 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: escher
Date: 2011-10-13 12:51
Good day all,
I may be in the market for a new horn in the next few months - with approximately a $1200 budget.
This is a bit of a meandering post / thought as I'm mulling over several things simultaneously..
I have been taking a long look at Mr. Ridenour's offerings - specifically, his Lyrique pro, which is right around the $1000 mark (hard rubber version).
I have also been looking at the Leblanc Bliss line - not sure on material, though for about $12-1300 I could get the wood model...
Then there are used horns, R13's and the like.
I really like all that I have read bout the Ridenour horns, and also like his policy on giving a week to try the horn out. (There are no local stores near me where I can really try any of these out.)
I currently have a Buffet E11 and an old Evette and Schaeffer which I just had completely overhauled. Both decent horns. But I really have no frame of reference to compare. I played an Evette Academy model all through Middle and Highschool.. 20 years ago...
I'm primarily looking for a non temperamental horn (i.e. well tuned and easy blowing which leads me back to the Ridenour line again).
I should add as a side note - I have no plans to play in a group setting, but I do, however, plan to play at Church. As such, I have been also looking at C tuned horns (again - specifically the Ridenour model).
As you can tell, the direction I'm leaning is to get the Ridenour in pro model in C... then if I like that over my two Buffet's, sell them and get another Ridenour in Bb.
Your thoughts?
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-10-13 13:28
Sounds like you have a pretty good plan. Personally I'm not really sold on the Leblanc Bliss line. The one I have played was decent but nothing to write home about. I'm skeptical that a Bliss would be much if any improvement over what you already have.
Trying out the Ridenour clarinets is a good idea. Most people who have played them seem to like them and I've heard that his C clarinet is particularly nice.
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Author: wesrice
Date: 2011-10-13 15:22
My customers ask me this question a lot. With that kind of budget, you can buy a used R13 that has been overhauled. Or, you could purchase one on Ebay in need of repair and have it worked on. I've done this many times with the goal of reselling. A few of them were really excellent players after the overhaul. In my opinion, for the same budget, the end result of the R13 is going to better than a Ridenour.
Beware of many Ebay clarinets that have been overhauled. I have a lot of customers who bought clarinets this way and have to send them to me immediately because the "overhaul" just included replacement pads. Make sure they have a long list of things that were done to the instrument.
Of course, if you really want a C clarinet, then it might be hard to find a Buffet for that price.
Wes
www.clarinet-repairs.com
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-10-13 15:31
I noodled on a couple of Bliss clarinets at ClariNexus at Eastern Washington University a couple of years ago. I liked the look of the black nickel keywork, and it worked very comfortably. In the crowded hall where I played it, it was impossible to get a good feel for intonation and tone quality, but it was quite responsive.
I purchased a Ridenour Lyrique A (hard rubber) a few months ago. I had to do a bunch of fiddling with the keywork to get things to quit banging together. The keywork set-up was pretty awful, and I filed and shimmed corks to get it to work instead of sending it back to Tom. Its intonation is pretty good --but its idiosyncrasies are different from those on my Buffet RC Bb, so adapting to the Lyrique is always a bit of a trauma.
The Lyrique is easy in the altissimo --better than the half dozen clarinets I've had over the years. The resistance of the Lyrique varies over the instrument, so it takes me some extra effort (not always successful) to keep notes from sticking out with a different volume or timbre.
The saxophone-style register key touchpiece wraps around the thumb hole. It is very "handy," too handy after being accustomed to the conventional reg key on the Buffet. Embarrassing, often.
I bought the Lyrique after several attempts to get a $1200 or so A, and find that it is more serviceable than the other candidates, but not a happy-maker.
I suggest you have great patience and be sure that you like what you get before spending the money, or you could end up like me --still in the market for an A that is more compatible with my Bb.
Bob Phillips
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-10-13 16:37
I find that my lyrique plays a LOT better with a different barrel. The tuning stays good, but the sound changes dramatically.
If you haven't tried it yet (Bob, and others), try a few different barrels. It makes a difference in the tone and focus.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: William
Date: 2011-10-13 18:31
FWIW--I have a Buffet E11 C clarinet that plays very well with a nice sound. I do use a Chadash barrel and my Bb Chicago Kaspar mouthpiece with Forestone reeds. All of my pro clarinets are Buffets and I recommend them.
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Author: escher
Date: 2011-10-13 20:06
hmmm... lots of good input - thank you all..
Before I jump and start putting the money together for a large purchase such as this - I think I have decided to try a couple of other things in the interim... first of all, a decent mouthpiece and barrel..
I won't bore you all with the details, but suffice it to say that I have been researching Chedeville, Kaspar and the like for a bit, and found a refaced Evette-Schaffer (50 Year old Chedeville blank) reworked to Kaspar specs which I just purchased for $100...
I currently only have a kit MP from the E11 and a Pyne Polycrystal... I actually have been liking the Kit MP better than the Pyne believe it or not... but I figure this reworked Chedville/Evette MP will at least educate me a bit as to what I like and do not like.
Hopefully I'm making a good gamble... FYI - I found the MP on the sight that shall not be named... seller has excellent feedback reworking these MP's for the last 10 years or so...
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-10-14 16:05
sfa:
Thanks.
The Lyrique A clarinet uses 62-mm barrels, shorter than "normal" instruments. It is supplied with two. One a reverse taper barrel for "big bore mouthpieces." Mine definitely plays better with the tapered barrel using a refaced Vandoren mouthpiece.
I do think that there could be a custom barrel in my future.
I assume that your Lyrique experience is with a Bb.
Bob Phillips
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-10-14 21:40
Bob,
My experience is with a Bb like you thought. Didnt know about the barrel size for the A clarinet. However I've done a little unofficial tinkering with many different clarinets, my own, my band's, and my friends', and I realize that the mouthpiece/barrel combination is VERY important and pertains to tone and focus (a little with tuning in upper clarion and throat tones). The clarinet (IMHO) deals mostly with tuning.
I actually remember an article, or post, or SOMETHING written on the web on how to "sneakily" get the best clarinet at a store. Grab a bunch and go into a room. Play them all. Pick the one that has the best tuning. Then switch all the barrels till you get the best tone and then recheck the tuning. Then the bells. Since only the upper and lower joints have serial numbers, that's really all that matters and no store would notice (and probably very few would care) if you chose a different barrel and bell, provided you still left the other barrels and bells.
Sneaky? Yes. But inciteful and gave me some food for thought...
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: clarinetcase
Date: 2011-10-17 09:32
Curious... what barrel are you using on your Lyrique? I'd have to order a barrel since none are available to try where I am so I'm looking for a starting point. BTW for playing in churches, many with heat and AC problems, I find my Lyriques work very well.
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