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Re: When to upgrade

Author: Franklin Liao
Date: 2010-09-28 04:07

The world's your oyster if you, like me, really are playing for your own amusement and for nothing else. What is right for you shouldn't be pegged to your RCM level. Rather, it should be based on what you really desire in a clarinet.

One thing that is most important is that you should look at your horn and setup before embarking on getting a new one. Repad job, a switch of a barrel and a mouthpiece have all been proven ways to make one's setup work for his/her needs.

You do not need to fish out alot more money than originally hoped I think. What is important however is that you need to know if your band has a mandated prerequisite. Orchestra players would get the horn that they would blend in with, which for some time has meant you would get a Buffet R-13 in North America.

You are in Toronto, so you should really contact Stephen Fox about setting up an instrument. He is busy, but he is a leading acoustician in Clarinet. Having a talk with him would really be helpful in my opinion for you to get a grasp of what might constitute a good instrument.

Since you mentioned concerns about dollar figure, I will use a R-13 for example. Expect to spend about $1500-2000 if you wish to obtain a fine, serviced, used specimen with a proven pedigree, and $900+ minimum. Those that come with customization/accessories will be pricier.

Thomas Ridenour's Lyrique, endorsed by many on this forum on the other hand, can be had for under $1000.

ps: I shamelessly play CSG and whatnot while looking like a total dunce.

Post Edited (2010-09-28 04:30)

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