 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LeftHandedClarinetist
Date: 2017-01-26 02:24
I am currently a music student at my highschool playing the Bb/Soprano Clarinet. My equipment is as follows:
Horn: YCL-250
Reed: Vandoren Traditional 4
Ligature: Optimum Ligature (Silver)
Mouthpiece: Vandoren M15 (Style 88)
My problems:
-My high G, A, and B won't play unless I "slur" to it.
-Playing those notes are SUPER flat (unless I tighten my mouth corners like I'm gripping it on with my life on it)
-My reeds don't "last" long.
-I don't have that mellow sound.
-BIGGEST: I need to pull out the barrel ALOT; just less than 1 cm because it was playing too sharp.
I have many other Clarinet players who use the R13. They may not be better technique wise, but their sound is just so mellow and beautiful. My family being poor I've been using my YCL-250 since 5th grade, now 10th grade. It's been getting worn out but I asked my parents if they could get me a step up, not an R13 as they cost a fortune ($1400 at least for a good quality), but more so for a YCL-450(N) or even a Buffet E11/12/13 but they keep saying that they're not going to get me one unless I give up my want to get into medical school and focus music only. I don't have a private teacher and never had one; and there are probably much better sounding players in my band, but I am first chair (which might not mean anything). I had a great time this year at the Northshore Honor Band conducted by Mr. Vondran from Northwestern but everyone had a step-up besides me. For the most part I kind of give up getting a step up clarinet as asking for one my parents shut it down; even those around $500 for a YCL-450.
Recently, found out about the Backun Protege barrel saying it fits my YCL-250 (STUDENT/ABS) and it is available at a discount (studio model=slight blemish that does not affect playing) for $80. From Christmas I got $100 and I could use it towards the barrel and I really want to if it will significantly make my tone better.
1. Will getting a Grenadilla Backun Protege for my STUDENT/PLASTIC YCL-240 clarinet improve my tone/sound by a noticeable amount?
2. Are there any good sounding (mellow like an R13 or close to it) used, for around 300-400?
Thank you so much!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2017-01-26 03:08
LeftHandedClarinetist wrote:
> 1. Will getting a Grenadilla Backun Protege for my
> STUDENT/PLASTIC YCL-240 clarinet improve my tone/sound by a
> noticeable amount?
Most likely, no.
> 2. Are there any good sounding (mellow like an R13 or close to
> it) used, for around 300-400?
>
Depends on what you mean by mellow, but at that price you're talking about a used entry level clarinet. Even new rental-level YCLs sell for more. You can begin finding used older R13s and Selmer 10Gs and the like beginning around $900 to $1,000.
But, honestly, the problems you describe don't sound like equipment problems. They have, I suspect, much more to do with your embouchure, your position on the mouthpiece and, maybe, your choice of reeds.
Extreme flatness and poor response at the top of the clarion register (just above the treble staff) are often the result of too soft reeds, but if you're using #4 Vandorens on an M15 mouthpiece, the reed might even perhaps be too heavy. If the sound is airy, you might try stepping down to the next strength or maybe switching to 56 Rue lepic (maybe a #3-1/2+). I don't know if that's the explanation or not.
The other frequent cause of those problems is that you may be taking too little reed into your mouth, maybe coupled with too little lower lip over your teeth. You might experiment with that - the sign that you've got too much reed in your mouth is the loud, uncontrollable squawk that results.
Short lived reeds would also make me think first of too low a strength, but too hard reeds could just be stiffening up as you use them and getting out of balance and too hard. Again, this is more likely if the sound is fuzzy and airy. But you might also be killing your reeds by biting on them and actually bending them toward the mouthpiece rails.
Big, mellow sound comes from the player far more than from the equipment. All the instrument or mouthpiece does is influence the result, they don't produce it. So, while a better instrument might make lots of things easier to do, they won't make you automatically sound mellow. You need to find out what's causing the other problems and the sound may improve without any equipment change.
Are you sure you're pulling out a centimeter? That's a lot. Maybe you should have your instrument checked over by a knowledgeable repair person. Pulling out that far *could* cause the notes near the top of the clarinet (both the G5-C6 you mentioned and the "throat notes a 12th lower) to go very much flatter than the rest of the longer length notes. What length is your barrel? Yamahas, from what I've read, use shorter barrels than standard French-style clarinets. Maybe if your barrel isn't the original one the YCL250 came with, that could be a large part of the explanation.
Karl
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2017-01-26 04:02
Karl's advise is exemplary. I'd follow it to the letter.
Try playing one of your friend's R13 and see if your tuning is any better. I agree it sounds more like embouchure/reed issues than pure equipment problems. If you aren't already doing it...long tones are your friend. I play a round of 12th slurs from ppp to fff chromatically everyday...starting on low E to thumb F.
If want to major in performance, hold out for the better equipment (find a teacher to help you pick one out). But if you go into med school and just play for fun (marching/concert bands), you might consider a Ridenour (Libertas is what I have and there are endless things written on here about them.) It offers good bang for buck and I hear there are some good buys on auction sites...save some money for repadding and what not.
~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: Wes
Date: 2017-01-26 09:21
Without trying your equipment, it is hard to give certain answers. However, mouthpieces are not all the same, even for the same number. Mouthpieces can affect the high notes a lot. You may also have leaks in the clarinet. A #4 reed is plenty stiff enough, as I always prefer #3s and still play the high notes. A new barrel is not likely to help very much, if at all. Can you find an expert to check your equipment or to take one lesson from? Good luck!
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Author: sax panther
Date: 2017-01-26 16:11
You need to figure out for sure whether the problem is definitely your equipment. See if one of your bandmates will let you experiment on their clarinets for 5 minutes - use your mouthpiece and reed combination on their clarinet. Ideally, have a tuner with you. See if the problem is still there. It may not be the equipment. As Karl says, it's worth trying some slightly softer reeds - strength 4 is pretty heavy unless you have a well developed embouchure. Don't get sucked into the belief that harder reed = better player. Play the strength that you sound best on.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2017-01-27 04:19
Before making any equipment changes, find a great clarinet teacher that plays very well and likes to troubleshoot problems. Be open to a paradigm shift, might just be your approach to playing ... mine was turned inside out, by a good teacher.
However, it sounds like you may be using too stiff and/or unbalanced reeds ... drop 1/2 strength and use the internet to find some videos on balancing reeds ... you can do this fairly well with no expensive equipment, just a box cutter blade.
The Yamaha 250 is very sharp, and a too stiff reed will further sharpen this instrument.
If your reeds are not lasting long, you might be biting because they are too stiff, unbalanced or reeds not being broken in properly.
Biting destroys reeds, quickly.
I am an average (at best!) player and can play the entire range from lowest E to highest A with no change in embouchure pressure and this is with a Yamaha YCL-650 (or Lyrique Libertas), a Vandoren M13 (or M13 lyre, M30, 5RV or 5RV lyre) and a Vandoren #3 to #3.5 reed (all cuts) Stiff reeds not required to get a good sound and total range. Most good production MPs will not hold you back.
You may be trying too hard!
Find that teacher! Don't waste your money on equipment until you unravel your basic problem. It's like guessing about a health problem and self medicating without a Doctor visit ...
Tom
Post Edited (2017-01-27 04:21)
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2017-01-28 22:18
Can you borrow, even momentarily, the clarinet of someone who has no problem playing the passage....or have them try your clarinet?
(Use you own mouthpiece...dont want germs, of course.)
What happens?
Disclaimer...I make and sell those little wooden thingies that fit below the mouthpiece.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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