 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BenInBb
Date: 2011-08-20 18:30
i'm looking to buy a new A clarinet, and I don't want to shell out any more than I have to for a reasonable professional model instrument (R13 is a strong possibility, Tosca is not, for example.) I'm of course going to try some R13s, but what else should I look at? What from Leblanc? I know Selmer Paris bought Leblanc, should I look at Selmer as well? My Bb is a Selmer Series 9 from several decades ago; I don't know exactly how old it is. If i had to choose 4 clarinets to try, what models should I test?
Ben Parker
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Author: gwie
Date: 2011-08-20 19:22
The Yamaha CSG is an excellent choice for a A clarinet if you can find a few to try out. The intonation is stellar, most of them play as easily as a Bb, the instrument is lighter weight compared to the other brands, and finally usually costs less than the competition!
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-08-20 21:00
Considering that your Bb is a Selmer and you are presumably happy with it I would recommend trying Selmer as well. I got to try out a Selmer Signature a while back and was very impressed by it and would have bought it if I hadn't been broke at the time. The only problem you might have with Selmer is that they tend to be more expensive.
If I were going to buy a new A clarinet and wanted to pick from 4 different models, the ones I would try would be as follows (ranked according to cost):
1. Yamaha CSG ~$2700
2. Buffet R13 ~$3700
3. Leblanc Symphonie ~$3900
4. Selmer Paris Signature ~$4800
If I could cheat and add two more...
5. Ridenour G1 ~$1900 (this might be at the top of the list if I had played one before)
6. Peter Eaton ~$4000
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2011-08-20 22:00
If your budget is pretty limited for an A, but are still looking for a good one, consider trying the Yamaha 650 in A. Here when I saw it about 3 years ago it sold for about $1400 CDN. One of my students bought one of these, and is really happy with it. (his Bb is also a Yamaha)
I actually considered getting that one, but I had already gotten an A from my husband, sometimes I still wish I got the new one then (price difference then was about $400, but my husband and I then were making well over 100K a year and no debt other than monthly bills) , because it took a while and a couple hundred dollars later to get the A to play well enough to be comfortable with it.
Meri
Please check out my website at: http://donmillsmusicstudio.weebly.com and my blog at: http://clariniano.wordpress.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-08-21 03:03
You should probably try to go to a store that has some of each model and try them, that's the only way you will know what's best for you. ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-08-21 04:15
My $1200 (new) Ridenour Lyrique A is a perfectly acceptable instrument. Better intonation than and tone quality equal to my Buffet RC Bb.
It did take some time to fiddle the keywork of my Lyrique into shape --something that Ridenour claims doesn't happen with his products.
You can get one on trial and send it back if you are not happy with it.
Bob Phillips
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Author: bill49
Date: 2011-08-21 10:53
I bought a matched pair Yamaha SE. I tried the CSG when I was considering which set to buy and played them both for my accompaniest. In the end, I let her pick. For some reason, she liked the tone on the SE over the SG. I've been very happy. No regrets at all.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2011-08-21 14:02
I played a used and rather old Robert for many years; excellent in all respects
richard smith
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