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Ridenour Clarinets

Author: fernie121
Date: 2018-05-28 00:42

I just wanted to give a quick review of some of ridenour’s clarinets I’ve been playing. A few years ago I purchased his 576 and fell in love with the way it plays. I was using an old R13, and I used a really fantastic Selmer 10G throughout high school. (I’m 22). Recently I was having problems with the rather weak keywork of the 576. My teacher, Michele Zukovsky, suggested I contact Ridenour to see what he can do about the keywork. She actually really likes the way the clarinet plays. Even comparing the evenness in playing to her Wurlitzers. Ridenour ended up sending two clarinets. The hard rubber Libertas and a wood Lyrique G1. These clarinets are amazing! I played both of them for my parents (non musicians) and they really love the sound better than anything else I’ve showed them. (I play tested in front of them some brand new R13’s, a Yamaha CSVR and even a pro clarinet by Jupiter). Earlier today, I brought them to my teacher during my lesson so we could go over them. She was absolutely amazed by how they both played and said she will be recommending Ridenour clarinets to everyone else. After a good 45 minutes of messing with them and trying different combinations with the clarinets she advised me to keep my 576 and buy the G1. Based off my testing and her observations, the G1 plays a lot like the 576 but with much better key work and more resonance in the low register. The libertas are a completely different animal from the 576 and G1. It has a very pure and light sound. Almost like the sound “floats” if that makes any sense. We both prefer the heavier and deeper sound of the 576 and G1. But that could come down to my mouthpiece and reed combination. But again, all of his clarinets play wonderfully with tight intonation.

In Zukovsky’s own words, the Ridenour clarinets are not like buffet or Yamaha at all. They are something entirely different and are very special. And personally I couldn’t agree more.

Has anyone else had luck with his G1? I know the G1 is actually no longer in production. Keep in mind I only tried one libertas and one G1 and one 576. All three I found better than any r13 or Yamaha I tried based on my playing preferences. I tried them with a vandoren M30 13 with a legere signature 3 1/2, vandoren blue box 3 1/2 and a vandoren b40 13 with a V12 3 1/2 and signature 3 1/4. I preferred the feel of the M30.

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