Wood....unstained, tight grained, smooth. No ink.
Keys....solid. No wiggle. Reak cork bumpers. No clacking.
Nicely designed register key, kinda offset. Longish thumb hole tube seen in bore. Probably an acoustic reason for the extent of its incursion. Well machined metal tenon ends (a la Selmer). Intuitive SOFAS(r) linkage at the middle joint bridge.
Of course the pinky RH and LH keys will take a bit of getting used to because, after all, the horn is a different size from a Bb or Eb. My learning curve should adapt to it. Feels like....well, a quality horn
Plays?.....It is sweet. The sound is ....dare I say it....dark. Flute like, but not shrill. Perhaps more like Pan Pipes. Intonation is very even with the barrel I chose (comes with 2 sizes). The low notes are vented through a German style vent hole in the upper bell. F and E are in tune, as are the C and B a twelfth above them. The C and B long notes are perhaps slightly clearer than the low covered E and F, but then again, I made no special reed or mpc changes.
The mpc is my own Bb mpc (Behn) that I plucked out of my Buffet clar case, no special C mpc. is needed.
Overall, solidly worth its modest pricetag. I can only compare it to a prior Noblet C clarinet that I once owned, and the Forte is in most respects as good as, if not better, than the Noblet, and priced well below it. I can not compare it to "pro models" since I never played one, nor the Patricola, which is also priced above the Forte.
OK... I have one question.
No. Make that a threat:
If Dr. H does not make an eefer I will personally ride my devilish self down to Georgia and force him by blue steel spring point to produce one.
What this country needs is a fine inexpensive e-flat clarinet!
Why? He proved he could make a quality student Bb for less than the big guys (Original Forte). Now he made a C that is recital worthy for half the price of the nearest semi-pro horn. So imagine what he can do with an eefer.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
Post Edited (2006-08-24 13:13)
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2006-08-23 23:42
Outstanding. I'll be on the lookout for something like this in the future. Just to play along with C instruments. I know I can always depend on the Doc for quality stuff. Good to know his reputation stands.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: vjoet
Date: 2006-08-24 13:00
My Forte C arrived yesterday. It deserves a WOW!
This is the third C clarinet I’ve tried over the past year and a half. As an amateur, I couldn’t justify the 3 to 4 thousand dollars for a Buffet C, and so never tried one. I won’t mention the names of the other 2 C-clarinets I tried, for they were both unsatisfactory. One (at about two-thirds the cost of the Forte) had gross intonation problems, by a quarter tone. The other (at about one and half the cost of the Forte) had key placement problems as well as stuffy notes and intonation problems. Both were tried and promptly shipped back.
First, the physical instrument:
The workmanship is beautiful, with serial numbers inscribed on top and bottom joints, and the place of manufacture: Czech Republic. The wood is fine grained, unstained. When held in sunlight, it appears both black and brown, like my Prestige A.
The keys are silver. I’ve never had one of my Buffets Brannenized, but I’ve played my teacher's. The feel of the keywork under my fingers reminds me of her Brannenized Buffet. Absolutely smooth and solid without stiffness. Outstanding. The tenons have metal caps, again like my Prestige A, and in assembling the instrument each joint fits solidly, with a little 'snap!' It comes with two barrels, with reverse taper (Moenig style?). And now my one criticism. It would be nice if they marked the barrels with their sizes. With a 1mm difference it is hard to visually identify which is the larger and which the smaller. I’ll correct that today with a piece of paper and some scotch tape.
Now, the acoustic instrument, the real telling point for a musical instrument.
Setup: I used my standard setup: Richard Hawkins B mouthpiece, Xilema B reed, and Bay ligature.
Tone quality: The chalumeau is rich and resonant, mellow, and without the flatness so common in this range, and with no stuffy notes. The throat tones and clear and rich. The third line Bb is the weakest note, as it is on most clarinets, and a bit flat. The side trill key fingering (which I’m learning to use on all my instruments) is rich and perfectly in tune. With the standard A+Register, I can lip up the pitch rather easily. The clarion is clear and beautiful—and without shrillness-- though the flatness that started with Bb continues. Again, I can lip it up without problem. Altissimo D is right on pitch without the Eb key, D# requires the Eb key. E and above are flat, though I know spending with a little time with the new instrument, I’ll work out what is needed to bring them up in pitch. Since every clarinet has its own idiosyncrasies, it takes a little time to learn those idiosyncrasy. I may try a mouthpiece designed for the C instrument, though I don't think that'd be necessary. The response of the instrument, even staccato in the altissimo, is excellent.
