 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2009-04-08 23:30
It's been a while since I owned a C, but I'm thinking of purchasing another. My last one was a Patricola grenadilla wood one and was a very nice instrument. I sold it because I wasn't using it much and seemed too expensive to just have sitting around.
I know that the Ridenour Lyrique C is a nice instrument and have a friend who has one. They're also a good price. Also the dr. has the Forte C that is nice. What are some suggestions about good ones on the market today?
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2009-04-09 02:40
Depends on your budget and how much you want to use it.
I like my Steven Fox C, made in 1999. I think the new ones are better. Get his throat-Bb mechanism, although this option plays havoc with people who use use funny fingerings to bring the throat tones down on Buffets.
There are a number of posts here and on the Ethnic Clarinet board, such as:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=291766&t=291710
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-04-09 04:44
I have a Forte C clarinet. If you want a very thorough review (several pages in a doc file) let me know and I'll email it to you. I don't feel comfortable giving a short review without being very specific with all details, which I wrote about in the review.
I recently tried C clarinets from Patricola and from Ripamonti that I really liked. I'm sure they are more expensive than the Forte.
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Author: pelo_ensortijado
Date: 2009-04-09 10:54
i am also intrested in reading this review. and im sure there are many others who are to.
cant you copy&paste it in here as an answer on the original post? im sure noone would mind it beeing the longest post so far on the bb.
otherwise i would be glad if you did send it to me aswell.
best regards
niclas
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Author: dgclarinet
Date: 2009-04-09 11:50
Brenda,
I purchased a used (barely used) Buffet E-11 on Ebay a few years ago (for a really great price...if you're cheap like me) that will do everything I want it to do and more. I've tried other C's at the clarinet conventions and it's at least as good as any I've tried. For what I need a C for (admittedly not for much) it does the job.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2009-04-09 13:35
I have a Forte C, and it is fine for my purposes....I even used it on a read-through of Beethoven I with my orchestra.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: William
Date: 2009-04-09 14:40
I also like my Buffet E-11 and many have commented on its sound--but I was lucky to have had five pre-selected clarinets to chose from at the old IMS store. Must have gotten lucky and picked a "good one". For me, it's a fun instrument to play.
Post Edited (2009-04-09 14:42)
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2009-04-09 15:05
In these troubled times, perhaps another relevant question would be, "Which one is likely to have the best resale value?"
Best regards,
jnk
Post Edited (2009-04-09 22:06)
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2009-04-09 21:21
<<perhaps another relevant question would be, "Which one is likely to have the best resale value?">> per Jack.
Who is John Galt?
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-04-09 21:23
Resale vcalue is only important if you plan on unloading the clarinet sometime in the near future, IMO. Otherwise, the enjoyment of the instrument would be more important to me.
Jeff
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Author: oliver sudden
Date: 2009-04-09 22:59
@ Ralph Katz:
"people who use use funny fingerings to bring the throat tones down on Buffets"
OK, I'll rise to the bait ;-)
In the first place, not just on Buffets but on practically any clarinet, no? Certainly any standard 'modern' system. And every historical clarinet I can think of (where without a thumbrest it's practically a necessity anyway).
In the second place, covering lower holes can usually help get some resonance from the lower part of the tube. I'd hate to have to leave my RH fingers up to play the throat notes.
In the third place, legato across the break is surely a heck of a lot easier if you have some holes closed already?
(Have: Noblet C, no complaints, can sound warm if you want it to, can also do chirpy. Have played: Buffet E11, also a great 'entry-level' C. Have also played and would love: Buffet Prestige C. In fact I nearly bought one a little while back but the one the shop had was cracked and the new one would have been at a new price with a dreadful exchange rate...)
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2009-04-09 23:26
I also tried an E-11 with a Chadash barrel at the old IMS store and should have bought it but was on a tight budget and doing a gig in Chicago. I didn't want to cart it around with me for the week. I should have bought it because Lisa offered me a good deal (I think 800 with the barrel).
I'm not really interested in resale value, because I don't plan to sell this one. Of course I always say that and most of the time end up selling them after not using them much.
My Noblet C was set-up with a pro set-up of cork uppers and hand made lower pads and some tweaking of key-action. It still did not sound as nice as the Patricola.
My friend's Lyrique sounds pretty good for the money. Haven't tried for Forte, but have heard good things.
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Author: Dileep Gangolli
Date: 2009-04-09 23:59
I have a wonderful Buffet C clarinet that I use at every opportunity (Berlioz, Strauss waltzes, Mahler, Beethoven, Mozart, Verdi, etc.)
I am addicted to the sound of the C clarinet as I truly believe that it has a much different character than its cousins the Bb and A.
Plus you get the added bonus of being able to sit in with string quartets (playing second vln is easier) or doing the wonderful Mozart flute quartets.
