 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clockwiser
Date: 2007-07-20 13:10
I bought a Ridenour TR147 Clarinet new and it arrived today.
When I first played it, the bottom half of the clarinet just doesn't play! I realise that the one of the pad is too high. When that is fixed, it plays.
It is a very musical instrument, plays nicely.
However, the instrument itself has some rough edges with clear signs of being moulded and but sculpted clearly. Some of the edges around some pads are rough. The corks are not very good quality IMO compared to by Buffet. The keys are really soft and slightly bendy too.
Whats your opinion? Are the Ridenour 147 clarinet low cost with its build quality to compensate?
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Author: rsholmes
Date: 2007-07-20 14:11
The TR147 had a several year history during which there were changes in the design and improvements in the build quality. So asking about the quality of TR147s is kind of like asking how good American beer is... it VARIES!
I recently bought a later TR147 which I like pretty well so far.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-07-20 19:49
I have two. Both were used, but better in intonation than my Concertos, which I then sold. With new cork pads and some adjustment, these two are good value. The earliest 147s had side-by-side trill keys. The TR147, Arioso, Lyrique, Allora, seem to me to be the same instrument acoustically, with a few mechanical differences, such as register key shape and thumb rest, but, as with all clarinets, no two are identical. Try before buy. .
richard smith
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Author: pewd
Date: 2007-07-20 22:19
myself and several fellow band members tested 6 of them.
all 6 broke within an hours playing time.
cork falling off, lower joint levers popping out of alignment, springs popping, etc.
junk, the lot of them.
this was about 2 years ago.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2007-07-20 22:47
Well, sometimes you have to come right out and say it, so here goes:
Paul, I don't believe you were playing Tom's Arioso or Lyrique instruments.
I have never heard of such problems with his instruments, nor have I had a similar experience with the five that I either own or have gotten for students.
Are you sure these are Ridenour's? Not Allora knockoffs? SIX instruments?
<Let the flames begin.>
B.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2007-07-20 22:52
I own a T147 and find it to be a decent instrument for the price. I don't believe the "junk" comment above.
Bob Draznik
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Author: susieray
Date: 2007-07-20 23:38
I own both an Arioso C and Bb and I've not had any trouble with them at all.
I use the C every week at church and the Bb is my outdoor/bad weather horn.
Sue
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2007-07-21 01:03
bmcgar wrote:
> Paul, I don't believe you were playing Tom's Arioso or Lyrique
> instruments.
This thread is about the TR147, not the Arioso or Lyrique.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2007-07-21 02:08
right. TR147's. six of them. all failed quickly.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: clockwiser
Date: 2007-07-21 08:23
The register key on my Ridenour 147 has that special triangle shape, is that a sign that the clarinet is newer or older?
thanks
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-07-21 15:19
They all had them, except the original side-by-side trill key model. I'm not certain about it, having sold it some years ago.
richard smith
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Author: bmcgar ★2017
Date: 2007-07-21 15:54
Guess I don't know my models as well as I should, yet I still don't see this kind of condemnation of TR147s in the search results for this model, so given my experience with Tom's instruments of any model, I still find the idea of six of these clarinets going south after an hour of playing highly improbable...though not impossible.
I'm not a Tom Ridenour booster, by the way. I think his claims for some of his products are a little "larger than life," and bordering on the fantastical, and some of his "accessories" overly pricey. However, ALL of the instruments I've played of his, from bass clarinets to his C instruments, have been more than worth the price, and he has always been responsive when I've had a question, needed a tweak, or had a problem.
Paul, if you still have this "junk" around, please contact me. I'll buy the lot from you. (I'm not kidding.)
Cheers.
B.
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Author: geneo
Date: 2008-06-06 23:26
Is TR147 and 147 are the same or they are different models?
Thanks.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2008-06-06 23:36
I'm a fan of Tom, but not of the TR147 which I wasn't impressed anymore than playing a vito, except that the vito seemed more sturdy.
Seems like everyone who has tried the Lyrique says positive things about it. I'm a sceptic, but would try it. Didn't like the Arioso either.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
Post Edited (2008-06-06 23:45)
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Author: Rob Vitale
Date: 2008-06-08 01:12
I Tired Tom's clarinets and had mixed feelings. After playing the Bb clarinet, I believed it to be a very solid playing instrument with very good intonation. I didn't like the quality of the key work, very "bendy". My old student Yamaha has stronger keys on it. I didn't notice a problem with the quality of the cork pads, they seemed to be good to me and covered well. I think that the price that he asks for them is just right and this is a great instrument to buy in a pinch situation. I'm good friends with his daughter, While I have the utmost repsect for her and Tom, I can't agree with the notion that these instruments are better than Buffet.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2008-06-08 15:58
As I mentioned about a year ago, I have two TR147s. Both very good in all respects. I did have cross-cut cork and white kid leather pads installed. Both are better than my three Concertos were, with respect to intonation.
richard smith
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