 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: vjoet
Date: 2008-01-19 15:36
I am very pleased with my recent purchase of a Lyrique in A (Tom Ridenour). I read a review of it on his website by the Principal Clarinetist of the Welsh Symphony and that review convinced me to give it a try: If a professional would stake his reputation playing it on a national broadcast, it was worth investigating myself.
I got it yesterday, and have played it now for about 6 hours. My verdict: It is a stunningly fine instrument.
I have another A instrument, a Buffet Prestige, 1971. I've never enjoyed playing it, for I'm like Harold Wright who preferred very little resistance, and the Prestige offers a fair degree of resistance. (It is a semi-full Boehm, 7 rings, articulated G#. If anyone would like to make an offer for it, email me privately please.)
The Lyrique has a wonderful, full and non-stuffy tone quality.
The intonation is excellent: The lower chalameaux in not flat, the lower clarion not sharp. Altissimo is right-on, not requiring the addition of the Eb key to bring it up. Throat tones are a little flat (<5), but that is easily corrected via embouchure.
It plays easily in the full range. Imagine, the altissimo speaking just as easily as any other note.
The only fault I find with it, is throat A is a bit bright. But I can make adjustments for that, and Monday I'll ask my tech to look at it.
I have several Bb instruments. My main one is a 1961 R-13. Both my opinion and that of the various clarinetists who've tried it is that it is the sweetest clarinet they've ever tried. But I am so impressed by the Lyrique in A, that in several months I'm going to try the Lyrique in Bb.
(Oh, it came in a VERY nice double case with 2 barrels. I find the shorter barrel is the one that suits my setup best.)
Vann Joe
(amateur)
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2008-01-19 16:39
Is the clarinet made of hard rubber? Ridenour has a new ABS plastic B-flat model. I am not sure about the materials for the pro b-flat model.
richard smith
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-01-19 20:01
The Lyrique A, Bb, C and Basset A are all made of hard rubber, with the exception of the new Lyrique 146 Bb instrument, which is ABS. Even the new one uses a hard rubber barrel. The new model is designed to be more affordable, as a student's first clarinet.
Details: http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/clarinets.htm
Jeff
rtmyth wrote:
> Is the clarinet made of hard rubber? Ridenour has a new ABS
> plastic B-flat model. I am not sure about the materials for the
> pro b-flat model.
>
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-01-19 20:06
Sidetracking just a wee bit - are today's hard rubbers more stable re discolouring? I'm not an equipment freak, but having a horn in camouflage colours might turn me off, not to mention the (potential) resale value.
Where's the doctor when we need him?
--
Ben
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Author: NorbertTheParrot
Date: 2008-01-19 21:09
It may play very well out of the box, but will it last? Never mind turning green, what is the quality of the keywork? Is it robust enough?
Just asking. I've never seen a Ridenour.
Slightly off-topic, how should one pronounce "Ridenour"?
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2008-01-19 23:01
I have owned two Ridenour products, both the TR147 and the later Arioso.
I'm still on the original, straight from the factory settings.
No bent keys.
No missing pads.
No loose screws (in the instrument, at least).
If you're bending keys, perhaps the fit of your case is tight.
If you're losing pads, you're playing beyond the printed tempo...
Bottom line; these are a bargain.
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Author: awm34
Date: 2008-01-20 01:19
I've had my Lyrique A for about two months now and I'm very satisfied. I'm still studying and my current routine is to practice on the Lyrique and then play my Selmer 10G in my lesson (as it's less resistant and, thus, less tiring).
That approach is working for me.
Alan Messer
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-01-20 17:51
Re. the pronunciation of "Ridenour," does the "nour" part rhyme with "hour" (as in, "The hour of thy doom is at hand, varlet!") or "moor" (as in the Hound of the Baskerville's hangout)?
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2008-01-20 17:53)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-01-20 19:11
It rhymes with "hour."
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: vjoet
Date: 2008-01-21 17:08
Hi,
To answer the several questions:
1. I've never seen a body of a hard rubber clarinet turn color. Mouthpieces sometimes do from exposure to the alkalie (sp?) in saliva, but the instrument itself never gets exposed to such. (The condensation that forms inside is different, and probably pretty pure, as is rain water.)
2. The keys seem very well formed and sturdy. The side trill keys are on 4 posts, not the usual 3. The springs are blue steel.
