 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-03-28 08:04
The seller had it mislabeled as a "B145", but I was able to correctly identify it. And, as I expected, it included a B45 mouthpiece. $223 with shipping. Case was damaged, no problem- I have a better one, pictured, ready and waiting. It had rattled around loose in that case and a couple of trill keys were bent, I think I got them back in good shape. Pads seal great. I adjusted the handy screw on the RH F/C. Polished a couple of tarnished keys (standard bright nickel plating except posts are black chrome), looks almost new. It did seem a bit neglected, after I played for a while my white swab came out orange, yuck. But it cleaned up well.
And I am very happy how it plays. A nice companion and backup for my Arioso = 576BC. I would call the intonation comparable- better in chalumeau and clarion (with my current HS** mp), not as good in altissimo- but that's with 1 day of play, I'm sure I'll get adjusted, even as I alternate between these horns. I have no opinion yet about tone quality- I suspect I sound like me on either clarinet.
(2nd day of play update- pulling the middle joint helped the sharp altissimo, now tuning is pretty decent throughout. Had to shim the bridge key for reliable forked Bb/Eb. Cleaned a couple of sticky pads with rubbing alcohol. All normal for a clarinet rode hard, put up wet, and left unplayed for years.)
It seemed lighter, so I weighed it. 1.4 lb without mp, vs 1.58 lb for my hard rubber Arioso. This Bliss is some kind of fancy plastic.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2017-03-30 03:18)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2017-03-28 11:07
I've had a couple through my hands. The first I bought on EBay for my own use, the other from the same source was a bargain which I bought to sell on. I found it a great instrument to play, but the keywork was quite fragile and needed continual adjustment. Eventually I decided that it was a lost cause and sold them both. Good luck with yours, it will probably work fine for you. I have hands like shovels and I'm quite hard on keywork.
Tony F.
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-03-28 16:33
Seller did not claim clarinet to be playable, it was an honest description. If I hadn't been able to fix it myself, I figure it would have needed a $50-100 service call. Which would have made the total price pretty close to correct, these go for $350 to $500 used in good shape. I think you can still find new ones around $700, they originally were about $1000. You can get a new Lyrique 576-BC for under $1000, the equivalent Noblissima (short term anyway) for under $700. I figured I'd have to spend at least $400 for a backup duplicate of my Arioso, more fun to spend less and have something different.
I'll sell the B45, and Pawn America is rebating me 1% on Paypal (I think), my net cost should be under $200. And I got a Bonade reverse ligature to boot.
Hard enough for 2 parties to stay married. 3 is well-nigh impossible. Of course I'm referring to Bliss, Leblanc, and Backun. (I know nothing. Perhaps I already said too much. Sorry.)
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2017-03-29 18:54)
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-03-28 17:59
Attachment: Bliss1.jpg (368k)
This is how it looked in the listing. A diamond in the rough.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2017-03-29 00:29
Enter the world of the minimalist clarinet. I saw a video of a trumpet player in the Los Angeles Philharmonic who travels with a cheap plastic trumpet when he wants to catch a few moments of practice time on the run.
I wonder how much music you could get from a new plastic < $550.00 Buffet Prodige clarinet, if you put a good mouthpiece and maybe a different barrel on it? Maybe quite a lot, and it might even sound "like a Buffet."
What's in a name; what's in a dollar?
Post Edited (2017-03-29 00:32)
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2017-03-29 04:03
I think we are conflicted about the value of higher priced and more complex or exotic instruments and accessories. Or the very latest, or vintage* and no longer readily available. On the one hand, most of us like the idea that basic competent minimal stuff plus skill and ability and work is all anyone needs to play any music at any level. (Large arguments about what constitutes that minimum.) But we also like the idea of improving what we can play by a change of gear- and we do experience that sometimes. No easy answers. Keeps a lot of people busy and a few people in the $$$$, selling to the rest of us.
*Especially for an old coot like me who plays mostly old music, it is very appealing to think a clarinet my age might be better than anything made today. I gave a 1950's Selmer CT a shot recently, admittedly not in great playing condition but good enough I think to evaluate- and for me it was just OK. Both my Arioso and this Bliss were "better", for me anyway. So much is subjective. I will still try another CT in fine playing condition if given the opportunity.
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
Post Edited (2017-03-29 19:48)
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