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 What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: MartyMagnini 
Date:   2017-10-30 20:07

Nothing!

(sorry - couldn't resist, since that "other thread" is getting so obnoxious).

I think that other thread go WAY too far off course. I have played absolutely stunning instruments from Yamaha, Backun, Ridenour, and yes, Buffet. The point of that thread wasn't to question whether Buffet clarinets were well-designed or endorsed by professionals, just that their quality control seems to be a big issue, much more so than the other instruments listed. That's all - calm down!

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: echi85 
Date:   2017-10-30 20:12

I agree with you 100%. I apologize if I added fuel to the fire.

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: jdbassplayer 
Date:   2017-10-30 20:28

Except the fact I had to pull the neck of my Yamaha 221ii bass clarinet out 1/2" just to play in tune, at which point air would leak through the slot in the neck receiver...

Just fanning the flames :P

-Jdbassplayer

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Kalashnikirby 
Date:   2017-10-30 20:56

With the other thread closed now... I apologize for nothing :)
But perhaps let's not start all over again. On Thursday, I'll play the CSG III extensively.

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Toolaholic 
Date:   2017-10-30 22:11

I put 1.5mm tuning rings in my 221 II. Neck out 3/8. My 622 II low C Yamaha has 1.5 rings as well and neck out 3/8. Yamaha tunes their basses to 442 or higher. Love both instruments though.

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: NBeaty 
Date:   2017-10-31 00:12

Better to be sharp than out of tune...

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: tucker 2017
Date:   2017-10-31 01:04

Kalashnikirby.... you had mentioned in the other thread that you'll be testing various brands in the near future. I'd be very interested to hear your take on the Uebels if you have a chance to test them!

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Kalashnikirby 
Date:   2017-10-31 01:33

tucker, I've already phoned the shop I'm planning to pay a visit to and they'll give me all the time it takes to test what they have on stock.
Currently, I'm planning to try these horns:

-YCL-CSG III
-Uebel Superior
-Buffet Tradition
-Uebel 634 (German affordable Oehler)
-Some other Oehler horn just for general comparison

Guess I better open a new thread then, seems like some might find it worthwile. For me, it's "just" an 1-hour-ride with a university student ticket (=free), so why not. Hope I'll have at least an hour for all that, but it should work out, being a customer there already.

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: seabreeze 
Date:   2017-10-31 01:43

Just curious, what music store in what city carries such an assortment of clarinets? In the US, I know of none what would carry the assortment you listed. You're lucky to live there, musically speaking. Do they also have Buffet RC and R13 Prestige and Tosca models in stock to try? Selmer Signature and Privilege clarinets as well?

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Johan H Nilsson 
Date:   2017-10-31 01:51

If I had to choose one make for quality control, it would be Yamaha.

Having worked a bit with Japanese people I know that it is a part of their culture to pay an enormous attention to details. It might not be beneficial in all circumstances but is when it comes to putting pads on clarinets and doing all the other precision work.



Post Edited (2017-10-31 01:51)

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: tucker 2017
Date:   2017-10-31 01:58

Kalishnikirby... .enjoy! By the way, where are you?

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Kalashnikirby 
Date:   2017-10-31 02:08

Seabreeze:
Well, things are a bit different in Germany :). If I lived in Neustadt in the east, I could visit at least 4 makers "next door". There are nicer stores around in Berlin; Thomann is way too far away for me. But sure, I'm lucky.
Would you shed a tear if I told you that they stock 3/4 of what you just mentioned and the Divine?
It's in Gütersloh, a 100.000-residents metropolis :)
https://www.fmb-direkt.de/en

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Kalashnikirby 
Date:   2017-10-31 02:11

tucker, I'm from Münster, that is to say, I study there. Still far away from what you might be familiar with.
Thanks, I will!



Post Edited (2017-10-31 02:13)

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Bob Bernardo 
Date:   2017-10-31 06:00

The Yamaha mouthpieces are the worst. When you buy a Yamaha and you are leaving the store throw out the mouthpiece in the trash can.

You can't reface them. You can't do anything to them. If they were made out of wood you could collect them and toast marsh mellow's, but nope, they are made out of plastic.

So there you have it! You can try to sell them on ebay, but the people on ebay won't buy them. School kids can't get a sound out of them because the tip opening is to open.

Does anyone have any ideas what to do with them? hmmm Maybe write Chedeville on them and give it to a friend as a joke?


Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces


Yamaha Artist 2015




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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: nellsonic 
Date:   2017-10-31 08:37

Tom P. had the mouthpiece that came with the CSVR's worked on and has been playing on it regularly. Go figure. I haven't bothered to try mine yet, but maybe I should. It's not a 4C, or at least not labelled as such.

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: jdbassplayer 
Date:   2017-10-31 16:59

Bob,

Yamaha makes two different series of mouthpieces. There is the "C" series (4C, 5C...) that we all know and hate, but Yamaha also makes "Custom" mouthpieces out of hard rubber that come with their higher end instruments. The one I tried was actually very good.

-Jdbassplayer

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: D Dow 
Date:   2017-10-31 17:37

The Csg clarinets come with the 5C mouthpiece which is excellent and sounds nice..something like a B40 counterpart!