I think I've just purchased a professional quality C clarinet for the price of an intermediate level horn. The physical workmanship and the playing characteristics of the instrument far exceeds my expectations. I’d say it is as good an instrument as any of my 3 1960’s Buffets. I’m delighted with it.
Disclaimer: I'm a mature, amateur clarinetists, with no affiliation with the makers of the Forte.
Vann Joe
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-08-24 13:12
I remember readin a post by Omar Henderson that the Forte C clarinet will be available in grenadilla wood or hard rubber. Recently I heard it is only in grenadilla wood. Something changed from the original plan?
Thanks.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-08-24 13:37
(Disclaimer - I am maker (designer if you will) of the Forte' clarinets)
In truth the cost of making clarinets is more in the finishing, tolerence of machining, quality control specifications, fit and finish, etc. than in the raw materials. We had planned on a Forte' C in ABS or hard rubber with nickel keywork but the final cost would be not much less than the production model in unstained Grenadilla with silver keywork. Other than "war time" conditions ..... playing Christmas Carols in frigid temperatures and snow, the wood version was picked in a market survey almost 10:1 at a cost 15% more than ABS or hard rubber -- so that is where we went.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-08-24 15:32
Thanks for the clear and honest answer Omar Hendreson, instead of the "we discovered that wood gives a sweeter and darker sound" answer some other companies would give. Too bad I can't try it before I order (unless someone in Israel have it that I don't know about?). I have this silly thing that I like to have each size clarinet from a different company, and since eventually I want to have more clarinets the Forte looks like a very interesting option for the C.
Post Edited (2006-08-24 15:36)
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2006-08-24 15:50
Hello good Dr.
Is a Forte bass clarinet on the horizon? Any chance of a bass in A?
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Author: DressedToKill
Date: 2006-08-24 16:53
I am very much toying with the idea of buying one of these. Any chance we could get a photo of the little lovely? :-)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-08-24 17:30
[ Just a reminder - Reviews and impressions of the Forte C clarinet are welcomed, but (for Omar's sake) to avoid self-promotion, please address any specific questions to Dr Henderson, off-line - GBK ]
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-08-24 17:42
"Is a Forte bass clarinet on the horizon? Any chance of a bass in A?"
You missed the obvious one out there, BassetHorn - "any chance of a Forte Basset Horn"!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2006-08-24 17:44
Why a C clarinet ?
Never thaught of buying one, Bb yes, A ok for symphony, but C
I know (and played) clarinet music for C clarinet, but I rather invest more in Bb or A.
Just an opinion, and most likely someone out there has some counter arguments.
I don't know anyone here who owns a C, honest
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-08-24 17:51
You'll find plenty more owners of C clarinets now!
A lot of Classical and Romantic works had C clarinets scored, mainly when written in natural keys (C Maj, A min) as well as in G Maj and E min.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-08-24 18:10
(Disclaimer - I am seller of the Forte' clarinets)
I hope this is not self promotion - just information. Several points about increased interest in "C" clarinets : With aging of the population, at least in the U.S. baby-boom generation, there is substantial interest by those that want to play an instrument- especially the clarinet - in performance opportunities and playing casually with other friends who play "C" pitched instruments. The art of transposing may be too daunting for casual players and those that do not have much formal training or who have forgotten. Many find playing informally in church or synagogue from the standard church hymnal is easy for a "C" instrument. For many younger beginning players the standard Bb clarinet has finger spacing too far apart to comfortably reach so many younger players are started on "C" clarinets especially in parts of Europe and Asia. The standard piano repertoire is readily available for "C" players. Some orchestral works for "C" clarinet only sound good with this instrument. Bands or orchestras without oboe players may substitute a good C clarinet player if they need the notes. Sales of "C" clarinets despite the cost differential with the normal Bb instrument have risen 600% in the last 3 years. I am sure that I am forgetting some?
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2006-08-24 18:49
> I don't know anyone here who owns a C, honest
Now you do. ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
I own an Amati C that I bought to accompany my daughter on the piano without having to look for specific Bb arrangements. Having a concert pitch instrument is sometimes immensely practical.
