 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2011-07-26 13:56
....that is the question--pardon the Shakespeare-like speak.
Or maybe better stated:
In professional clarinet purchase, (pre-)professional players, I strongly suspect, pretty much want to test any instrument prior to purchase, even if they have solicited the help of a 3rd party, trained in picking out good instruments.
And of course the reason for this pretty much boils down to the fact that one player's dream instrument may be another's nightmare
And yet, in the internet age, the idea of trying out a fair number of instruments, in the virtual studio of shipping and insurance costs, makes good argument for the pre-selection of a couple of instruments by just such a 3rd party, in proximity to the brick and mortar site of an internet music store, prior to the prospective buyer trying them by mail.
So, the questions become,
* When (at what age in our playing) should we rely (completely) on a teacher or 3rd party for instrument selection?
* What, if we pick out the instrument ourselves, is a good list of criterion we should be checking for?
* When, if at all, is using a (paid) 3rd party instrument tester a waste, if not also a hindrance to clarinet selection? When has it proved a life-saver that some players would never do without?
* Should we in fact buy instruments using the "buddy system," if for no other reason to get second opinions, particularly as it regards an instruments long distance acoustics?
* And finally, what are all the criteria, even (or maybe especially) the nuancical ones that good players use--even brand specific ones.
Let me try to get the basics--at least some of them out of the way. I hope people will add to them, and then embellish them with the aforementioned nuances.
* The blow and suck tests of the left and right hand pieces, separately, for air integrity.
* The examination of keywork, pads, corks for function and quality.
* The confirmation that the instruments plays in all registers, with at last basic integrity of intonation and keyword response.
I hope this thread to be a good reference we can all refer to, or refer others too. I can't seem to find (maybe its me) a truly comprehensive single place on the board where this has already been addressed (if it has, please let me know) or where it's comprehensively discussed on Youtube.
...so..I'm interested in hearing about the person who says, "on Buffet R-13's I always try G6 to C7 and back--works every time when selecting a horn, and here's why."
Thanks. Happy clarineting!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-07-26 14:22
I'll take a stab at a couple of your questions.
1. You should rely on your teacher for selecting an instrument until you are able to tell the difference between a decent playing clarinet and a great playing clarinet by yourself. I don't think this can be quantified by playing experience alone as people progress at different rates.
2. My criteria for selecting an instrument would be intonation, tone, response, and keywork comfort, not necessarily in that order.
3. In my opinion a 3rd party instrument tester is always a waste. We all have different physiology and different ideas of how we want to sound. What may play great for your 3rd party tester may play lousy for you.
4. A second opinion can be helpful but isn't strictly necessary. You want the instrument you buy to sound the way you want it to, not the way your buddy wants it to.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2011-07-26 14:47
I guess I live in "both" worlds of those who had a clarinet picked by someone else and one who went aginst the "expert advice" and picked my own. The big difference between the "two" of me can be best defined as experiance vs lack of confidence after I selected a "dog" of a clarinet at the Selmer factory as a college freshman (who thought, then, that he knew it all). Latter in my college era, I had two instruments picked for me, a used Selmer BA alto saxophone and my first Buffet R13 Bb. That was a good choice for me as to this day, I am still playing both as my primary professional horns. My last major clarinet purchase was my Buffet Prestige low C bass clarinet which I selected from a field of seven. The owner of the store, a pro clarinetist, had selected "the one" for me to buy, but I went against her advice and picked the one that actually played best for me. I have never regretted that decision. So, bottom line, if you are confident that you know what is best for you, pick your own. If you are unsure, than do not be afraid to ask someone else who has more experiance. Most of them will pick a good clarinet that you can learn how to play.
It may be of some interest that while I was sitting in Tom Ridenour's studio in the Kenosha Leblanc facility some years ago, he received a phone call from Eddie Daniels asking him to select a Concerto Bb for him. As a result, Tom selected eight clarinets which he considered excellant and met Eddie here in Madison to audition them. I know this for a fact as Tom stopped by Lafollette High School to meet John Winslow and try some of his ligs and showed me the clarinets, all assembled in an eight clarinet case. He said, "go ahead and try them--if you like one, it's your's." I passed but bought one of his mouthpieces instead. Eddie bought one of the Concertos and everyone was happy--except John W....Tom did not like his ligs. OK, much too wordy, but my point is that even professionals often turn to other professionals for advice and no one should be afraid to do this. It happens more than you might think.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ThatPerfectReed
Date: 2011-07-26 16:41
I appreciate and agree with the responses so far.
My biases too lean away, at least when you can try several clarinets under 1 physical roof (as opposed to the metaphorical one of the internet) to seek other's opinion, but not expressly hire someone to do the task for you...unless you're really just starting out with clarinet.
...unless of course you're the likes of not only performers of Eddie Daniel's caliber, but Tom Ridenour's--including Tom's vast and honest knowledge of all things clarinet. In that case though, I suspect Tom did the selection work for Eddie gratis, because it was Eddie, and knowing especially that Eddie was going home with at least 1 of the clarinets under his arm--so Tom's time was not going to be wasted.
Then--much good can be said about such testers at least narrowing the field of instruments for you--in not picking "the" instrument for you--especially in the internet instrument purchase age.
In High School (before running water) I picked out my own "A" when my teacher, I'm pretty sure wanted--for a fee of course--to be involved in the process. I was already shelling out major $ for the horn--and not to be penny wise and pound foolish--really didn't think that my teacher could add that much more marginal value to the selection process, that it warranted my paying for this individual's time and transport costs.
Then again, in fairness, I did my shopping at what was then a major Buffet dealer, with dozens of instruments to try--and Naomi and Stanley Drucker's pictures and signatures on the wall. The plethora of horns made comparison shopping much easier for me, insuring me I picked the right horn, rather than bog me down with choices--but that's me.
And it's a decision I don't regret.
Does anyone have a trusted musical piece they use as their defacto standard for "auditioning".....auditioning an instrument that is? ; - )
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2011-07-26 20:36
Lucky you, William, to have that experience.......
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2011-07-26 21:06
Wow, when I picked out my A, my teacher was involved free of charge. We met at the shop and she listened as I tried out about 15 of them. If it was a steady student of mine, I wouldn't charge, unless maybe it was a really long drive to the shop.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
