 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2007-07-03 17:38
1. those who recently purchased this clarinet, are you still happy with it?
2. do you use the mouthpiece that came with it?
3. what reed and what size do you use?
4. i was looking at the website under special features on the custom, and i saw and read about the ergonomic thumb position - is it refering to the thumb hole, or the register key. and my register key does not look like the one picured. do yours?
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Author: Mags1957
Date: 2007-07-04 00:18
1) Yes, I am still happy with it. I also have a Yamaha CS with a Backun bell and barrel that I like very much, too, but overall I consider the Lyrique my #1 instrument. I like the key layout on the Yamaha better, and it can get brighter than the Lyrique, but the smoothness between registers on the Lyrique is magnificent - it's the most "even" horn I've ever played. I also really liked the Leblanc / Backun Legacy that I play tested a few months ago.
2) No - I like it (I got the HW), but I prefer my old mouthpiece - also a Backun / Morales Orchestra model.
3) I use Rico Grand Concert Thick Blank #4.
4) My register key does not look like that, and I never saw that on his website before! Must be the newest improvement.
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Author: rsholmes
Date: 2007-07-04 01:21
"New improvement"? The Ridenour TR147 I bought recently (which probably dates from around 2004, is my guess) has that style register key.
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Author: Mags1957
Date: 2007-07-04 02:03
Hmm - I didn't know that - not sure what's going on - is that the old register key, or the new one? I bought my Lyrique from Tom in December, and the register key looks like any other.
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Author: Dano
Date: 2007-07-04 02:25
I am still happy with the Lyrique. I agree with Mags1957 that this is the most "even" clarinet I have ever played. I had a few issues with my right hand pinky finger not feeling at home at first but I must have adjusted because it is no longer an issue.
I like the mouthpiece that came with the clarinet and use it when I play something other than jazz. I can't seem to bend notes on it as well as on a 5JB or something along those lines but it does bring out the fullness of the clarinet and is so much better than the mouthpieces that usually come with clarinets.
That register key is not what was on the website when I ordered a few months ago. My clarinet has the good, old, normal register key. I am not a big fan of fixing what is not broken so I am glad my horn has the register key it has. I have never had a problem with the normal register keys.
By the way, I ran across a very low priced brand-spanking-new Ridenour TR147 bass clarinet and could not pass it up and am quite happy with it also. I have the best soprano clarinet I have played and a new bass clarinet that plays very well and I have spent around $1400. I remember not being able to find a decent, new pro soprano clarinet for that price just a year ago.
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Author: rsholmes
Date: 2007-07-04 02:42
I suppose you could ask Tom Ridenour.
Checking the Internet Archive I find two previous versions of the Lyrique features page from RCP's web site, dated January and February 2007, and while both resemble the present page, both lack any photo or mention of the register key. So indeed this photo is newly added to the site, and presumably reflects the key currently used. So apparently Ridenour clarinets have gone from offset register key to straight back to offset again... for some reason.
A recent thread here discussed a similar key used on a Marigaux clarinet (built a few years ago), and if you Google for "ergonomic register key" (in quotes) you'll find a photo of a similar key on a Hanson clarinet.
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Author: dr t
Date: 2007-07-04 12:37
My Lyrique has the ergonomic register key. I ordered it in late May and it arrived two weeks ago. I was surprised when I saw it because I did not recall seeing that type of key on the web site before I ordered it. However, I definitely like it. That may be because I am an old sax player with small hands who never liked the clarinet register key position. Since I only doubled on clarinet sporadically in a college dance band, and since I have not played any instrument in the last 45 years, I am hardly qualified to answer your other questions.
Ted
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2007-07-04 15:23
Yes, I own one and I also recommended it to several members of my community band who also purchased one. I got mine directly from Tom in his work shop in Dallas (as did my fellow clarinetists). They got the mouthpiece, but I liked my Backun mouthpiece MUCH better. I found the Ridenour mouthpiece too closed for my liking. He did offer to customize it for me, but I struck a bargain with him to lower the price without the mouthpiece.
I'm still playing mine, as are my friends. Everyone who tries it likes it. I'm playing it today at our outdoor July 4th concert. I do not use it exclusively, because I have a new R-13 that I prefer, but I agree with you that it is a very even and in tune instrument. The scale is amazing. It also has a very nice tone for a non-wood instrument.
The thing that is nice about it is the intonation. If you're in a situation where you've got flexibility of temperature (such as an outdoor setting), you don't have to worry about retuning so often.
Tom uses those high dollar synthetic cork pads and hand done ones on the lower keys just like he uses in his artist-level overhauls ($481.00). So, it comes right out of the box with excellent pads.
