 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2016-07-18 19:12
In another recent thread we strayed into a discussion of a given clarinet's history affecting how it might play- not based on technical issues, but personality. As in- a long neglected and unwanted but newly prized horn might be better suited to jazz (or in my thinking, blues) than an instrument that had been coddled all of its existence.
And that got me thinking about the personalities of various clarinet makes and models- which we imagine are independent of their playing characteristics. But of course they are not, no more than for automobiles or shoes. Every kind of product is designed and marketed to appeal to some segment of the buyer community, and it is never one size fits all. Price, appearance, endorsements- all that stuff.
So---- I thought it would be fun to line up various clarinet models with celebrities, video game characters, cartoon or movie characters, -even car models- based on personality. And to poke deserved fun at brands that encourage such non-critical thinking, if any. And would anyone admit to allowing "image" to affect choice of instrument? Of course not- and it had nothing to do with your car purchase either.
Add to this list as you wish.
Buffet R13 == Tom Brady (embattled champ) or Mercedes S class
Ridenour Libertas == Toyota Avalon (why spend more except for snob appeal?)
First Act == William Hung or Yugo
Selmer Centered Tone == 1955 Thunderbird convertible
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2016-07-18 19:57)
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2016-07-19 03:20
Bundy == Crown Vic
They're both cheap, common and kind of ugly but they never die!
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2016-07-19 07:08
Ridenour 576BC == Toyota Camry (all anybody really needs)
Buffet E11 == Ben Affleck (competent enough but not nearly as good as he thinks he is, will never be an R13 or get an R13's job)
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2016-07-19 12:26
Speaking as a brit,
Boosey and Hawkes Regent - Grant Mitchell from "Eastenders"
Boosey and Hawkes Emperor - Hyacinth Bucket from "Keeping up Appearances"
Boosey and Hawkes Symphony 1010 - Reginald Jeeves from the PG Wodehouse stories.
Vanessa.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2016-07-19 14:47
Actually, I am more involved in this thread than I first imagined in that the instruments I own and play mirror the cars my wife and I actually drive now or have previously owned.
My #1 Clarinet is a Yamaha CS Custom = I drive an Acura TL (It's a wolf in sheep's clothing just like this clarinet; it does everything an R13 does at a cheaper price. The TL is fast with a nice, quiet V6, has surround sound and GPS, and can get 34 mpg. on the road).
My #1 Bass Clarinet is a Selmer Series 9 to low Eb = Just like the Lexus LS400 I ended up putting 150,000 miles and then my son put another 80K on it. It is probably still going.
Clarinet #2 is a 1980s Leblanc L200 = The Lexus LS400 again. Once the very best but still able to hold its own.
Bass Clarinet #2 is a Ridenour 925e = Wife's car is a Honda Accord Crosstour (Extremely dependable, has all the needed stuff like V6, GPS, great stereo, 4-wheel drive, hatchback...).
With my cars as well as my instruments, I tend to stay just below the radar. My Mark VI alto and tenor would definitely be Mercedes Benz of some sort.
HRL
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2016-07-19 14:59
My Evette and Schaefer is like a Ford Taurus SHO. Looked like an everyday car, no real bells or whistles, and quite frankly just by looks will bring a yawn to your face.....but you push its limits and find out it can outgun tons of other clarinets, and likely will go further than your skill might be able to push it! A "sleeper" clarinet, if you will.
Going to a celebrity level, I would say my ridenour is like a luc besson movie. It may not be a favorite for academy awards, but by gosh you can't help but watch a luc besson movie (or play a ridenour clarinet) and not walk away with a grin on your face and satisfactorily entertained.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2016-07-19 15:01)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2016-07-19 17:04
Vanessa -
British upper-class twits called servants by their first names ("Jeeves"). Jeeves's last name is never mentioned.
1908 Buffet Bb/A pair: supercharged Model Ts
1928 Buffet C, Opperman-tweaked: Bugatti Veyron
1972 Buffet R13 Bb, Opperman-tweaked: Ferrari
1975 Buffet R13 A, Opperman-tweaked: Buick Roadmaster
Ken Shaw
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Author: tucker ★2017
Date: 2016-07-19 17:55
I've used this same analogy in another post on a different subject.
I said my Ridenour Lyrique 925e is like a Kia... great car/a lot of car for the money, but I like Hank's analogy better. "Bass Clarinet #2 is a Ridenour 925e = Wife's car is a Honda Accord Crosstour (Extremely dependable, has all the needed stuff like V6, GPS, great stereo, 4-wheel drive, hatchback...)."
My Uebel Emperior is like driving a Mercedes.
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2016-07-19 18:50
Ken Shaw Wrote
Vanessa -
British upper-class twits called servants by their first names ("Jeeves"). Jeeves's last name is never mentioned.
Hi Ken,
I think you may be getting first and last names round the wrong way there and also, whilst it is true that last names were used mainly, it is moderately well known that Jeeves's first name was Reginald.
Vanessa.
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2016-07-19 19:44
I'm digging the car analogies...
Ridenout Libertas: Definitely a Camry. Workhorse...it does it's job perfectly, don't really 'need' anymore...
