 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2011-10-05 16:01
I searched this site without much success on the Yamaha YCL 61.
Anyone play one of these, or have information on this instrument?
The Yamaha website says simply it was made from 1972-78, 14.70 mm bore, etc., and that there is no current model. When I searched this and the sister boards, I only came up with a couple of comments, impressions about what some members heard about it, but even these seemed somewhat tenuous. I am interested in knowing:
What level is this instrument (professional? entry level professional?)
What would you compare this instrument to (Yamaha YCL 64? others?)
How freely does it play?
What are the sound characteristics (dark, bright?  )
How is its intonation throughout the registers?
Special features (undercutting, adjustable thumb rest, etc.)
...and anything else that might be helpful in evaluating this instrument.
Laurie
(Mr. Laurie Braaten)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-10-05 16:12
It was Yamaha's pro level clarinet back in the day, equivalent to a Selmer Series 9/9*, Buffet R13 and Leblanc LL. I think they were based on the Selmer Series 9 or 9* as they have more in common with them than they do with Buffets.
The keywork on these is very well made (the current YCL-650 keywork is the same as found on the 250 and 450, so not of the same quality) and they had undercut and tapered toneholes. They didn't have any other special features (no extra keywork or an adjustable thumbrest), just a fairly standard 17/6 clarinet.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ramsa
Date: 2011-10-05 18:40
Hello. I have an older Yamaha YCL-62, and like it alot. There isn't a ton of info on this model either, but have been able to tell that the folks that own them don't give 'em up too often. Supposed to be a type of R13 copy, but not sure on that. Value is around $500, so it's not a great collector's instrument, but plays well for me... Am using a Vandoren B45 and 2.5 reeds...
Good luck with the search on the YCL-61. I'll bet it's nice!
This is a genuine signature.
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-10-05 22:16
Like ramsa, I play a Yamaha YCL-62. I don't want to steal the thread but I suspect that the 61 and 62 are similar and if people can enlighten us about one then maybe they can enlighten us about the both.
The 62 was the entry-level professional instrument. Buddy deFranco is reported as being keen on them but we always have to take endorsements with a pinch of salt.
The 62 plays freely (with the proviso of an appropriate mouthpiece - I use a Hite Premier and a Brilhart Ebolin 5*, the latter being great for jazz/pop). I don't know about dark or bright but there is enough written about that to confuse you forever.
I find the intonation through the registers better with the Hite mouthpiece than with the Brilhart so that suggests that smooth passage is available on the instrument. I'm not sure that it has any special features but I find it to be a very comfortable instrument to play, secure in the hands and not physically demanding over long playing periods. The techncian who services my instrument, a person I trust and does good work, once said that he thought I wouldn't need to buy another instrument. And I don't think he was commenting on my advancing years.
I realise that this is judging the 61 by association but that's the best I can do until someone with specific knowledge pipes up.
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Author: ramsa
Date: 2011-10-06 14:34
Looks like the YCL-61 was made/sold from 1972 through 1978. The YCL-62 took it's place in '79, and went through 1984...
This is a genuine signature.
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2011-10-07 06:25
Thanks for the responses. Since this appears to be Yamaha's entry into the professional clarinet world, I wonder if it wasn't taken that seriously by good players. Perhaps it was hard to avoid associations with motorcycles and electric guitars.
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Author: donald
Date: 2011-10-07 10:04
The 62 was concurrent with the YCL 82 which was certainly taken seriously by a number of pro players around the world, though not enough players to dent the R13s statistical supremacy.
dn
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-10-07 11:16
If you take a magnifying glass and inspect them in great detail, you'll be astonished at the high level of workmanship that went into making these early Yamaha clarinets - far more attention to detail than can be seen in the most recent ones (from themselves and other makes) even though this was their foray into the world of making pro level clarinets.
Even their plastic student models at that time boast the same degree of precision in the keywork as the pro models that you wouldn't normally expect to see on a plastic clarinet.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-10-07 11:18
LJBraaten wrote:
> Thanks for the responses. Since this appears to be Yamaha's
> entry into the professional clarinet world, I wonder if it
> wasn't taken that seriously by good players. Perhaps it was
> hard to avoid associations with motorcycles and electric
> guitars.
People always seem to forget that Yamaha began as a piano and organ manufacturer and only diversified outside of the musical instrument business after the second world war. Ever wonder why the Yamaha corporate logo is 3 tuning forks?
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2011-10-07 22:45
Never knew that, although I know they make good pianos. I wondered what they were doing in 1887! (because they certainly weren't making motorcycles.)
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-10-08 06:40
My YCL-62 sometimes sounds like an outboard motor but it isn't the fault of the instrument.
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-10-08 06:49
The role of the organ in the development of of contemporary instruments deserves more research. The fascination with the organ as a sound generator seems to be behind the phenomenal success in electronic instruments that Roland have had. The autobiography of Ikutaro Kakehashi makes explicit his interest in the organ and, with that in mind, it makes Roland's choice of an accordion as a digital synthesizer (Roland V-accordion) somewhat clearer. They are reed instruments after all, cousins to the wonderful clarinet.
I just reread that and I'm not sure that I can assert 'seems to be behind the phenomenal success in electronic instruments that Roland have had' but it sounded good at the time. Let's just say that there are connections yet to be understood.
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