I've owned lots of plastic and hard rubber clarinets and I'd have to say this one is the best I've tried. It's not a student instrument, and Tom will tell you this (the Custom model). It's a big kid horn.
Post Edited (2007-07-04 15:26)
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-07-04 15:38
Yes, Lyrique now has the ergonomic register key, as do the TR147s. I have both, but prefer the ergonomic, perhaps because the clearance between thumb ring and regular style register key is a little more than I would prefer. I sense no difference in acoustics or keywork of Ridenour clarinets otherwise. All super.
richard smith
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Author: Mags1957
Date: 2007-07-04 19:45
From Tom Ridenour himself (in an email to me):
"The Lyrique had several improvements mechanically, but one I could
not make for a long time was the ergonomic register key–– a design
I believe makes it easier for the thumb to work in its' natural 2:00
O'Clock position. That stricture was removed some time ago, so I could once again use that design.
Of course, I can deliver the clarinet in either conformation; all it
has to be is requested. Unless the customer voices a definite preference, the clarinet comes with the ergonomically improved register key."
There you have it.
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Author: MC
Date: 2007-07-07 17:52
I received my Lyrique earlier this week. I like it just fine -- until I get down to the low G-E range. At that point, I'm WAY sharp (in the 30+-cents range). I don't experience similar intonation problems with my Signatures or Selmer 10, so I'm inclined to think that the issue is specific to this clarinet. That said, I'm open to suggestions -- the nut behind the wheel could certainly be at fault. :-)
I've had a couple of email exchanges with Tom about it, but we haven't been able to resolve the issue as yet. Have any of you had a similar experience with your Lyrique?
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Author: grifffinity
Date: 2007-07-07 18:33
Quote:
I received my Lyrique earlier this week. I like it just fine -- until I get down to the low G-E range. At that point, I'm WAY sharp (in the 30+-cents range).
I am not familiar with the Selmer horns, but on Buffet horns the F to E is usually a great deal flat. Over the years, I've become accustom to lipping these notes up automatically. When I was helping a student pick out horns recently, I had to be very aware of not "adjusting" as usual, when testing intonation of the horns.
I'm just posing this example as a possibility. Of course, there may indeed be a pitch problem with your new horn. Are there any other clarinetists around who are available to test out your horn?
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Author: MC
Date: 2007-07-07 18:45
"...on Buffet horns the F to E is usually a great deal flat. Over the years, I've become accustom to lipping these notes up automatically. When I was helping a student pick out horns recently, I had to be very aware of not "adjusting" as usual, when testing intonation of the horns."
I appreciate the comment, and this is certainly something I considered. I thought I was pretty careful about this, but maybe not. I'll take another look, just to be sure.
"Are there any other clarinetists around who are available to test out your horn?"
I wish I did have another clarinetist nearby -- that would provide another perspective on the situation. I'll make a few phone calls this weekend -- might be able to offer an adult beverage in exchange for a tuner test. :-)
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Author: FDF
Date: 2007-07-07 19:11
I had the same problem with the low E on my R147. Ridenour's suggestion to me was, "Pulling the bell about five millimeters can help and supporting the tone at a full dynamic also helps."
I also started tuning the instrument as he suggested with the open G tuned at the barrell and the octive higher G at the middle joint.
With some adjustment in dynamics, the low E plays about two cents sharp.
Edited to explain, that I do not have to pull the bell or the middle joint. Dynamics made the great difference. But the experiments with tuning helped me understand the problem.
Post Edited (2007-07-07 19:26)
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Author: MC
Date: 2007-07-07 20:12
"I had the same problem with the low E on my R147. Ridenour's suggestion to me was, "Pulling the bell about five millimeters can help and supporting the tone at a full dynamic also helps."
I also started tuning the instrument as he suggested with the open G tuned at the barrell and the octive higher G at the middle joint."
Tom made the same suggestions to me, and I tried them. Still no joy. :-( I'll try again tomorrow, though, just to make sure.
I'm wondering if there's just a quirk with this specific instrument. I have no intonation issues at all other than these bottom two or three pitches. I'd love to add a Lyrique to my clarinet family, and I think it will make a great outdoor/travel instrument for me -- if I can just get this one snafu resolved.
