 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Geirskogul
Date: 2008-09-03 23:51
I have two clarinets I bought about three months ago; a Yamaha YCL-23N and an auction site brand (Glenn Edward). Of course, I purchases the GE first, and thought it's tone was pretty good. Of course, I'm just a beginning clarinetist, but it matched my computer tone meter to A440 fairly closely. I stumbled upon the Yamaha clarinet for under $80 shipped (the same price I got the GE for), so I snapped it up. It needed its corks and some pads replaced, but I did that easily enough as I worked in an instrument store in a past life (by "life, I mean "summer").
After repairing the Yamaha, I noted that it's tone was a lot "better." I don't really know how to put it; maybe it's "darker" or "smoother." Anywhoo, it's better, and the GE sounds "tinny" by comparison.
Today, I assembled both clarinets and put them side-by-side, and noticed that the Yamaha is a lot taller. It's not just the barrel, the upper joint of the GE is about 1-2mm shorter, though the lower joint is the same size. Is it just an overall inferior clarinet, or is it something that can be corrected by getting a new barrel for it? I've tried putting the Yamaha barrel on it, but it isn't snug (or even "on") at all. I can't "play test" the yamaha barrel, because air leaks with it sitting on top. Both mouthpieces are interchangeable, though.
~SECOND CHANCE BONUS QUESTION!~
The Yamaha came with a new (as in, never used) Selmer mouthpiece, though I can't identify the model as there are no numbers on it, just "SELMER U.S.A." Any help here? Pics attatched.
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Author: FDF
Date: 2008-09-03 23:55
Since you are just beginning, keep observing.
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Author: davidsampson
Date: 2008-09-03 23:57
Could it be a clarinet in A? Try this: Go up to a piano with your clarinet. Play a C on your clarinet, and then try to match that pitch on the piano. If the proper note on the piano is A, you are the proud owner of a clarinet in A. If it says Bb, then something is very wrong.
As for the mouthpiece, I know Selmer USA sax mouthpieces are good, but I don't know about clarinet ones. I assume they are at least alright.
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Author: Geirskogul
Date: 2008-09-04 00:05
Pics! Pardon the dust, I have cats.
Mouthpiece: http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/9913/1003195qx6.jpg
Clarinets side-by-side: http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003189mq4.jpg
Bells: http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003192qs7.jpg
Keywork: http://img134.imageshack.us/my.php?image=1003193oy4.jpg
Also, I know the GE is a questionable make...now. Timeline goes like this: Bought GE, Discovered BBoard, Realized Mistake, Bought Yamaha. 
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2008-09-04 00:06
i would think the mouthpiece is just the standard mouthpiece that comes with Selmer USA clarinets.
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Author: Geirskogul
Date: 2008-09-04 00:18
"Could it be a clarinet in A? Try this: Go up to a piano with your clarinet. Play a C on your clarinet, and then try to match that pitch on the piano. If the proper note on the piano is A, you are the proud owner of a clarinet in A. If it says Bb, then something is very wrong."
What "C"? If I play low-C (as written, four left hand fingers) it is either D or Eb on the Bass Clef on the piano. Yet, the computer tuner still says "C" when I set it for Bb Clarinet, though it is a bit warbly. If I set it for Eb clarinet the tuner says "G", though it's OBVIOUSLY not an Eb clarinet.
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2008-09-04 00:22
Well if the tuner says it's a C for Bb Clarinet, then it's a Bb Clarinet.
what exactly is "warbly?"
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Author: Geirskogul
Date: 2008-09-04 00:24
On the Yamaha, I can play a steady note. It doesn't waver, and transitions from one note to another are smooth. Like when practicing long tones.
On the GE, when I try to hold a long note (like "C"), it wavers up and down a bit, no matter how steady I try to hold it. I know I'm a beginner and warbling is to be expected, but it's MUCH harder on the GE to keep steady.
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Author: cxgreen48
Date: 2008-09-04 00:33
Well that doesn't sound too normal...
anyway, i think the GE is just an inferior clarinet to the Yamaha.
I doubt getting a longer barrel would do much. And if the Yamaha barrel doesn't fit, other barrels will probably have a hard time fitting too.
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-09-04 02:10
Geirskogul,
The shorter upper joint of the Glenn Edwards sounds a great deal similar to the design of some of the Artley clarinets.
These horns shorten the upper joint for the benefit of the hand size of children, as well as to compensate for the poor fundamentals of young students, who's pitch is usually flat. Unfortunately this means that the instrument plays sharp (and many sharp notes of the upper joint are even sharper).
These issues are doubly compounded by the students whose fundamentals are good! (I don't have any students who play flat!)
It is an inferior clarinet...but the length is intentional (and intentionally bad!).
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Geirskogul
Date: 2008-09-04 02:17
Well, if only I was in a marching band or something, then it'd be perfect. As-is, I think it's time to put it away and play on the Yamaha, I guess.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-09-04 05:04
"Could it be a clarinet in A? Try this: Go up to a piano with your clarinet. Play a C on your clarinet, and then try to match that pitch on the piano. If the proper note on the piano is A, you are the proud owner of a clarinet in A. If it says Bb, then something is very wrong."
Yamaha never made plastic A clarinets.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-09-04 05:31
The GE is still a Bb clarinet, but with a short barrel and top joint in an attempt to make it play in tune for beginners, although they won't learn how to develop a decent embouchure (playing UP to pitch) as this clarinet will play sharp, but with an uneven scale as only the top end has been shortened.
You will benefit in many more ways from playing the Yamaha than playing the GE.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-09-04 07:10
I can't be completely sure from the photos, but it looks like the bell of the GE is shorter. If that's true, that contributes to the Yamaha looking much longer than the GE than it really is. A better comparison would be to align them at the top of the upper joint, and also compare the barrels. You can always open the barrel a little. The warbling of the notes could be from leaks. You said the Yamaha was fixed so it probably doesn't have leaks.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2008-09-04 13:44
Gier - I would suggest making the "length" comparison by the key locations, matching the two [or more] cls by the A keys [perhaps the register keys] and the low E pads/tone holes. The top of the U J and the bottom of the L J could easily be of different lengths, compensated [for tuning] by different barrel and bell lengths. Just an AM thot. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Geirskogul
Date: 2008-09-04 17:01
I checked (with my fancy-dancy half-millimeter ruler, ha!) and the bells and LJs on both are identical in size and shape, and even the key spacing is identical. I'm just going to go with what you guys say ; beginners clarinet.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2008-09-04 18:56
Both the clarinets are beginners' clarinets. You said that the Glen Edward plays in tune. The shorter upper joint of the GE (and the Artley) might be an attempt to help beginners play in tune but I doubt it. Even in professional clarinets, there are likely to be slight differences in length from one manufacturer (and perhaps even one model) to the next. There are numerous factors that can affect a note's pitch -- size of tone hole, placement of tone hole, whether and extent to which the tone hole is undercut, diameter of bore, design of bore, height of key pads. If the size and placement of tone holes appear to be identical, the shorter length could simply be due to a smaller bore diameter or different internal design. The length of the joint is not, in itself, an indication that a clarinet is of lesser quality or that it necessarily will play out of tune. In the case of your two instruments, the difference you note is probably more likely due to care in design and workmanship (and perhaps materials) -- resulting from the difference between a desire to produce a clarinet that works vs. a clarinet that works well.
BTW, the difference in length between a Bb and an A is more like an inch-and-a-half than 2 millimeters.
Best regards,
jnk
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