 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dano
Date: 2007-03-18 04:13
I am searching for a plastic or 'something other than grenadilla' clarinet that I can play in all kinds of temperatures and environments. Is there one that is better than the other? I would think that one of the top clarinet makers would come up with a top notch plastic clarinet that had all the qualities of the grenadilla models . I would pay good money to get a well made, quality plastic clarinet. Anyone have an opinion as to why they don't make something like an R-13 or Opus in plastic?
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-03-18 04:45
Dano wrote:
> Anyone
> have an opinion as to why they don't make something like an
> R-13 or Opus in plastic?
They do - Buffet Greenline ....GBK
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-03-18 11:17
Howarth make S2 and S3 clarinets in plastic to special order.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-03-18 11:48
Well, the Evette plastic was made under the auspices of Buffet and you can find them for sale quite reasonably. You can play them in any environment that you yourself can tolerate. There are also well respected contemporary clarinets made from "plastic".
Bob Draznik
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Author: bandman
Date: 2007-03-18 12:59
I think Any of the major brands would be just fine for what you need.
Retired Repairman
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Author: clockwiser
Date: 2007-03-18 13:11
what about any of the Ridenour's clarinets? They are made out of hard rubber.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-03-18 13:41
Dano -
A small-bore (.575") plastic clarinet with a good quality mouthpiece and barrel is nearly indistinguishable from the top instruments, even to the player. Go with a Buffet B-10 or B12, Vito 7242, Yamaha YCL-250 or Selmer USA CL301 and you'll be completely satisfied.
Or, as GBK says, go for a Buffet Greenline. A couple of years ago, I was in the late lamented NYC WW&BW store and heard Jon Manasse picking out clarinets for his Eastman students. Every one he chose was a Greenline Festival.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-03-18 14:55
Servicable plastics in my recent experience: the low-line Yamahas, and older Vitos.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Dano
Date: 2007-03-18 15:15
I had considered Greenline but was thinking more of a bang-around clarinet that did not set me back two thousand dollars. I suppose I am mostly concerned with noisy keywork and the like. I will try a few of the well known 'plastic' clarinets and go with one of them. I just wondered if there was one that stood out in peoples opinion. Thank you everyone. Many good suggestions.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2007-03-18 17:22
If it's of any help to you....
I purchased a used Yamaha 20 plastic clarinet last year for playing hot & humid summer outdoor performances. My repair tech made some adjustments to the clarinet and mechanically it's fine....a very solid instrument. However, I wasn't happy with its quality of tone. Saying that, it's possible that it might have been the mouthpiece/reed match I first tried on it. Long story short, I discovered the Black Diamond synthetic barrels made by Phil Muncy (Muncy Winds) dramatically improved the sound of my plastic Yamaha. The sound darkened and became more wood-like. This gave me a great set up to have for performances for which I don't want to take my wood clarinet.
Roger
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-03-18 18:07
I second the older plastic Yamahas - I use a modified (having added some extra keywork to it) YCL-24 for doing outdoor playing, and although the tone is not as resonant as my Selmers, it's by no means a bad sound and the tuning is good.
And plastic Evette/Buffet B12 or Vito clarinets are pretty good - the Vitos having very sturdy keywork.
Not to leave out the Artley 17S - these have excellent tone quality and playability dispite their rather utilitarian look.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Dan Oberlin ★2017
Date: 2007-03-18 22:07
Dano,
Check out the recent posting by Mags1957 about Tom Ridenour's
Lyrique clarinet.
Dan O.
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Author: chinaboy61
Date: 2007-03-19 01:36
Get a buffet B12, its cheap and with the right player you can just like a R-13.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-03-19 01:49
If you're concerned with abuse survival , the Bundy Resonite is the world champion. In the West Point Band, the entire section used them in subzero temperatures and they came back begging for more.
Just be sure to get one with a flat spring for the throat A key. The earliest ones had a needle spring that snapped frequently.
Ken Shaw
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-03-19 02:19
chinaboy61 wrote:
> Get a buffet B12, its cheap and with the right player
> you can just like a R-13
If you are going to spend about $500 for a B12, the Forte clarinet is by far a better instrument, for a lesser price.
More ergonomic keywork
Better pads
Undercut tone holes
Bell vent
More rigid construction
Better quality control
Smarter, contemporary case
etc..
Disclaimer - I am listed on the Forte clarinet website as an endorser ...GBK
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2007-03-19 02:21
When they were making them, Leblanc designated the Vito V40 as an intermediate model and priced it accordingly. I use one, with Valentino pads, as my "bad weather" horn and, IMO, it is definitely a step better than the Buffet, Yamaha and Selmer student models that I have played - also better than the standard Vito. YMMV.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: glin
Date: 2007-03-19 03:40
Also, another vote for the Vito 40. Keywork is solid and should be able to take a beating. Intonation is consistent and manageable. I don't particularly care for the K10M mouthpiece that comes with it, though.
The Forte is also a nice instrument. I play tested one at ClarinetFest 2 years ago.
If you can't try the Vito or Forte', try the Yamaha YCL-20 and Buffet B-12 or Evettes are worth trying. Selmer Bundy has a bad rap, but if you can find a well made one, that's all that matters.
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