 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ben Shaffer
Date: 2016-10-01 02:24
Quick question.
I will be doing a number of outdoor stand up Events in the Future
. I would love to get a light weight Clarinet to use.
I currently have a Normandy 4 which I really like, but my Thumb really gets sore playing it even with a neck strap.
Any suggestions as to a lighter weight Horn that would not be to expensive?
I've seen a Vito reso tone 3 on Craigs List, would that be somewhat lighter?
Thank You for any insights!
Ben
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-10-01 03:37
Vito clarinets will still have the same sturdy keywork as you'll find on Normandys and depending on their age, some of the earlier Reso-Tones are made from Bakelite (phenolic resin) which is very dense and therefore heavy compared to ABS resin.
Plastic Yamaha clarinets (20 or 200 series) are lighter than most clarinets - the most recent (YCL-250/255) clarinets are very light. But again with most plastic clarinets, the earliest ones are often made from Bakelite so are heavier than their successors.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2016-10-01 07:58
I found the Bliss to be the lightest clarinet I've played. A friend plays a Bacun in cocobolo which is very light as well. Have you considered a thumbrest such as the Ton Kooiman rest, which takes much of the strain off the thumb and distributes the weight across the palm of the hand? I found it almost eliminated the problem for me.
Tony F.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2016-10-01 14:07
My plastic Bb Schreiber 6010 S is 640 g minus the mouthpiece. It has silver plated keywork and is my favourite 'knock-about Clarinet. I don't think you'd find a Clarinet any lighter than this.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2016-10-01 14:08)
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-10-01 14:24
Hi Barry! trust you to think to weigh it!
I have an amati, armstrong, buffet and a ridenour t147
the ridenour is the lightest of my collection (amati the heaviest). I don't have scales to give an accurate comparison though
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Author: ned
Date: 2016-10-01 14:42
I'm not sure this will help you immediately, but why not get an accurate weight measurement of your current instrument and any other which you may be considering to purchase.
Here's a table, attached, of my complete collection. I have four which are in a playable condition. I use the lightest horn in my possession, it also (co-incidentally) happens to be my favourite, and it's a wide bore so it's no argument for me quite obviously.
And a general afterthought to this comes to mind:
Am I being too simplistic in thinking that a wide bore would necessarily be lighter than a narrow bore? Less wood, I imagine, and fewer keys means less weighty metal.
Twelve plus two seems adequate enough for me. I once played an Oehler system some years ago, with 16 keys and 5 rings. It was quite bulky and I found I did not use (or need) this many keys anyway.
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Author: ned
Date: 2016-10-01 14:44
I'm not sure this will help you immediately, but why not get an accurate weight measurement of your current instrument and any other which you may be considering to purchase.
Here's a table of my complete collection. I have four which are in a playable condition. I use the lightest horn in my possession, it also (co-incidentally) happens to be my favourite, and it's a wide bore so it's no argument for me quite obviously.
Make Type Key keys & rings Wt in gms
Hawkes & Son simple A 12+2 631
Hawkes & Son simple Bb 12+2 608
Paul's Buffet albert Bb 15+4 687
My Buffet albert Bb 15+4 662
no-name albert Bb 14+4 588
Premiere hard rubber simple Bb 12+2 613
Besson simple Bb(HP)12+2 583
E Albert simple Eb 12+2 533
And a general afterthought to this comes to mind:
Am I being too simplistic in thinking that a wide bore would necessarily be lighter than a narrow bore? Less wood, I imagine, and fewer keys means less weighty metal.
Twelve plus two seems adequate enough for me. I once played an Oehler system some years ago, with 16 keys and 5 rings. It was quite bulky and I found I did not use (or need) this many keys anyway.
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Author: ned
Date: 2016-10-01 14:49
Sorry...a table was supposed to be attached, and I realise that the specifications will be hard to read.
Basically there are 5 columns: MAKE, TYPE, KEY, keys and rings, WT in gms.
I deleted this tabular stuff after a preview, in favour of an attachment, but being over 60, I buggered it up! Maybe it'll make some sense anyway.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2016-10-01 16:59
The Backun Alpha is very light weight ... and plays pretty good, if you can get used to the "funny keys" (IMHO). I don't know if any used ones are available for a cheaper price ...
Yeah, if we could replace all the nickle-silver keys with some sort of aircraft grade aluminum ...
Tom
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Author: pewd
Date: 2016-10-01 17:43
" would that be somewhat lighter?"
Noticeably lighter, yes.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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