 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kararae02
Date: 2015-04-01 06:21
I recently made a post about finding a good beginner clarinet for my sister. I am also in need of a good plastic horn, but for a different reason. I bought a buffet b12 used last year for marching band after trading in a selmer aristocrat. Both had bad results for me. My friend plays my B12 and sounds wonderful, but I cannot get any good result out of it at all. I'm somewhat of an intermediate/advanced player (junior in high school), and need something that is good for marching but not horrible overall as far as performance.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2015-04-01 06:54
First determine if it's the clarinet or something else. You play your friends clarinet, and have him/her play yours. That'll tell you if its definitely the clarinet or maybe something with a mouthpiece or just how you're playing.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: kararae02
Date: 2015-04-01 07:05
I sound really good on other clarinets with the same mouthpiece. I definitely need a new clarinet, this one isn't for me.
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2015-04-01 08:27
Does anyone else have an issue playing your instrument?
Also, when was the last time that you had it serviced. I suspect that you may have some leaks which will cause significant issues playing the instrument.
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: GBK
Date: 2015-04-01 08:53
The approximate projection of a clarinet played outdoors on a football field is about
50 feet.
You won't be heard by anyone in the stands. Don't lose any sleep over it.
...GBK
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-04-01 08:56
while the B12 does have some tuning issues, these shouldn't be a problem in a marching band environment. Basically, it's a reasonable entry-level instrument that was made to be playable by pretty well any beginner. I'd suggest that unless you have tiny hands or those of a gorilla there shouldn't be any major issues with the B12. As has been said, you probably have a problem with leak/s or adjustments. Get it checked out and it will almost certainly be OK. How does your friend sound on it?
Tony F.
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Author: Jamnik
Date: 2015-04-01 09:31
Another thing to remember is that the sound you hear when playing isn't the same sound the audience or another player hears. It's similar to listening to your recorded voice. It just doesn't sound the same.
Jamnik
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2015-04-01 11:59
GBK, that's not the most up-to-date or fully accurate point of view. I know that what you say is true some programs, but lots of good to outstanding bands feature plenty of clearly audible woodwind sound on the field (flute and clarinet included), and have for many years. It's all about numbers, tone quality/intonation, appropriate drill/arrangements, and the correct focus on musical effect.
Here's an example picked more or less at random. If you're interested, you'll hear plenty of loud brass and drums, but that's not nearly all you'll hear.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xl78FpCEGfM
Anders
Post Edited (2015-04-01 12:01)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-04-01 13:12
And while we are dispelling myths, we need to dispel the myth that the Buffet B12 is a playable clarinet. ANYONE who has played one knows what a piece of crap it is.
For a decent plastic clarinet, you need look no further than a Vito or a Yamaha and spend no more than $300. If you can unload the B12 on some other unsuspecting rube, put whatever you get for it toward a decent horn.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-04-01 15:11
Paul,
While I agree that the Vito or any of the Yamaha student instruments are a better proposition than the B12, the fact remains that countless thousands of kids have learned to play on them. Certainly not as good as the Vito or Yamaha but not bad enough to be described as a piece of crap. With a good mouthpiece they can even sound half-decent.
Tony F.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-04-01 19:13
I have found the B12 to be finicky about what mouthpiece it will play well with. For me, it played delightfully with a Portnoy BPO1--which, incidentally, doesn't play worth a lick on any of the 10 clarinets in my playing rotation. Go figure.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2015-04-01 21:35
The B12 has no internal pitch reference whatsoever. If you want to have a "toy" clarinet and you don't plan on being serious at all, be my guest.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-04-02 00:57
Paul, you make a good point: The B12 sure did feel toy-like in my hands compared to a Vito, Yamaha, Bundy, Pruefer, etc....
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2015-04-02 02:20
don't forget ergonomics. Good sound starts in the head, and when one feels one must fight against the instrument, then, presumably, no satisfying sound is obtained.
Had a friend in the shop today, with her "marching" instrument. It was properly set up, tuned within negligible cents and all, but she balked and squeaked. I knew that her performance instrument was a different make than her marching horn; her fingers landed off-center and she'd sometimes bump against an unrelated touchpiece.
Fate or sheer luck had it that I had an upscale-student model of her house brand available, she honked three notes on it and said, yes, that's the one.
Moral of the story - "good" is a very subjective term.
(I have a Vito VSP that would run circles around many R13, yet said friend just said, yeah, nice, but - nah. Well, she's a Buffet person and I'm a Leblanc person...)
--
Ben
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Author: Halo1115
Date: 2015-04-02 05:30
I personally like the Jupiter Capital edition clarinet. It works well for me, and is pretty durable for marching. My sound was able to be projected more.
And to the person who said a clarinet's projection on the field is about 50 feet, I was able to play as a stand in soloist with no mic and the solo being in a lower register and was heard clearly and just fine....
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