 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ElBlufer
Date: 2007-06-13 04:43
On thursday, our band will be playing at our high school graduation, and I am trying to determine which clarinet of mine I should use. I own both and R13 and a B12. As we will be playing a 1 hour concert on the field before the graduation, I would like to use my R13, but I'm not sure if it would be advised, for the following reason: We will be outside between about 4:45 PM and about 9:30 PM, in which the temperature could fluctuate from 75-80 degrees farhenheit to about 55-60 degrees. Would this weather be ok for the use of a wood clarinet? I appreciate your imput.
(and, I used the search function and I got a vague answer about "extreme temperatures", but I was not sure what exactly that term meant in a situation such as this)
My Setup:
R13 Clarinet (Ridenour Lyrique as my backup/marching instrument)
Walter Grabner K11 mouthpiece
Rico Reserve 3.5's
Bonade ligature
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2007-06-13 04:56
Well, I'm not nearly as conservative and worried about cracking as some people are here on the list, so I'd say don't worry about it. The temperature change itself shouldn't happen fast enough to stress the wood much, and that's the big thing to watch out for.
I assume you're going to be playing fairly constantly for an hour or so, and at least be able to have the instrument in your hands most of the time, then not have to play it again, so that should keep it at a fairly constant temperature. You might also blow into the horn to keep it warm during slack times. (When I'm concerned about temperature variations, if I can't play or blow air into my instrument, I keep it under my arm and next to my body.)
Of course, playing outside in an ensemble as big as a band kind of begs the question as to the need for the R13. I'd play the B12. Any differences in timbre between the two horns certainly won't be noticed by anyone in the audience.
Bruce M
Post Edited (2007-06-13 05:28)
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2007-06-13 06:16
Where in the section do you sit, what are you playing, where are you playing, and what is the amplification?
If you're just belting out Pomp and Circumstance for 35 minutes (like we did at my high school), use the B12. If you're soloing on Galanta, use the R13.
I'd say to bring your B12 regardless in case of inclement weather, but socal.rr.com suggests that won't be an issue.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: SVSorna05
Date: 2007-06-13 06:28
Well if you are going to be playing on the field then it would seem to me that nobody is going to be paying close attention to how well the clarinets are playing and most will probably be trying to find their graduating relative instead of trying to pinpoint minor nuances of clarinet playing....so why not use the B12? If your setup is good i.e. MP, lig, reeds, barrell (maybe) then the difference in horns for this type of gig is marginal at best. Why risk something that is so much more valuable if you can play well on the B12...with the proper setup they are good horns too. Best of luck!
-Dain-
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2007-06-13 06:37
"The temperature change itself shouldn't happen fast enough to stress the wood much, and that's the big thing to watch out for."
"so why not use the B12? If your setup is good i.e. MP, lig, reeds, barrell (maybe) then the difference in horns for this type of gig is marginal at best."
both well said. if your going to be on the field you might as well go with the mpc setup from your R13 and use it on your b12. extreme changes cause cracking and warming up your instrument when it's 60 degrees out with 80 degree warm air, probably ok, but why take the risk?
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-06-13 14:19
Neither. Get a used Vito and play it. How you sound at graduation exercises doesn't matter since no one listens anyway and invariably someone will bash your horn. And those flimsy folding metal chairs might give way under you too.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-06-13 14:26
I would use the B12. Outdoor situations are very different from indoor concerts. The ears of the listeners can't differentiate between wood and plastic and everyone's intonation fluctuates. So, if you're going to be concerned, just use the B12.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2007-06-13 18:38
Though 50 degrees or so isn't particularly cold, I would err on on the side of safety and not want to blow hot air into a wooden clarinet in a cold environment. If the R13 were Green Line there would be NO problem.
..........Paul Aviles
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2007-06-13 19:23
At my own High School graduation I used an Evette and Shaeffer which was in decent repair. The R13 stayed home.
At my college graduation, I used No-Doz
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: ElBlufer
Date: 2007-06-13 19:50
Thanks for giving your opinions...I think I'll use my B12.
My Setup:
R13 Clarinet (Ridenour Lyrique as my backup/marching instrument)
Walter Grabner K11 mouthpiece
Rico Reserve 3.5's
Bonade ligature
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2007-06-13 20:10
Use the B12
If you are playing in a field a wood chuck might show up and take a bite out of your R13. ;-)
okay - wood chucks don't chuck wood .. but ...
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-06-16 14:18
The other thing to consider is the degree of frivolity at graduations. Instruments tend to get knocked off chairs (when carelessly left there) and bumped into. It's best not to use a good horn in situations of high emotion and huge crowds where you might not be constantly holding it or looking after it.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2007-06-16 15:11
I'd worry about your R13 getting infested with Asian Long Horned Beetle.
Not only would you lose your good clarinet, but you could then spread this invasive pest to the entire clarinet community. You could be responsible for the extinction of this instrument, or at least its placement on the endangered species list.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-06-16 16:01
From what I've seen, it can wipe out the entire German bassoon population (as well as the strings and recorders) well before it destroys the French bassoons (and Selmer contra clarinets), boxwood, cocobolo and kingwood instruments and finally the grenadilla ones.
So provided you have grenadilla, you will be spared the onslaught for some time - though ebonite, plastic and metal instruments are almost impervious to attack (they will lose their pads, or become carriers of the bugs that hibernate in the felt and travel in this way to infest other communities).
Safest bet is to get a metal clarinet with synthetic pads and corks.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: fmcat
Date: 2007-06-16 19:44
I know of professional clarinet players who play a Rossi inside and an old beat up plastic Selmer when they are outside. When you play outside, sound is not reflected off of any major surfaces, so the tone will diminish its distinct qualities after traveling about 30 feet away from you.
So, I'd just leave the R13 at home and bring the B12. No one's going to notice.
Buffet B12, ED II Ligature, M13 Mouthpiece, Strength 5 V12 Vandoren
Local 281 - Clarinet Player
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-06-16 20:12
I used my plastic Yamaha when we did divisions at HMS Heron yesterday morning - just as well really, it rained.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ElBlufer
Date: 2007-06-16 22:09
Graduation was yesterday, and this is what I did: I ended up taking both instruments....for the concert, I played the R13, I then switched it out for my B12...it worked pretty nicely actually (and I'm glad I both got to play on my better horn and check my plastic one before marching season)
My Setup:
R13 Clarinet (Ridenour Lyrique as my backup/marching instrument)
Walter Grabner K11 mouthpiece
Rico Reserve 3.5's
Bonade ligature
Post Edited (2007-06-16 22:10)
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