Post Edited (2007-07-07 20:26)
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-07-08 16:05
I have 4 Ridenours. Good intonation on all; pretty lucky maybe. I sold my Concertos shortly after geting my first Ridenour, a TR147. Ambient temperature should be about 68-70 F. If warmer the instrument will be out of tune with itself, particularly the low tones.
richard smith
Post Edited (2007-07-08 20:48)
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Author: MC
Date: 2007-07-25 13:27
Thanks for all of your advice regarding the intonation issues I was experiencing with the Lyrique clarinet. I tried all of your suggestions, but nothing worked. I ultimately ended up returning the clarinet to Tom (who, by the way, is great to work with -- he spent a LOT of time with me via email and phone calls to resolve this issue). He agreed -- the intonation was out of whack in the lower register. (His quote: "This has me weirded out.") He sent me a replacement instrument, and it plays beautifully. The intonation is dead-on. All's well that ends well!
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Author: classicalguss
Date: 2007-07-26 20:11
Lat night, I played my new (2 week old) Ridenour clarinets (i bought both B and A) in an orchestra concert. While I had been really happy with them at home, it was playing with other players that really brought out how good these really are. There is an adjustment period, of course, having played R-13's for the last 40 years. I'm still getting used to the register key and the differences in intonation (far less adjusting except for thumb F which tends to be a little low on the A). However, these are by far the most even instruments that I have ever played. My usual set of Buffets were worked on by Jimmy Yan, one of the really great repairmen in NYC. Toms' work here is in no way inferior. The other musicians in the woodwind section were very impressed with the only caveat being that they would like to hear them indoors, something I'll get to do with them in September.
So--a work in progress, but these are the real thing. I don't know yet whether these will be my primary horns, but as of now, that's a really possibilty.
For the price? An absolute steal!\
Best Wishes,
Roy
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Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2007-07-27 06:13
Can anyone comment on the differences in playability between the 147 and the Lyrique? There are many of the 147s for sale reasonably priced on eBay, but I never see a used Lyrique. I am curious to try a Ridenour and I'm willing to repad an eBay horn if it will be representative of Tom's prowess...
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Author: rsholmes
Date: 2007-07-27 12:07
Actually a used Lyrique sold recently on eBay for $500 (item 300124668181).
The TR147 underwent some improvements over the course of several years. Mostly mechanical, to address play and durability issues. Acoustically they're all supposed to be good. I've heard there's not much difference between a late TR147 and an uncustomized Lyrique, but I can't say from my own experience.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-07-27 15:34
Little more on Ridenours. I have 4, but had 5. Let's start with the oldest as 1. This was the early 147, and had side-by-side trill keys. I sold it. 2. This was a bit later, and had jump trill keys.3. This is later still, but has improved key work and reinforced crow's foot. 4. Now called Arioso, but very similar to 3. 5. Arioso but later than 4. Closer tolerances and some differences in key design of open A and thumb ring. Wonderful timbre. Bottom line: all good, but from 3 on superior, particularly those worked over by Ridenour. 4. was hand-selected and adjusted for me by Ridenour. It has the best intonation of the lot, better than 5, which I bought from a retailer, and may not have been processed by Ridenour. There are other names out there such as Allora, Image. I believe Ridenour is the sole source for the Lyrique, which now has an ergonomic register key, unlike the Ariosos. If both were setup by Ridenour, I would say the Lyrique is comparable to the Arioso.
richard smith
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-07-27 16:04
I suggest trying the later models, the ones with the reinforced crow's foot
richard smith
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Author: rsholmes
Date: 2007-07-28 01:43
Richard, two questions: (1) How do you identify a reinforced crow's foot? (2) Would you be willing to share your instruments' serial numbers? My TR147 is 032005 above 1XX. The top number, 032005, looks like a date (March 2005) but I thought the TR147 was out of production by then. I wrote and asked Tom Ridenour about the serial numbers and was surprised to hear he doesn't know what they mean or how to correlate with date -- they are applied at the factory in China and he doesn't keep records of them.
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Author: jmsa
Date: 2007-07-28 11:20
According to Mr. Ted Ridenour ( Mr. Tom Ridenour's son) the Image Artist is the Arioso model that was sold exclusively by music stores. Mr. Tom Ridenour hand adjusted a number of these in the same fashion as the lyrique and they are also exceptional instruments.
jmsa
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-07-29 20:17
147 was in production ending in 2006. Newer crowfoot is about 2 mm thick, twice thickness of old. All mine are good, so I assume Ridenour worked on them. Even the oldest is better for intonation than my two Concertos. Finally, the ones with the side-by-side trill keys, have a standard register key, not an ergonomic one.
richard smith
Post Edited (2007-07-29 21:43)
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2007-08-05 13:42
ok, so i was eating my veggies (practicing scales) this morning, as suggested to me in another post, when every time i came to a low E, i kept wondering if i was playing the wrong note. so i took out my tuner and it was WAY sharp. just like a couple other people here described. ive got an email off to mr.ridenour. i hope it can be fixed or replaced.
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