 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: kstrychalski
Date: 2015-10-23 23:02
Hello, I need to find a clarinet in A for an upcoming concerto competition and am having some issues finding one to buy and or rent. I don't have a lot of money to spend, but I have a fair amount.
Thanks!
Kristen S.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-10-24 00:30
Hands down - the Ridenour Lyrique A clarinet is the best value on the market. Extremely affordable, very high quality professional clarinet. Tom & Ted Ridenour also have financing available. Very nice folks to deal with. You will not be sorry, ever!
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BbMajorBoy
Date: 2015-10-24 02:50
I would be very weary about the Ridenour A, the one I had was not a nice instrument.
Leonard Bernstein: "To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gwie
Date: 2015-10-24 03:05
I bought a Lyrique A for my school program two years ago.
Despite some initial issues with setup that Tom resolved fairly quickly (and paid shipping to and from for the repairs), it has served reliably. The intonation is stellar as promised, and it has not had any major problems although it is passed around and played regularly by many high school students.
The only criticism I have is that the fit/finish and feel of the keywork is not at the same level of say, Yamaha or Backun, but given the price of these instruments, it is not a deal-breaker. Admittedly, some of it is purely cosmetic in nature...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2015-10-24 17:22
As I understand, Leslie Craven (Principal, Welsh Opera Orchestra) reviewed the Ridenour clarinet - and it is the very same clarinet that BbMajorBoy denigrates. Very interesting!
http://www.lesliecraven.co.uk/reviews/review_ridenour.html
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BbMajorBoy
Date: 2015-10-24 18:15
Maybe I was given a bad instrument.
Leonard Bernstein: "To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2015-10-24 20:22
My 2007 Ridenour A clarinet is the best clarinet I've ever played, even better than my Libertas. But I had to make a lot of adjustments to pad heights to get it that way. I have played a few Lyrique 576s that were complete duds however.
-Jdbassplayer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2015-10-24 22:10
If you are in the "I haven't a lot to spend" i would start by ordering a Lyrique on trial and seeing what you and your teacher think. The other option is to buy a used A of a major brand -- and that can be a huge investment of time before you find anything that's "good". A "good" A clarinet is hard to find if you're not buying new, top dollar, from a source that has many to try.
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
