 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: deejay
Date: 2001-02-18 03:11
hi,
I came across a A. Fontaine clarinet. I like those clarinets, but I have a Selmer Signet Special, which one is better?? My friend has one and I like the sound of it and how it looks... Should i buy the A. Fontaine since I like it so much or stick to my selmer special clarinet??
thanks,
deejay
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-02-18 11:58
Deejay,
My advice is to save up your money and buy a more professional clarinet instead of buying the Fontaine. You can get a nice second hand LeBlanc, Buffet, or Selmer professional model for around $800 US (perhaps even lower depending on your area). Stick with the Signet Special until then.
John
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Author: deejay
Date: 2001-02-18 15:01
I do save up my money, but not for a clarinet... I have to save up to get tires, gas ect. for my car and help with monthly payments. Why would I have to get something step up? Shouldn't it be what clarinet I think is the best for me?
deejay
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-02-18 15:58
I apologize, I thought you asked for advice. I must have misinterpreted your post.
John
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Author: deejay
Date: 2001-02-18 16:42
I was asking what you think of the A. Fontaine clarinet. I like my best friends clarinet , the tone of how is plays. Hers is an A. Fontaine clarinet. Her plays better than my selmer special. so should I get the A. Fontaine clarinet?
deejay
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-02-18 18:25
deejay wrote:
>
> I was asking what you think of the A. Fontaine clarinet.
> I like my best friends clarinet , the tone of how is plays.
> Hers is an A. Fontaine clarinet. Her plays better than my
> selmer special. so should I get the A. Fontaine clarinet?
>
> deejay
But how does it play for *you*. The main element in how good a clarinet sounds is the ability of the player. The second most important element is the mouthpiece/reed setup. It is quite possible that although it is good for her, it might not be good for you. You might find no difference when you play it for example.
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Author: deejay
Date: 2001-02-18 18:46
When she let me play it, it was diffrent than my selmer special. I produced a better tone color when I played her A. Fontaine clarinet. I use a Bundy mouthpiece and 2 1/2 reed size. Bundy mouthpiece is new, bought it has year, but never played it until this year when concert band started. I also got another new no name with a pro lig. from when I got my clarinet overhauled last year.
deejay
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-02-18 18:49
Some time back I had a Font. clar., as I recall it played easily and quite well in tune. I did find by way of an ad that it was the ]student] intermediate-quality wood cl of the Cousenon line, prob. vintage 1950, a not-well-known [in the US] Frrench maker. I like my [newer] LeBlanc better. Others, please help. Believe they made saxes as well. Don
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-02-18 18:50
I'd strongly recommend a better quality mouthpiece and reeds before going clarinet shopping. When you tried her clarinet, did you use her mouthpiece or one of your own? Bundy mouthpieces are only so-so and no-name mouthpieces are apt to be extremely poor. You don't say what brand and model of reeds you use but these can make a difference. If you have played for several years, a 2 1/2 strength reed may be too soft.
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Author: deejay
Date: 2001-02-18 19:33
I used my mouthpiece when I played hers. I have been playing for 4(or 5) years and always played on a 2 1/2. I use the rico brand. What size should I be using? What brand mouthpiece would you recommend? A Vandoren B 45? I like the more darker tone sound.
Well I have 2 clarinets that I play. My selmer special and a plastic bundy one, which is my back up clarinet or the clarinet that I use to pratice at home. I was thinking about getting rid of my platic one a getting another wood one, like the A. Fontaine since I like those kind. The A. Fontaine clarinet is under 100 and my friend that has that kind, the music store said her clarinet cost around 350-400 dollars according to them.
What kind of wood is the A. Fontaine clarinet made out of?
deejay
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Author: Corey
Date: 2001-02-18 19:39
i would ditch the bundy mthp and get a step up mthpce and try different reed mthpce combo's before going all the way to buy a new one! the clarinettist that sits next to me in my band has a selmer signet and it's preety old i have to admit it doesn't have good tonal quality,like buffet with mitchel lurie premiem rreds strength 3 the give me the best sound i've found out of reeds.I've never heard of an A. Fontain clarinet who company makes them??
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-02-18 20:03
Corey wrote:
>
> I've never heard of an A. Fontain clarinet who
> company makes them??
They are no longer made. So any ones available now are all used instruments.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-02-18 21:35
Hi deejay,
To echo some of the earlier posts you'll get more bang for your buck when spent on a quality mouthpiece and use your best reeds.
The A. Fountaines are really nice horns, but I wouldn't spend more than $300 on one...their resale value is very low. (For no particularly good reason.)
Paradoxically, a good Bundy or Vito in plastic will hover around $100-$150 for student horns (at least in my neighborhood).
So here's the thing, what does the horn of your desire actually cost? If it's $150, you could turn over one of your current horns and break even.
My guess is that it costs considerably more, and you will find yourself stuck when it comes time to step up.
I know exactly what this feels like, locally there are several dealers with killer horns (a LeBlanc Concerto comes to mind, it was sooo good) that undoubtedly play better than my Master model but are priced too high for me to consider.
Unless you are in a position to work out some sort of trade with your current rig, this will cost you big in the long run.
Tough spot to be in, good luck
anji
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Author: William
Date: 2001-02-18 22:32
FYI--Check Ebay under Music/Woodwinds/clarinets/A and you will see an A fontaine clarinet for sale. Good luck.
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Author: deejay
Date: 2001-02-18 22:58
The clarinet is under 100 right now and I plan to get rid of my back up clarinet for an A. Fontaine clarinet. I have been looking for one of those to buy and found one and I firgure if I don't go for it, I will regret it later.
From my local music store a plastic one will run around 350-400. I got my plastic one for 75.00 at a pawn shop and it was in good condition, just needed corks and it played better than the music store clarinet for 300.. same brand and everthing.
thanks for all the info and advice!
deejay
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-02-20 20:10
Deejay -
Play the instrument against a tuner. If you don't have a tuner, you should buy or at least borrow one. No mater how good an instrument sounds, it you can't play it in tune it's not worth having.
After that, as Dee and lots of others say, it's all what you like, and the label doesn't mean much. If you feel good playing the A. Fontaine, by all means buy it. An instrument you like gives pleasure every day for the rest of your life, long after you have forgotten how much you paid for it.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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