David Dow

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: TomS 
Date:   2017-10-31 17:45

Yamaha (and everyone) should leave the obligatory new MP out of the case. Knock 20 bucks off the price of the new clarinet. I don't know if any beginner students in our area use a stock MP ... I think most of the teachers have students on a Fobes Debut, Hite Premier or Vandoren M13/M13-lyre. A better start, IMHO.

The only thing about Yamaha is that it is more difficult to find a really fanatical dealer that really loves/understands their clarinets and will go the extra mile to set them up properly and esoterically (although they often don't need much tweaking) and also offer a really good selection.

Where can I try out an SEVR to compliment my lowly 650 (of the same bore family)? Huh?

Tom

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: ClarinetRobt 
Date:   2017-10-31 19:48

TomS...
FYI, I'm talking to a Yamaha distributor about auditioning a SEVR. It sounds like to me there are none in the USA right now. If I here anythinga about inventories, I'll let you know.

~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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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: clarnibass 
Date:   2017-10-31 20:03

FWIW I just saw a Yamah student model bought new two years ago and regularly played by a student since then. Great setup. Almost no repairs needed. Far better than the $5,000 clarinet by another company I saw just a few days ago which was new.

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: TomS 
Date:   2017-10-31 23:53

Rest of the planet scarfing all the SEVRs up ... none for USA.

I tried to buy an SEV over a year ago and ran into a roadblock ... I think I found just one to chose from and discovered that the SEV was gonna have an upgrade model ... so I've waited ... but the CSVR might be a better choice for most playing ... the 650 is driving, centered, sweet and sprightly, good for band playing and the top register really plays better in tune than my R13 ...

If I sit in front of a tuner and plot tuning anomalies, the R13 and 650 are not that far apart, for most notes ... but in an ensemble, the Yamaha blends/tunes/fits/becomes close friends more easily with what is going on ... it's interesting. Same for my Ridenour clarinets ... they just work.

Need more choices in non-wood materials ... I gotta play a "chill-out" concert outdoors in early December ... won't take a wooden instrument ...

Tom

Post Edited (2017-11-01 00:01)

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: gwie 
Date:   2017-11-01 02:30

I'm lucky to live near enough to the Buena Park Atelier that I can visit them to find instruments. Rory Mazzella at Yamaha coordinates it, and he is a stellar clarinetist and studio musician who knows the products exceptionally well.

But trying to find Yamaha CSVR's and CSG's in stores is next to impossible. I've turned up a few locally at two different shops, but there's always piles of Buffet R-13's and Festivals, student everything else, but not much Yamaha, and no Backun for sure.

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Bob Bernardo 
Date:   2017-11-01 13:17

The mouthpieces at one time were made by Babbitt. They were pretty darn good. The ones in the CSVR series I got were made of plastic, not rubber. Yamaha doesn't get mouthpieces from Babbitt anymore. Those are worth looking for.

Just like the Kaspar family. Babbitt made Kaspar's as well. They were well made, but not like the ones from the early 1960's, which were mostly Chedeville mouthpieces. The Babbitt Kaspar's have really nice sounds to them.


Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces


Yamaha Artist 2015




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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: KaiLiau 
Date:   2017-11-01 17:38

Any updates on this clarinet audition, Christian? Would love to hear your thoughts about these Boehm clarinets as a player familiar with Oehler system.

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Kalashnikirby 
Date:   2017-11-01 18:37

Thank you very much for your appreciation.
I'll go there tomorrow, today's actually a national holiday, so hold on just a little longer.

On a side note, I visited a friend's family and they hat a 20-30 years old "Schreiber" Oehler 20-keys clarinet.
Though it was recently serviced and I played it for a good hour, I wouldn't get any "German" sound, in fact I liked it all lot less then a Yamaha 650 and found it difficult to produce an acceptable pp. Once again I was reminded there is a mass of Oehler clarinets that were produced to only satisfy the needs of the German market and not utilize the possibilities of this system.
Don't buy cheap Yamaha oder Schreiber Oehler Horns. Boehm clarinets beat them in many respects. Excited to try the Uebel Full Oehler!!



Post Edited (2017-11-01 18:38)

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Toolaholic 
Date:   2017-11-01 20:33

I liked the 4cm custom rubber that came with my 650. I use a’M30 profile 88 with it now.

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Tom Puwalski 
Date:   2017-11-02 16:17

I have Yamaha 4CM mouthpieces, they have all been reworked by Merlin Petroff, former Principal clarinetist of the Marine band. He's done a lot of research on baffles that you can read about in the last issue of The Clarinet. I had 4 yamaha mouthpieces from the 2 sets of Yamaha clarinets that I've purchased. I had Merlin do some work on some of my other mouthpieces and I had asked him if the "yamaha mouthpieces were anything" he informed me that Loren Kitt had been playing them on his Yamaha CSGs for his last few years in the National symphony.

Here is a clip of Choro, playing a Yamaha CSVR with Yamaha 4CM worked on my Merlin Petroff.
https://soundcloud.com/klezmertom/chorando-pra-pixinguinha

Tom Puwalski Yamaha and D'Addario performing artist.

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 Re: What is wrong with Yamaha?
Author: Kalashnikirby 
Date:   2017-11-02 21:46

So I play-tested a few horns today, including the CSG III and took a short look at a brand new 650 (nice keywork!!)
I'll open a separate thread - but let me anticipate as much: The Uebel 634 (I was told it's not even a full-Oehler) was kind of a letdown and I'm perfectly satisfied with Boehm.

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