3. My tech will look it over this afternoon, and I'll report what he has to say on it. (He's very fine, having studied with John Kaspar.)
vJoe
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Author: soldiermusician
Date: 2008-01-21 20:16
I have a Ridenour Arioso A and I have not had a single issue with it. I did, however, have my tech do some adjustments on the pinky keys, now it plays like my R13 Bb.
1st Infantry Division Band
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Author: Brent
Date: 2008-01-21 20:41
I have a Selmer Paris hard rubber clarinet with a one piece body. That instrument is slightly green on the outside, though it has had plenty of years to get that way. The bore is pretty much black. I think that the discoloration has mostly to do with exposure to light, particularly UV.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2008-01-21 23:31
I have a Dave Spiegethal special "A" clarinet in hard rubber with the most appealing olive drab color - reminds me of a previous Army life. I think that all hard rubber "can-but may not" turn the most appealing colors of grey to brown to green if exposed to sunlight (mostly) and the sulphur content is high and is exposed to the right environmental smog containing chemicals that will react with sulphur to form these lovely colors. They are cosmetic and for the most part do not alter the tone of the instrument or mouthpiece unless the rubber itself breaks too many cross links and deteriorates.
I wonder why the new Lyrique horn is ABS plastic - is plastic suddenly OK?
(Disclaimer - I am seller of the Forte' plastic Bb and wood Forte' C clarinets)
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-01-21 23:49
L. Omar Henderson wrote:
> They are cosmetic and for the most part do not alter
> the tone of the instrument or mouthpiece unless the rubber
> itself breaks too many cross links and deteriorates.
Yeah, you know it, I know it and the rest in here knows that too - but unfortunately the average 2nd hand buyer does not and will likely scream and drop the instrument in disgust. :-/
So, HR is fine for the conaisseur, but probably not ideal if you ever plan to resell your instrument. Unless, of course, modern HR formula prevent the camouflage look.
> I wonder why the new Lyrique horn is ABS plastic - is plastic
> suddenly OK?
I'm waiting for the PVC version: http://www.geocities.com/tpe123/folkurban/clarinet/ ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
(now before anyone takes offense - I do not mean to connect a PVC DIY project with any respectable maker. I was just googling against plastic clarinets and stumbled over that one)
--
Ben
Post Edited (2008-01-21 23:54)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-01-22 00:05
My guess would be that Tom Ridenour is making a student line of clarinets designed along the Lyrique's acoustical formula, but is attempting to make it a more appealing price point for entry-level purchasers, such as the ones who might buy a B10 and whatever the current intro models are from Yamaha, Vito and Selmer.
It seems like a logical progression of the good features of his more expensive horns trickling down. I notice that the 576 B is no longer listed on the site. Just the BC and the new 147.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2008-01-22 00:21
Unfortunately instrument rubber - to my knowledge - does not contain UV inhibitors and still uses sulphur as the major catalyst. I must say that I have not seen any of the newer rubber instruments turn color but also do not know the extent of light or smog exposure either. I would not worry too much before 5 years of purely interior use.
Sale of student instruments - at least from my experience - has more to do with advertising, sales force, networking, distribution, and "sweet-heart" arrangements than quality of the instrument. Rental instruments are discount based. Of course I wish Tom good luck in this endeavor !!!
L. Omar Henderson
www.doctorsprod.com
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Author: jwiseman114
Date: 2008-01-22 14:11
In case you missed it, this is Ridenour's 'theory' regarding rubber in clarinet manufacturing. I personally don't completely buy it but it is an interesting read.
http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/grenadillamyth.htm
In regards to discoloration, I have had some luck with oil. It tends to work a bit like a cleaning agent and I think it might seal the horn and slow down the oxidation process. If you are re-selling your horn you can always have a good tech buff the body. Of course these processes remove a small amount of material but I think it is negligible as long as the bore is left alone.
As others have commented, always leave rubber out of light as much as possible.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-01-22 21:52
DavidBlumberg wrote:
> Does that include stage lights too?
If your venues include solariums, yes.
--
Ben
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Author: vjoet
Date: 2008-01-23 16:01
I had mentioned that my tech was to look at the new instrument.
(I misspoke previously: he learned repair from Frank L. Kaspar, not John Kaspar.)
He agreed the tone quality was outstanding, not at all stuffy, and very much like that of a Bb. He was also impressed with how free-blowing the instrument is and with the intonation.
He said to be a little careful with the keys, for the metal is softer than that found on French instruments. He adjusted the seating of the lowest pad on the right hand joint.
He was so impressed that he went to the Ridenour site, and investigated his base clarinet, and read a review of it on a sax board.
vJoe
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