 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: CLARIDAD
Date: 2016-02-22 21:43
We have a new Libertas arriving today for my HS daughter. I have been working with RCP and they have been great - very helpful!
I thought this would be a good forum to get some additional advice.
I do not play the clarinet or any reed instrument for that matter. Do any experienced players and/or Libertas owners out there have any advice for trialing the instrument? I would really like her to bond with this clarinet - her current one is a Yamaha YCL-34 (model previous to the 450). It cracked - we live in a climate with lots of temperature and humidity changes. So the Libertas is very appealing to me. She is only a freshman but very dedicated and a good player who has been selected for multiple honor bands.
She is also going to demo a Buffet E12F. From all I have read the Libertas is a fantastic instrument and should compare very favorably against the Buffet.
Thanks in advance for any advice.
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Author: KenJarczyk
Date: 2016-02-23 00:25
Okay - first thing, you will never find a better clarinet for the price than the Ridenour Libertas. Now, let's talk about the horn, after a wee bit of personal history.
I'm a professional woodwind player. I do it all - Weddings to Bar-Mitzvahs, to dances, to Big-Bands, lots of musical theater, jazz, chamber groups, symphonic orchestras, you name it. I've toured the Globe. In my B-flat clarinet arsenal is a very vintage late-1960's Buffet R13, an early 1950's Selmer Centered Tone (think Benny Goodman type horn), 2 superb Selmer Series 10 horns, a late 1950's Leblanc Dynamic H. All of these are professional clarinets, all are set-up by some of the best repair technicians in the industry. I love and enjoy playing on any and all of these. They all have their strong points.
I found myself doing a lot of musical theater jobs, in what would best be called "less than ideal" circumstances, wild shifts of temperature, under heater or A/C blowers, musty humidity to very dry environments as well. After reading many reviews, and watching many of Tom Ridenour's videos, I decided to "not be cruel" to my beloved group of wood clarinets.
First - I came to need a C clarinet, and I purchased the Ridenour Lyrique C. I found the workmanship and quality all first-rate, and the horn is a joy to play. It is a totally perfect C clarinet. So - with that experience, I ordered my Ridenour Libertas.
The Libertas is a 100% Professional Clarinet. The voicing and tuning are beyond my initial expectations. The sound is dark and lovely, and - like my C clarinet, it is a joy to play. I must tell you, the Libertas is my first choice of clarinet for almost any gig these days!
In orchestras, up to now, my A clarinet is a rare Selmer Series 10G, with serial number and documented proof that it is one of the few selected by Selmer to be refinished by the Moennig/Morgan shops to full Gigliotti standards. It is indeed a wonderful A to play. But - I have just ordered Tom Ridenour's A clarinet, as well.
So - Your daughter will be receiving a wonderful totally high-end clarinet, with a great pedigree - designed and built by Tom Ridenour, who was resposible for the best clarinets ever built by the Leblanc corporation, price being no option!
Enjoy it!
Ken Jarczyk
Woodwinds Specialist
Eb, C, Bb, A & Bass Clarinets
Soprano, Alto, Tenor & Baritone Saxophones
Flute, Alto Flute, Piccolo
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Author: CLARIDAD
Date: 2016-02-23 01:08
Ken,
Thank you very much for the additional color! I'm sitting here looking at it - I wish I could play it.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2016-02-23 03:44
Have had mine for about 2 years and it's almost all that I play anymore. The Libertas has re-kindled my desire to play and practice and improve. It makes many tasks much easier than on my Buffet or Yamaha and has a wonderful warm sound, but with plenty of center, ring and projection.
If you are a young student or old man (like me!), it will give you an advantage over others struggling with a less perfect clarinet.
Your daughter will love the instrument.
My goal is to purchase an RCP-576 and one of his clarinets pitched in C ... and maybe a bass to low E-flat, if funds permit.
However, I like the notion of owning several different brand and models, eventually, to broaden your timbre palette. So it'a not crazy to desire that Buffet R13 or Selmer Recital. It's just that the Libertas is much easier to play well and is the instrument you should start on and also keep in your arsenal forever.
Tom
Post Edited (2016-02-23 03:47)
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Author: CLARIDAD
Date: 2016-02-23 06:00
Tom thanks for sharing!
Couple of questions for anybody...
What is the difference is between the 2 barrels? Visually - one appears to be a little more tapered than the other.
Also what mouthpieces are you using with the Libertas? My daughter is using an M30.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2016-02-23 06:17
One is longer than the other ... I think the internal bores are the same.
I use a Ridenour 67 mm "C bore" barrel with my Libertas and a plain vanilla Vandoren 5RV-lyre (not 13 series or 88 profile). The non-13 series MPs are actually designed for 442 tuning and the longer Ridenour "C bore" barrel helps bring the pitch down and the different bore size and taper seems to add a more compact character to the sound. Ligature is a Luyben or rubber O rings.