--
Ben
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-08-24 18:57
BelgianClarinet wrote:
> I don't know anyone here who owns a C, honest
If you are a serious orchestral or opera clarinetist, a C clarinet is one of the tools you should own...GBK
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Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2006-08-24 19:52
Seems I hit a delicate spot :-)
Ok, no problem, I'm not a pro, but I play in a symphonic orchestra, we do play music scored for C clarinet, but we don't have one (I just had to learn to transpose). This season e.g. Beethoven 5th (partly in C)
I also know (in person) quite some professionals (orchestral and opera) , same story, but ... yet another topic for me to check out and get confirmation.
Given the fast reaction on the board, both options seem to be valid. I also know it's on the price list of the biggest local music shop, but honestly I've never seen one i my life.
But, never too old to learn, and I know what to talk about with my clarinet fellows next time. I also have to straighten out the (non-)existence of a Buffet contra (other topic on the bboard)
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2006-08-25 01:57
I checked the Forte website.
Is Forte C made of grenadilla wood?
Does he make Bb clarinet?
If not,I wonder why he doesn't make Bb the most popular clar.when he
can make such a nice C clar.
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2006-08-25 02:10
I'm also toying with buying one but am concerned about size. I have large hands and also RA. I notice there is no "try it" period with return rights. Looks like you have to fork over the money and then, if it is "unsatisfactory" return it within 21 days for refunds, less shipping restocking and other faCTORS. oH wELL!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2006-08-25 02:49
Koo Young Chung wrote:
> I checked the Forte website.
> Is Forte C made of grenadilla wood?
> Does he make Bb clarinet?
The website does describe the instruments.
http://www.forteclarinet.com/horns/bflat.htm
The original Forte clarinet was in Bb and made of ABS plastic.
The new Forte C clarinet is made of grenadilla.
Disclaimer - I was asked by Dr Henderson to test both the prototype Bb and C clarinet and am listed on the Forte clarinet website as an endorser.
...GBK
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2006-08-25 04:33
GBK,
I should have asked if the Forte Bb was made of grenadilla wood,because
the Forte clarinet package price seemed too low for a wood clar.
On website it wasn't very clear to me.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-08-25 09:36
Bob A wrote:
"there is no "try it period with return rights"
"if it is "unsatisfactory" return it within 21 days for refunds, less shipping restocking and other faCTORS"
What's the differnece between these two options? A "try it" period mean you can return it without restocking fee?
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-08-25 10:14
(Disclaimer - I am maker of the Forte' Clarinets)
A restocking fee is only charged if the clarinet - Bb or C - is not returned within the 21 day period. There is a $5.00 sanitation fee and fees for postage are not returned. All of this is clearly outlined at the website - www.forteclarinet.com This is pretty standard policy to have to pay for clarinets sent to you to try out. I do not know of any manufacturer or seller that will send you a clarinet and not secure the cost with your credit card with a charge and then refund the money upon safe return - in good condition - of the clarinet/clarinets sent.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: sylvangale
Date: 2006-08-26 20:59
Not clarinets, but fluteworld.com does not bill for trials. They don't bill until that last day of the trial. Otherwise you're really just selling with a return policy.
Fluteworld Trial policy:
The ten day trial program is a FULL ten days. It starts the day you receive the flute, and ends ten days later. You will be contacted by your Flute World rep ON the tenth day for your final decision. You will then have a grace period to return the instrument after your trial.
Sale is final after trial period.
Regards,
Stephen Kaupiko
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Author: Mark Charette ★2017
Date: 2006-08-26 21:07
sylvangale wrote:
> Not clarinets, but fluteworld.com does not bill for trials.
> They don't bill until that last day of the trial. Otherwise
> you're really just selling with a return policy.
I called. They put a hold for the amount on your credit card. It's a better idea (there's no crediting involved if you don't want to buy) but the amount of the purchanse is unavailable as part of your credit line.
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Author: sylvangale
Date: 2006-08-27 00:27
I have a piccolo on trial from them at the moment and I have trialed once before without any charge/reduction of credit appearing on my credit cards. I've never actually bought an instrument from them yet, so it wouldn't be because I'm a good customer.
Regards,
Stephen Kaupiko
♫ Stephen K.
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