Get the best C clarinet you can possibly buy and don't worry about resale value.
Sell your husband instead.
Post Edited (2009-04-10 00:00)
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2009-04-10 05:07
I had a new Noblet C which served me well for the very short time I used it, in a polka band, no Bb music available and I couldn't transpose fast enough to keep up with the accordian player. I still have it but don't play it anymore.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-04-10 05:16
Niclas, I prefer not to post this review here for several reasons. If you (or anyone) want to read it just email me and I'll email it back to you.
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Author: oliver sudden
Date: 2009-04-10 10:27
Dileep Gangolli:
"I am addicted to the sound of the C clarinet as I truly believe that it has a much different character than its cousins the Bb and A.
Plus you get the added bonus of being able to sit in with string quartets (playing second vln is easier) or doing the wonderful Mozart flute quartets."
The sound is the thing of course. A little bit of chirp is part of the package otherwise you might as well just play everything on the Bb. (Mahler recommends an alternative for the C in his 5th symphony - namely the D clarinet. Ironic, that. I've seen lots of Cs but I think a total of one D. 'Modern' clarinets anyway.)
Here's a tip: take on the first violin part in the finale of the Brahms G minor piano quartet. You know, the gypsy movement. Gosh it's fun.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2009-04-10 18:08
Beethoven is enough for me.
I didn't like my Noblet C very much because I found the key-action to be a bit awkward. Even after sending it off for a Pro set-up it was not smooth. The Patricola was much better and had a better tone, but of course, was more expensive.
I'm thinking of the Forte or Lyrique this time around. Interested in other suggestions from board members.
Post Edited (2009-04-10 18:13)
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2009-04-11 18:33
Some years ago I played C clarinet duets with Ralph DelMonico at Interlochen.
OK - go ahead & laugh: 2 Ralphs & 2 C clarinets.
After playing for a while, we traded my Stephen Fox and his Patricola, and we had a good time. They were both pretty decent.
Has anyone played Amati C Clarinets?
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2009-04-11 19:29
I bought an Amati C a few years ago from Music123 and think it is a pretty decent horn. Quite a few people have used it and everyone thought for $525 it was a winner. Nice wood and nice silver plated keys, nothing I would consider to be cheap. I've done some adjustments on it and it plays in tune. It did come with incorrect key heights.
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: lobooboe45
Date: 2009-04-12 00:48
I have Ridenour arioso C clarinet, which I bought from a gentleman whom I met at a master class at BGSU. He told me he had a Patricola on order. I have found it very useful for church orchestra where it comes in handy to play oboe parts. Being a trained singer, i also had the occasion to sing the offertory and later to reprise the song on the clarinet. Too bad I can't tap dance. A clarinut collegue of mine bought a Forte C which I was able to compare. I do not claim to be an expert but I could not find a substantial---difference between the two as far a overall feel and tone quality. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------y-----------------------------------
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2009-04-12 03:48
I did read clarnibass' review of the Forte C and found it informative and quite detailed. If you ask him he'll email it to you.
I noticed the Patricola Cs are very, very expensive now. Not that they weren't back when I bought one years ago, but particularly now. That might make the Lyrique and Forte more desirable.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-04-12 07:12
Brenda, maybe you should contact Ripamonti and ask about their prices. From what I remember the price for their bass and contrabass clarinets was competetive with (i.e. lower than) let's say the same instruments from Selmer. But I didn't ask about the price of any soprano clarinets.
By the way me not wanting to post my review here seemed to cause at least one member nightmares and insomnia..... so I'll just explain. I have reviews of instruments on my website, which I might decide to translate to English and might post the Forte review there. I don't want to have a review that I wrote for my website posted also on another website (especially where others can continue to type on the same page).
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2009-04-13 16:47
I totally understand your reasoning on posting about the Forte. However, you might edit the review down and just give some basic thoughts about it and that would be helpful. The stuff about the case and like that isn't really necessary for purposes here. I found the information about intonation and how it felt in the hand and the specifics about key holes, etc. most helpful.
You could probably go through the review paragraph by paragraph and pick out a couple sentences (I used to be a magazine editor) and use those for the posting here because you have tweeked interest in your review.
I did look up the Ripamonti website and found their C to be $1,176.00 USD.
That's comparable with Tom Ridenour's Lyrique (unless Tom would offer a discount for some reason or other). I've never played a Ripamonti. I'd be curious (though not enough to pay for shipping, etc.) to play one or hear opinions on them from someone.
Post Edited (2009-04-13 18:10)
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Author: 78s2CD
Date: 2009-04-14 02:28
I have an Amati and have no other C to compare it with. After some adjustments I'd say it plays quite well in tune. I just lent it to a pro symphony play and await his assessment.
Best regards,
Jim Lockwood
Rio Rico AZ USA
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