 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: llamaboy12
Date: 2009-09-26 00:19
hello everyone! i am a freshman performance major who needs an A clarinet. my first intention was to take out a loan and get a new R13 A, but after speaking with several clarinetist i know i was advised to get an used A. the reasoning behind getting one used is that i can play and perform on it and figure out what i really want from an A, then get a new one down the line. i can understand why it would be helpful to get used to an A, but is it really detrimental to get an A with little experiance on it?
p.s.: can anyone summarize the major differences between A and Bb? (besides resistance)
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-09-26 00:45
llamaboy12 wrote:
> p.s.: can anyone summarize the major differences between A and
> Bb?
A half step ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
...GBK
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2009-09-26 03:32
I agree with David. Buy the best A clarinet you can afford - new or used.
Of more importance, find an A that has resistance matching your Bb. That will make a big difference in finding reeds that work equally well on both clarinets.
Good used A clarinets do exist - I sold three or four this past couple of months. They are rare, however, compared to the availability of Bb clarinets. Many clarinetists buy an A clarinet and keep it for life.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
Buffet 1193 bass clarinets
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-09-26 03:38
An A clarinet has a smaller bore than a Bb and therefore has more resistance. The reed usually feels a bit more resistance because of it. Most students I've heard actually sound richer and fuller on their A clarinets than on their Bb especially if they get a bright sound on their Bb. When you look for an A, new or used, try to match it as close as possible to your Bb. Often changing barrels or even bells can make a very large difference in resistance and pitch. If you can find a truly good used one for a good price buy it otherwise get a new one but try our many.
ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: William
Date: 2009-09-26 14:47
"New" or "Used" does not matter so much as how well it plays--intonation, tone quality and compatability with your favorite Bb. A great used A clarinet is hard to find, but if anyone might have one "laying about", it would be Walter Grabner. I recommend giving him a call to set up a date to try some clarinets--and his famous mouthpiecies as well.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-09-26 20:04
Another difference between Bb and A is the physical size. The A clarinet is longer and the keys and holes are a little further apart than on the Bb. Consequently, the A requires a little more effort from your fingers, which may not be that noticeable unless you're playing a rapid passage. I also found my right hand felt a bit uncomfortable with the A at first due to the added weight and the slightly different finger position (as well as a different kind of thumbrest from my old R-13 Bb).
Another thing you may find is that if you buy your A clarinet new, the keywork is probably going to be a little stiffer than your Bb clarinet. My Bb has very fast keywork that takes a light touch. When I bought my A (I bought mine new), the difference was very noticeable. A good repair guy can adjust the keywork to make the two instruments feel more similar to each other, though.
Finally (and we a discussion on the BBoard about this about a year ago), in addition to the different resistance, the acoustics are little different, too. What that means is that you will have to get used to doing slightly different things with your oral cavity than you did with the Bb to get similar results. It takes a little getting used to.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-09-26 20:19
An A clarinet typically gets a lot less use than a Bb -- almost none if the owner doesn't play in an orchestra. Therefore a used A will probably be in good condition. I would certainly try any used A clarinet.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Bret Pimentel
Date: 2009-09-28 03:16
> An A clarinet has a smaller bore than a Bb
Actually smaller? or just proportionally smaller? Just curious.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-09-28 03:40
>> A half step <<
Which one of them do you play with one of your feet in the air...? 
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Author: mrn
Date: 2009-09-28 04:46
Bret Pimentel wrote:
<<Actually smaller? or just proportionally smaller? Just curious.>>
I think that depends on which model of instrument you play (I am assuming we're talking about matched pairs of A and Bb instruments, of course--with mixed models and brands, anything's possible.)
If you buy a 66 mm replacement barrel for a Buffet R-13, for example, you have to specify whether you want the A clarinet barrel or the Bb clarinet barrel. That would suggest that there is indeed an actual difference in (average) bore diameter between the two instruments.
On the other hand, I know that there are certain clarinet models that are designed so that the barrels are interchangeable between the A and Bb models. That would suggest that those models have bores that have very similar average bore diameters (although all clarinet bores vary along their length, which means you can't necessarily compare bores using a single average diameter figure).
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Author: llamaboy12
Date: 2009-09-28 05:14
Thank you all for your great advice! I think my biggest challenge will be adjusting an R13 A to match my Selmer Signature Bb. Some of you may ask why not just get a Signature A? Simple, im a broke college student! :P Im assuming the easiest way to match clarinets would be to exchange mouthpieces and barrels.
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Author: soybean
Date: 2009-09-28 07:36
I was just going to start a new thread about A clar when i saw this one, so may as well add to it. I just bought a used LeBlanc A clarinet online. In the photos it has a crack in the barrel and probably needs some new pads, but i got it for such a nice price. This will be my first A, so i hope it works out.
My question is this, when putting a shorter barrel on an A clarinet to bring the pitch up, is it possible to use a barrel from a Bb clarinet? I have a lot of them laying around and don't mind altering them.
~Dan
(Leblanc Bliss, Buffet R13 key of A, Yamaha 250 Bb)
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Author: William
Date: 2009-09-28 15:11
Regarding barrels, if it is a Leblanc Sonata, Concerto or Opus designed by Tom Ridenour, you may use the same barrel on both A & Bb clarinets. Other Leblanc models and years, I am not sure of.
For Buffets, I think the general rule is that the A barrel is typically shorter than the Bb and that is the main reason you should specify "which" when ordering. With my R13's (1960's models), I use the A barrel for both instruments because it helps make fast switchs easier--and, because it works. My A barrel makes both instruments sound better. I believe my barrel is a 65, fwiw........
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Author: JamesOrlandoGarcia
Date: 2009-09-28 15:45
I think everyone has done a great job describing the differences between and A and Bb clarinet. As for my opinion on getting a used or new A clarinet. I'd say get a quality used horn for several reasons.
First off all, new clarinets are extremely expensive. Back in 2003 when I was a freshman in college, a Buffet R-13 A with silver keys was around $2400.00 and now looking at the Woodwind and Brasswind's website I can see that they now cost $3725. That is a dramatic increase in piece in six years. It is not as easy to purchase a new clarinet as it was back then. It means that it is a bigger sacrifice to purchase a brand new horn.
You are also a freshman in college. Your playing is going to change dramatically in four years into the professional you aspire to be. You can find a high quality A clarinet a lot of money. Then you can go select a barrel that will help match the A clarinet to your current B-Flat. Of my friends that I know who are winning auditions right now, only one of them is playing on the same set of horns as they had at the beginning of college.
I hope this helps in your decision making process!
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Author: soybean
Date: 2009-09-28 20:53
Not sure which LeBlanc i bought, but it's older than the ones by Ridenour. Not so old that it has a wrap around keywork, though. I guess I'll just have to experiment with barrels.
~Dan
(Leblanc Bliss, Buffet R13 key of A, Yamaha 250 Bb)
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