 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Maruja
Date: 2017-08-19 22:02
Just wondering - when buying a second clarinet, is it better to go for the same brand? ie. once a Buffet, always a Buffet? Is there less of a problem adapting to slight differences in where keys are positioned and so on?
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2017-08-19 22:43
Finger/tone hole placement, key action, and ergonomic feel are good to excellent on just about all current models of Buffet, Selmer, and Yamaha clarinets, though some might require minor adjustments by a tech to suit your personal preferences. If you are already playing any normal Boehm clarinet, you can get the feel on these three brands quickly and painlessly. Switching from one to another is pretty easy. Try it for yourself at a big clarinet fest. Go from one table or booth to another, grab a clarinet, and play a chromatic scale. You should have no trouble finding the keys. You are not bound by any rule that says "Once brand x, always brand x." But beware of cheap knockoff clarinets with soft and klutzy keys.
Post Edited (2017-08-19 23:45)
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-08-19 22:57
What do you mean by "a second clarinet?" Are you buying a backup? Are you replacing an older clarinet with a newer one? Are you for some reason planning to use both in different circumstances/settings (e.g. leaving one at school and the other at home)?
Keywork, response and tuning can be different, but you can certainly adjust without a problem, so buying a replacement new clarinet would be best based on what you think of the clarinets that are on the market today, not what was available when you bought the old one. But if you're planning for some reason to use both, you may not want to make the needed adjustments.
Karl
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2017-08-21 19:00
I just had key touchpiece position and spring tensions carefully adjusted on a Yamaha clarinet to very closely match my Backun clarinet. Both fit me like a glove.
Just buy what plays best, and have your technician sort out the ergonomics. The simple mechanism of a soprano clarinet offers endless possibilities for personalization.
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Author: nellsonic
Date: 2017-08-22 00:54
The why is a major consideration. Sometimes it is nice to have different clarinets for a variety of uses. Sometimes it is nice to have consistency.
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Author: gatto
Date: 2017-08-22 01:21
Yes, the why is important. In case you would like to complement your B-flat clarinet with an A clarinet and plan to use both as a pair, then I would consider to take even the same model of the same brand.
That said, I did this with my 20 year old B-flat Prestige. But the keywork 20 years later has changed slightly, so the feeling with the new A Prestige was not immediately like at home. On the other hand, I also tried a Tosca, and the feeling was even more strange.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2017-08-22 17:40
The keys on the Buffet and Yamaha and Ridenours and Selmers are not that different in feel that you can't adapt quickly. They play differently though ... and that's good! Variety is the spice of life! Have fun!
I will give highest marks to the Yamaha for the best feel for my fat little fingers ...
Tom
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