I've played an M30-lyre that I like a lot, but find that the 5RV-lyre and the M13 (with stock barrel) are easier to control and have more center and compactness.
IMHO, the M30 is a little too much ... too free blowing and too open. I like to have some "hold" or resistance, and I'd rather have most of it in the MP and horn, rather than the reed. I use a #3 Legere or 3.5 or 3.5+ Vandoren V12 or Rue 56.
You gotta check out the E12F ... heard good reports, but not played one. Like Yamaha clarinets if I could not get Ridenour.
Tom
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Author: CLARIDAD
Date: 2016-02-23 19:21
Tom,
Thank you for taking the time to weigh in. She played the Libertas last night and said it plays very smooth and is a significant improvement over her current clarinet. The tone (at least to my ears) is richer (more buttery - maybe less bright) than her old clarinet. She had no problem with the key layout including the register key. She said the keys were really nice - crisp and responsive.
There were some squeaks in the upper register (altissimo?) but she attributed that to her playing and just trying to get used to the instrument. She had 3 years on the previous clarinet. I think she is having to change her blowing slightly.
She is using the Vandoren 3.5 reeds with the M30 mouthpiece. We just started using the Ridenour ATG reed system and she says, without equivocation, that it makes a definite improvement with the reeds - we haven't even done the side balancing yet - just the front sanding. Easy to learn from RCP's included video.
We should be getting the E12F to demo this week.
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2016-02-23 19:43
Having gone to NAMM the past three years, i have gotten to play many clarinets. In that time I have found one clarinet that I like as much as my Libertas and it costs a bit over $7,000. I am couldn't be more happy with my Libertas.
AAAClarinet
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2016-02-23 21:14
Claridad...It's easy to note your genuine interest and enthusiasm regarding your daughter's clarinet career. Give yourself a pat on the back!
Regarding the squeaks: I would suggest that your daughter break in some new reeds specifically for use with the Libertas. I own a Ridenour 576BC and its blowing resistance characteristics are quite unlike any other clarinet that I own, and I have a rotation of 10 instruments. I've found it best to use a reed rotation devoted specifically for use on the Ridenour.
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Author: Geronimo
Date: 2016-02-24 00:02
Claridad,
It's great your taking initiative to make sure your daughter has what she needs in order to follow her hobbies/dreams:) as you've probably read there are dozens of outstanding reviews of Ridenour and his instruments. I wish I had known about them when I was selecting college audition instruments.
As for the buffet E12F, I can not recommended any of their modern student instruments. They are horribly inconsistent and out of tune. If you look at the body of the clarinet, you can see that they paint the surface of the wood so you cannot determine the quality. Their professional instruments are fine and are "unstained" African black wood to show off the wood quality. At the same time I've played the old German e11 buffet clarinets in high school and found them to be a lot of fun.
I think you'll find that the Ridenour will meet all the needs of a high school player (and professional!). Although be aware that some more traditional minded teachers might have as bias against anything that isn't a big name wood clarinet. Which is justified given the number of poor quality cheep Chinese made clarinets in the maket. However the Ridenour is not in this class, and is every bit as good as it's 6-8K competition.
-GM
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2016-02-24 09:57
I would also take a Libertas over an E12F any day of the week. Even a good E12F, and they are, as noted, very inconsistent. I would certainly try several at once if I was seriously considering one. The Libertas are extremely consistent instrument to instrument, so if you've tried one, you've tried as many as you need to.
I love my Liberitas and play it more than my good Buffet R13.
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Author: CLARIDAD
Date: 2016-02-24 18:42
As a non-player and someone who has only tapped the knowledge on this forum and elsewhere - I am impressed with the comments I have read on the Libertas.
Thank you for that - it really helps people like me that are trying to foster their kids' musical goals but don't have any experience with the particular instrument. Now if we are talking guitars - I'm much more comfortable.
As a side note. She is playing the regular vandoren 3.5 reeds with the Vandoren m30 mouthpiece. I ordered a 4 pack sampler of Vandoren reeds yesterday which includes the following...V12, Rue 56, and 2 V21 reeds (I think the 2nd V21 is a 3.5+).
I'm probably over-doing it now but I thought - why not give those a try with the Libertas?
Does anybody have any comments on those particular reeds?
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2016-02-24 19:34
Also give the D'Addario Reserve Classics a try.
I get paid $75K a year to endorse them, so am.........
Not really, but they are really good reeds and I do use/endorse them.
Also I know of players who use the Gonzales and also like them more than Vandoren.
Rue 56 or the V-12 are good, also give the new V-21 a shot.
Your mileage will of course vary.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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