 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Andy Brendler
Date: 2000-06-15 16:05
The very helpful "What to Buy" list at this site recommends specific models for beginners: "Buffet B-12, Vito 74XX, Yamaha 34, and Bundy." How much leeway is there in the model numbers? How about a Buffet Evette? Or a Vito 72xx or Resotone? Or a Yamaha 24? Are these simply older models and the list only includes new clarinets? Or are these newer models actually better? (Or are the older models often better, given a reconditioning, but not as available?)
Thanks,
Andy Brendler
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-06-15 17:04
We specified what we knew was good. If you go to the manufacturere's page and and find that what you're looking at is a step up - great. If you find it is a step down - we probably left it out for a reason.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-06-15 17:07
This was simply a list based on what was the current new model name/number at the time it was written. Older versions of these should be fine so long as they are in good working order and good overall condition. The only real problem is determining that the instrument hasn't been beat to death. The companys can be expected to change model names in the future to replace these but again that's not a major issue.
The important part of this list was to point the buyer to the four makers known for the quality of their beginner instruments and away from some of the more dubious and no name brands.
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Author: drew
Date: 2000-06-15 20:04
Unlike violins, clarinets very rarely improve with age. The clarinet is a big benefactor of the high technology revolution in manufacturing (computer assisted devices such as numerically controlled milling & boring machines) that has only penetrated to instrument manufacturing within the last 10 or 15 years, making a large reduction in variability between instuments possible. I don't mean to say that older instruments were poorly made, it's just that they were manufactured with much cruder technolgy that was not capable of holding the very tight tolerances necessary to manufacture consistantly high quality instruments. This is why there are a very few 50 year old gems and many 50 year old doorstops. A 50 year old instument may be very good or very bad or anywhere in between, while a more modern instrument probably performs very similarly to what the designer intended.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2000-06-16 14:23
I beg to disagree (somewhat) with Drew on older vs. newer clarinets.
Today's modern manufacturing processes can indeed hold tighter tolerances than could older equipment, but in many of the critical dimensions (e.g. bore diameters along the entire length) even modern tools are not accurate and repeatable enough to assure consistency from instrument to instrument. Just try a bunch of new Buffets or whatever -- each one will play differently, some will be great, some lousy, and many will fall in the middle. Same with mouthpieces supposedly machined by CNC equipment --- major variations will be found in tone and response from one item to the next.
And many older clarinets that one can find today are actually, after proper restoration, quite good and every bit as good as a decent modern instrument (if not better!). Part of the reason is simply 'natural selection' --- many of the really bad older instruments have been scrapped, while some of the good older ones have survived to this day because they were appreciated and cared for. Also, manufacturers used to do a lot more hand-finishing and hand-tuning of their clarinets (because labor was so much cheaper then), so to some extent the better older clarinets are the beneficiaries of more expert craftsmanship than the current, mass-produced instruments.
Just my two cents' worth.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2000-06-16 16:49
To add to David and Drew's issue, consider the material from which the instrument is made . . . WOOD !! I'm sure most if not all readers have heard "you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear" or variations illustrating the same point. My 1966 87XXX R-13 was marched with, rained on, and otherwise USED. I don't ever remember any of my friends quality instruments ever cracking, though I'm not saying that horns NEVER cracked back then. I just believe that the wood used them was much more stable than it appears to be today. I'll take my chances with great older horns (but then . . . I'm "old" too - what would you expect from the "out-of-touch" generation!!)
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Author: Andy Brendler
Date: 2000-06-17 12:28
Thanks for your reply (06-15-00 16:04), Drew. How did you know I was a statistician at a high-tech manufacturing site? I also appreciated the replies which followed regarding craftsmanship and the history of wood quality.
I've been enjoying the search for a clarinet for my son so much that I may have to take it up again myself. (But I'm afraid the bicycle analogy won't hold. I remember where the fingers go, but that's about it. I think.) If it wasn't certain to turn my son against music forever, I'd try to replace the wooden LeBlanc my wife sold before I even met her and we could all sit down and play (slaughter?) some clarinet trios. (Are there any?)
Andy
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-06-17 17:29
Interesting posts! Yes, there are very good clar trios available, Mozart wrote many [transposed for sop. cl.'s from the original insts.], some not too tough, and there is an excellent booklet titled Clarinet Sessions with many, including a beautiful Mozart. Please rejoin our happy-playing community, its just fun! Don
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-06-18 01:04
Go for it, Andy! My wife and I shelved both our instruments for over 20 years and we both started up again when our daughter started bigginers band. We all now play in community bands and love it. It will come back to you faster than you think.
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Author: Jim
Date: 2000-06-18 05:08
Andy, Ditto to what Willie said. I let it go for 18 years and then picked it up again 9 years ago. Not quite like the bicycle, but I had more than I expected and much came back. I'm not where I was in college, but I play respectably and participate in a community band as well as occasionally accompany our church choir. However, my 16 year old son plays much better than I, amazing what much practice and an excellent teacher will do!
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