 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: nenderpoop
Date: 2016-10-11 18:10
Hello everyone, i'm currently in my senior year in highschool. I've been playing the clarinet since 3rd grade.
I'm looking into buying a new clarinet. I've been looking at a Ventus Bb Clarinet by Backun. Thoughts on it? Should I worry about looking for a clarinet with a side Eb key or not?
Thank you(:
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-10-11 19:05
As far as I can tell, this may be a discontinued item. Backun doesn't seem to show it at all on his web site, WW & BW only has a used one and Guitar Center says they no longer carry Ventus. Are you looking at a new one somewhere?
Backun instruments are certainly high quality.
What do you mean by "a side Eb key?" The picture I see on the Guitar Center website seems to have all the conventional keys.
I would only consider buying any clarinet if I could try it out, either though a trial period or in person at a dealer or shop. Do you know anything about the Ventus other than what is on the Guitar Center website (http://www.guitarcenter.com/Ventus/Bb-Clarinet-by-Backun.gc?
Karl
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-10-11 19:11
Well here's the thing. I'm not sure if he actually makes them or imports them and fine tunes them, then puts his name on them. Forgive me here, I'm not saying that he is getting these from China, then reworking them a bit. I'm just saying to play one and have your teacher play it as well. Look for sharp and flat notes, using a tuner. Also look for notes that pop out and note that don't speak very well. The price is decent at around $1500 or so, which leads me to believe that he isn't making them, but maybe adjusting them a bit.
I was at the ClarinetFest but sadly I didn't hear any pros playing this model, in fact I didn't see this model at his booth, but you can still find them. Perhaps he is pushing more expensive models?
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2016-10-11 19:16)
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-10-11 23:02
neederpop
Eb side key is absolutely lovely thing to have. not essential but very very very handy.
I really liked the yamaha 650 which has a version with the Eb key at a very nice price. These have a very projected sound which I really like. To my mind this is the "American" sound. But I'm not American.. so you may not agree.
The buffet models above the R13 have it, but cost a lot. They produce a very clean sound, which i would descrive as the "french" or the classical sound.
The Amati 650 offers that key, and I think that is one of the cheaper options to do that. I have this one as the cost was nice. (Mine cost $1000AUD), and I would say it is a 'good enough' clarinet. I don't love it as much as I do the buffet and the yamaha, but it is still very nice, and is going to happily get me through the diploma exams. (not sure what you call them in the states sorry. but the really high levels, that I assume are post high school). I would say the Amati produces more of the dark European sound. Reminiscent of the selmers. Big full and jazzy. It does feel like it needs more air than the other ones i own
Hanson (UK maker) gets good reviews, and for 120GBP he will add an Eb key to any of his clarinets. Which means you could get even the basic model student Clari, and still add that key to it! Which I find very impressive! He is the only make I found that had that option so readily available. If you buy from him, you also choose the cut of the bore. So you just need to specify to him which you want. He has the option of a wider cut, which is something the English like, but I would assume not the American flavour of sound.
Not sure if that is helpful.
And not sure if you are looking new or second hand.
But just some ideas from my shop around
If you are not worried about the Eb key, then I would say give the ridenours a go. I would say that the tone isn't that of the yamaha or the buffet, sort of like it doesn't quite have all the depth of colours in the tone. But it is so easy to play, and so robust. It is light as well, meaning practise is more enjoyable. And I don't think the loss of depth that I'm describing is a huge loss for all the advantages that it has. (It is sort of a hard difference to describe... because my ridenour clari sounds lovely but when i play the amati or buffet I can tell that they have a more rounded tone)
:)
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Author: SonicManEXE
Date: 2016-10-11 23:39
Hi there,
So you've been playing since third grade? I guess my question is are you planning on continuing after high school, maybe even being in the studio in college? If you are not, there's no point in buying a new instrument. If you are, it may be worthwhile to see what your professor recommends and also who they know in the area who can get you a good deal. You'd most likely be safe with a Buffet though, just saying.