Prestige Buffet: Lexus RCF...sure there's faster cars, but it's a heavy hitter that performs beautifully.
~Robt L Schwebel
Mthpc: Behn Vintage
Lig: Ishimori, Behn Delrin
Reed: Legere French Cut 3.75/4, Behn Brio 4
Horns: Uebel Superior (Bb,A), Ridenour Lyrique, Buffet R13 (Eb)
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2016-07-19 20:38
I can see all these cars parked together, and each of the owners getting their respective clarinets out of the back seat or trunk. Everything from the Bugatti with the MoBa and '55 TBird with Selmer CT, to the barely moving Yugo with barely playable First Act. (How are each of these clarinetists dressed?)
But I am having trouble figuring out what event this is, where all these folks brought their "best" clarinets and expect to be allowed in and get something worth their time and effort. A swap meet with free high end service available, and every brand of gear available for tryouts?
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: Nessie1
Date: 2016-07-19 21:03
Did Jeeves play with a sickly vibrato also?
I'm sure he would have played with a stiff upper lip!
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Author: MichaelW
Date: 2016-07-19 21:05
Attachment: Uebel Mail.jpg (375k)
Two more:
F.A. Uebel Bb Oehler clarinet (1950), still in a very good condition
Ford Taunus custom convertible by Deutsch, 1952.
In 1961 my first (of only two) convertible, then already rather rusty.
I'd love to see more pictures.
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Author: NetG
Date: 2016-07-20 02:35
I've been playing a pawn shop Yamaha YCL 250 and love it, plastic and all...it's like a Yamaha 90 c.c. dirt bike from back in the day - it can go anywhere, just do it...my Buffet E12f is more like a Triumph 650, sweet and smooth riding, but definitely needs to be garage kept
...still looking for a Plymouth Road Runner!
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Author: ned
Date: 2016-07-20 02:36
My clarinet (in fact all of them) look and sound like clarinets, they don't have personalities. They DO have, shall I say, have idiosyncracies. Some play well, some don't.
That's about it actually...
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Author: MarlboroughMan
Date: 2016-07-20 03:13
Boosey & Hawkes Edgware = Newcastle Brown Ale
Vito V40 = Canadian Club Whiskey (surprising decent for something so cheap).
Selmer BT = Knob Creek Bourbon (great stuff, but maybe trying just a little too hard)
Selmer CT = Bulleit Rye (just right)
Selmer 10S = Crown Royal (some folks think it's great, but why not buy something else?)
Buffet R13 = really expensive wine in a box.
Eric
******************************
The Jazz Clarinet
http://thejazzclarinet.blogspot.com/
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Author: tucker ★2017
Date: 2016-07-20 04:17
Stan, you're right! The Pebble Beach Concourse Clarinet Ensemble!
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2016-07-20 18:19
I suppose my Arioso is a pretty good match for my 2005 Prius. Both can get me anywhere I want to go, competent but absolutely not flashy. I bought both when they were out of date, at a reasonable but not all that cheap a price.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2016-07-20 21:55
And perhaps you would want a metal clarinet for metal music.
Conversely, if you already play a metal clarinet, you should consider adding metal music to your repertoire, if it's not already there.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2016-07-20 22:59)
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Author: ned
Date: 2016-07-21 05:32
I wrote: ''They DO have, shall I say, have idiosyncracies. Some play well, some don't. ''
I ''mis-wrote'' actually...
They, of course DON'T have idiosyncrasies (checked the spelling this time), do they? This is a term used for humans, not inanimate tubes of wood, festooned with bits of metal on the outside.
Still, this thread is somewhat of a chuckle for some of you folks.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2016-07-21 08:29
A somewhat related idea would be why do some of us (like me) want our clarinet keys to be shiny? What possible difference could it make to our music? And if a listener was affected by the appearance of our clarinet, should we care (that's his or her problem, not ours, right)? And some of you smugly reading this who do not like shiny keys actually prefer tarnished and neglected keys- and would not enjoy playing a new looking instrument. Again I ask, why do you care? What if the top half looked new and the bottom ancient, or left and right halves? What about cheap looking hot pink that played wonderfully?- not sure that exists.
If those issues matter AT ALL- then it has to follow that at least SOME of our clarinet purchase choices are influenced by non-utilitarian issues. Same as for houses, clothes, and cars.
So I say, admit it- try to minimize it if you think it's nonsense (you will never get completely rid of it!), or revel in it and enjoy it. Everything has its place, even hot fleeting fashions for whatever man-made item we're buying. Elvis may not have hit it big without his "cat" clothes. And somebody somewhere will (or already has) won a highly contested classical clarinet position because of something unrelated to the actual music- screened auditions or not.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: ned
Date: 2016-07-21 09:38
Stan wrote: ''A somewhat related idea would be why do some of us (like me) want our clarinet keys to be shiny?''
If you play slick and smooth jazz Stan, then I can understand the need for shiny keys.
If, on the other hand, you prefer dirty lowdown jazz, like me, then the grubbier the better. It undoubtedly adds to the authenticity, as does the use of a jazz mouthpiece, and jazz cork grease.
For those folks who believe (t.i.c.) their instruments have personality, have you asked if your instrument is comfortable before packing it away after use?
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