 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: pplateau
Date: 2010-03-06 00:58
I am trialing a CSG ; had it about two weeks and liking it a lot. (Have R-13 now). I'd like to hear from those of you who've had theirs for a while and how it is holding up for you longer term. Any issues plus or minus? Thanks for your input. Mine seems right on thru the registers, quite responsive, perhaps a tad brighter than my R-13 but not enough to turn me off, au contraire. What is your experience?? Thanks in advance for your input.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-03-06 03:04
Had mine 'bout two years and haven't looked back. The tunning is impeccable and the timbre quite even throughout.
I got the Hamilton plate in a play to address my ability to eat through silver (gold is resistant to that sort of corrosion). The "problem" with the plating is that it is only a few microns thick. The most used (and abused) areas of highly used keys (side of "A" key, thumb ring and tube, lower rings) are showing the underplate. But at least the metal hasn't shown signs of being eaten by my acidic fingers yet.
The Lucien Deluxe pads (when new and in good shape) are a little miracle. The flatness of the surface of the pad seems to mimic the sound and seal of cork without being "clicky." The down side to these pads (which have plastic buttons at their center) is that when they begin to wear, there is a tendency for the seal to give out right around the button that makes the pad so great. This is VERY hard to detect and can lead to leaking that is harder to diagnose. Solution - upon re-padding, just go with cork at Brannen's.
LOVE THESE HORNS !!!!
..................Paul Aviles
P.S. The double case is great; the single case not so much.
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Author: Rusty
Date: 2010-03-06 03:34
Well I`m happy with mine but not the stupid double case that goes with it. Two cases to open each time you want the CSG and then the inner case wont stay open.
I also prefer another mouthpiece to the Yam 5CM.
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Author: Bob Barnhart ★2017
Date: 2010-03-06 05:59
I also have a pair of CSGHs. After a bit less than 2 years, they've proven to be fabulous horns. Excellent intonation, great response, clear/beautiful tone in all registers and they feel nice in your hands (especially if you're used to Buffets). I use Vandoren B40 Lyres with them and have no more thoughts about equipment. Now it's all about the music... (which is the way it should be).
I have had only one adjustment made: a spring on the F#/C# rod in the lower joint proved to be a little light causing the pad to bounce (?) if I released the lever to rapidly. I've also replaced the "fish-skin" covers on the link-pins of the LH E/F# levers to remove play and quiet them down. That's it.
I have a small concern about having any real work done on these instruments when the time comes. They play so well, I only want someone really good to work on them.
I like the double case, although I have a case-cover for extra storage.
Bob Barnhart
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Author: David Niethamer
Date: 2010-03-08 01:43
I have only a Bb (Hamilton plating) since October, and I love it. Very even sound, good tuning, solid keywork. Previously I had a CS model, and I have a CX Yamaha A. A CSG A clarinet is in my future. I like the single case I got with mine, and haven't seen the double case.
As to the switch from Buffet, when I did that 25 years ago, the Yamaha seemed a bit "brighter" (whatever that means, but we won't open that can of worms here), but a mouthpiece change got me to where I wanted to be pretty quickly.
David
David
niethamer@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/index.html
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Author: gwie
Date: 2010-03-08 16:18
I replaced my R-13's a few years ago with a CSG Bb and CSG-H A and am extremely happy with them. I play mostly chamber music with strings these days and the intonation of the A clarinet is spot on. The Brannens corked the entire upper joint of both my horns, but I recently had the lucien button pads re-installed on the lower joint. These clarinets play amazingly well, and they never fail to impress my colleagues and students who try them out.
I live in an area where the Buffet bias is extremely high...these days all my students play Buffet, the stores locally pretty much don't stock any professional level clarinets except for Buffet. While that's all fine and dandy, I've been annoyed that there are school directors that have given a couple of my former students heat for showing up with a CSG...apparently they're so brainwashed by the marketing that they can't believe that Yamaha can make a clarinet that is the equal of the R-13 (and honestly, I'd say it's a better instrument, at a lower cost!).
I have both instruments in a BAM double trekking case, which if you shove the foam around a bit fits the CSG's quite nicely.
Post Edited (2010-03-08 16:19)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-03-08 16:32
Dear quie,
I think the prejudice may be related to the age of the pre-judgers. Back in the early '70s, the Yamahas had a reputation for being a poor imitation of the Selmers of the day. And why would you want an imitation of a Selmer when you could have the real thing?.
I am not sure when Yamaha made a serious effort to esablish their own style of manufacturing for professional line horns, but these days the SEVs and CSGs are truly world beaters!
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: pplateau
Date: 2010-03-09 00:30
What are essential diffs between CSG and SEV? I'm trialing the CSG and comparing it to my R-13.
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Author: clarinet60
Date: 2010-03-09 16:11
I have a CSGH B-flat, as well as my primary horn, an R13 Prestige. I've been very happy with both instruments and feel that they are quite different and both have advantages and disadvantages. I still feel that the R13 has a bit more "ring" to it and carries across the orchestra more effectively. The CSG has a bit more warmth to it in the upper registers, and tunes a bit better. Legato (in my experience) is easier on the R13 as the notes seem to connect more fluidly. The CSG is not quite as flexible in terms of tone quality/intonation as the R-13, and it does require slightly different mouthpiece/reed combination to sound its best. I do enjoy both horns tremendously, so I believe that it really comes down to personal taste.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-03-09 16:28
According to Yamaha, the CSG has a bore that is a hybrid between German and French. There are some measurements that point in that direction but to me the difference is VERY small. The SEV plays a bit more bright and may be a better transition from R13 for many. The CSG has a really warm sound. I find the chalameau the meatiest register unlike "Clarinet60" above.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: gwie
Date: 2010-03-09 19:48
Definitely personal taste. I had the opposite experience: I actually find the CSG more flexible in terms of being able to adjust pitch while playing and still maintaining a good sound, and consequently enjoy legato playing much more on the Yamaha than the R-13's that I've played. I also use the exact same mouthpiece/reed combination (Grabner K11 and Vandoren V12 4.5 with a Bonade ligature) that I did with my R-13. Honestly, in listening to myself in recorded performances, I find that I don't really sound all that much different, but *feel* much more comfortable getting around on the CSG, which is why I switched in the first place.
As for physical differences...the upper joint is longer, thus shorter 56.5 (57) mm barrels, there isn't a metal bell ring, and overall the instrument is lighter (which is a life-saver on long performances with the A). The pads are the Lucien type with a little plastic button/resonator.
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Author: pplateau
Date: 2010-03-10 02:29
I also find that I can use my McClune mouthpieces on both the R-13 and the CSG with V-12 4.0 reeds. But a Vandoren M-30 is very good and may even have a somewhat fuller sound on the CSG (to my old ears). but with a tad more resistance than my easy-blowing McClune 1.02 SP. But I need to use a 3.5 V-12 with the M-30; however, we all are different aren't we when it comes to setups that work best for us. The CSG is growing on me due to its playability. At least for me so far. But I still love my R-13 despite the small fortune it cost to set it up well with cork pads etc.
Post Edited (2010-03-10 02:32)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-03-10 10:19
Hey pplateau,
As long as you're up to going a weaker reed, try the B40 - WHAT A SOUND !!! It's a shorter lay than the M30 but has "normal" rails, so it is not as resistant. The B40 does have a much deeper baffle. I think you'd really like this but you may have to step down one more half strength. I went from a 4 Vandoren Rue Lepic to 3.5 - I don't think I'll look back!!!
.............Paul Aviles
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