My second question is are you considering being a performance major or just playing on the side in a community band or whatnot? If you want to be a clarinet major, then absolutely go with a high-end Buffet, Selmer or a Backun with all the bells and whistles (I don't think the Ventus is in production anymore, though). If you're continuing playing just because you enjoy it--you're not going to be doing it for a living--it would be best to find an R13 or a YCL-650, basically some basic professional clarinet.
To give you some background, I am currently a first semester freshman in college and I've been using a Yamaha student model I bought new in December of my freshman year of high school for marching and concert band since I got it, and I'm desperately looking for a professional horn right now. I've never loved this instrument and I've totally put it through its paces with marching band. I find it unfit to be played in concert band anymore. As a general music major (and currently coming up with another major as well, I don't know what yet), I was very set on getting a new Buffet Festival though someone like Walter Grabner, but rather than spend over $4,000 on an instrument I'm only going to be using for college concert band and then in some sort of non-professional group later, I've decided that as long as I get something with a great sound and good tuning, I'm going for it. Also, as a fan of collecting stuff, it allows me to buy some kind of novelty jazz horn or an alto or contrabass offer I can't refuse or whatever without feeling guilty about already having splurged on a concert instrument.
To clarify, I'm not saying go with a Buffet because it's a Buffet. You should definitely look around and see which one you like on your current, comfortable reed/mouthpiece/ligature setup. If you test a Yamaha Custom Model and think it's amazing, then that's what you should go with. I have this really weird thing with Yamahas where I'm very airy on open G on any Yamaha but not on any other brand. Who knows what causes that, but it's all the more reason to go around and test out as many as you can. If it doesn't have a side Eb, that's fine. If it's from your local shop and is older but sounds amazing, that's also fine. As long as you don't shop on the Bay of E, you'll be fine.
Jared
Ft. Lauderdale & Tampa, FL
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2016-10-11 23:44
Get a straight up Backun - Beta Model, or higher.
Though if Backun's name is on it, it is (most likely would bet the farm on it) made in house by Backun FOR the other brand.
Nothing whatsoever of Backun is made/manufactured in China.
100% Canada at their Factory.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-10-12 02:52
But, wait...
Never mind the Ventus for (just) a second. I'm still puzzled by the side Eb. What is it? I'm assuming this isn't the left hand alternate for Ab/Eb?
Karl
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Author: TomS
Date: 2016-10-15 18:02
If your have your heart set on wood, then the Yamaha YCL-650 is very good, IMHO. Great clarity but with warmth, somewhat free-blowing but with compactness. tunes well but is also flexible. Excellent fit and finish and very pretty unstained wood. Reminds me of my old Yamaha model 62 ... but better.
The YCL-SEV (big brother to the 650) has been discontinued, but a few are still available. I don't know what Yamaha's plans are for the SEV series instruments ... they act like they are tired to trying to sell these to Americans. The SEV is now the SEVR in Europe ... Yamaha is really pushing the CSVR in the states nowadays ...
That is GREAT news to hear about Backun's production ... not being outsourced to China. I like to see manufacturing kept on this side of the pond, although I think the Chinese are perfectly capable of making perfect stuff, if you keep an eye on them. I don't have a problem with Japan, they have a cultural commitment to quality.
I have only played one intermediate Backun Protege in cocobolo ... and it was unexpectedly terrible. I just checked it out again the other day ... the local music store can't sell it, apparently. Pads seem tight, so it is either bad design or something has happened to it. The bore looks like it was polished with an egg beater. A real mystery. I told them to send it back. Surely not typical of Backun's products.
Since the Alpha plays pretty well, I'd like to give the Beta a try ... about the same price as the Yamaha 650 and Buffet E12F. Wood does have a different sound and feel to it than plastic or hard rubber ... and you gotta really take care of it or suffer the consequences.
Backun's non-professional clarinets do not have locked key posts, none at all, as far as I know. This bothers me ... I guess if they are threaded and glued, they will not rotate. Often, the key posts on plastic clarinets are press-fitted with heat applied and it kinda melts the body plastic to the key posts ...
Of course, I think everyone should own at least one Ridenour clarinet. Trouble free and they play wonderfully. The gold standard at copper prices. Get one first and then you can sample the other stuff out there ... it's all fun!
Tom
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