 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-06-17 13:12
I have sometimes extolled the virtues of Yamaha plastic soprano clarinets here. All these models that I see in New Zealand have been made in Japan.
I have now heard from source that I trust that:
"The Yamaha sopranos sold in America are made in America. The only time a plastic clarinet made in Japan would be sold in the states would be if US production couldn't make the quota required by sales. It's has happened a couple of times...... The plastic clarinets made in Japan and ones made in the US, up until about 5 years ago, were of about the same quality. But in the last 5 years the quality of the US clarinets has slipped dramatically"
So if your Yamaha clarinets are not made in Japan please do not take my past recommendations seriously. I have also seen the odd 'Yamaha' bass plastic clarinet. It had all the markings of a lower standard of design and manufacture I associate with Vito, and little of the quality I associate with Yamaha (Japan). Apparently these are not made in Japan either.
It beats me that Yamaha could allow their name to be tainted in this way.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-06-17 14:16
My Yamaha doesn't indicate where is was made, although it was purchased in the US earlier this year. I also had a rental last year. Both are/were superb. Now I need to get one that was made in Japan. Any way to tell the difference by visual inspection?
The same was true of Yamaha pianos, at least in the mid-80s when my wife bought her baby grand. She insisted on getting one made in Japan, for quality reasons.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-06-17 14:22
Yes, the Yamahas that are made in the US have an "A" on them in the no. on the label. The serial no. will have an A also. I'll look it up and see if I can be more specific.
I bought several of these for students last year and they were great. The American made ones don't appear to be significantly different in any way.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-06-17 14:33
I looked at the serial number of the one I currently own, and it DOES NOT have an A.
I checked the paperwork for my rental, and it showed a serial number that ended with an A. I forgot to pack the bar code label when I returned the horn. It shows it as a YCL-20A.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-06-17 14:41
Bill,
If you are satisfied with the instrument and the way it plays, don't worry about it.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-06-17 14:52
Dee: What, me worry
Unfortunately, I have this strong compulsion to compare things to see if I can find something even minutely better. You couldn't imagine what the pad cup heater did to me, can how many "devices" I've experimented with in the last week. Currently, looking at the Ferree's bunsen burner. I'll save the review for a different post.
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Author: Carl L
Date: 2001-06-17 20:01
"...lower standard of design and manufacture I associate with Vito..." Ouch! Gordy, that hurts! I have an old- and I mean O-L-D- plastic Vito that still sounds great and is bullet-proof. I haven't had to repair one thing on the Vito over the many years I've played it, in some pretty intense environments. I sure wish I could say the same about my expensive Leblancs and Selmers... Besides, don't you just dig all those groovy colors the new Vitos come in? Canary Yellow? Cool!!!
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-06-17 22:53
I was in the Yamaha band instrument "factory" in Grand Rapids not too long ago (a year? two?) but ...
your friend is partially right & partially wrong. Yamaha clarinets (with the exception of their top lines) are assembled in Grand Rapids out of parts made in Japan. I know - I saw it happening. So, if someone says thjat the parts are different - it's "hoohaw".
I think your friend is full of "hoohaw", too ...
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-06-17 23:23
The YCL-20A is the American made version of the YCL-20. I've play-tested dozens of these side by side with their Japanese twins and don't see a bit of difference in them. Likewise with the YCL-34A. You get the same warranty and you get the same sound, feel, etc. The YCL-20A sounded better and seemed to be better in tune than the Leblanc Vito of comparable dollar amount--so, what's the problem? Don't worry, just play it until it falls apart.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-06-17 23:35
Brenda: I wasn't worried until you mentioned falls apart Thanks again for the info.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-18 03:08
No doubt that Brenda is correct about the A prefix. My experience has been with Yamaha clarinets that are _also_ marked NIPPON GAKKI. These I have been told are clearly of Japanese manufacture and were brought back by servicemen, visitors, etc. I have had YCL-62/72/85 marked both ways (eg. with & without the Nippon Gakki stamp) ... they played the same -- well & in tune as Yamaha's pro horns are noted for.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-06-18 13:51
Oh dear, what a storm! It seems I have never seen an American one. I hear what you say about keys, Mark, but what about body, pad quality, corks (synthetic?), adhesives (I've seen nothing better than what Japan uses), and in particular, I wonder if the key posts are screwed into the body as with the Japanese version, or whether they are moulded in (as with most plastic clarinets associated with America - Yuck for maintenance!). And are the tone holes undercut as with the Japanese ones.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-06-18 14:28
They use the Japanese specs and materials to make the American version. The only difference is that it's made in America. Not everything made in America is junk. Some Americans actually take pride in what they make these days--especially those who want to keep their jobs.
As I said earlier, I've bought both versions for students and have not had any problems with either one. And, Bill, none of them have fallen apart--yet. Of course, you have to remember--kids don't take very good care of stuff. So, it's hard to tell sometimes how long things will last. I know the Austin school district recommends the YCL 34 for thei students because it's a tough, good sounding clarinet that can potentially last a student all the way through high school.
By the way, Honda makes cars in the states--the Accord being one example. BMW makes the Z3 in Georgia, and other models are made here as well. Toyota makes the Camry here as well. Just because it's a Japanese or other country's product doesn't mean it's made in that country. Do a bit of research.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-06-18 16:17
Gordon - <b>every</b> blessed part & material they use comes from Japan as far as I saw. The corks were already on the levers and tenons. The plastic parts are <b>identical</b>. The key posts are <b>already in the body</b>. It is an assembly operation only to avoid the taxes that are levied on finished goods. If Yamaha sold enough clarinets in New Zealand to warrant a factory they would do exactly the same thing - it's cheaper to build a factory and assemble the goods in a different country if the quantity of goods sold warrant it.
Many "Japanese" goods today are produced and assembled in countries other than Japan - the electronic gear is producted primarily in Taiwan, Korea, Malaysia, etc., where the cost of labor is significantly cheaper than in Japan. They institute the QA programs they are famous for in the countries they assemble or manufacture the goods in. Less and less is manufactured directly in Japan/
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2001-06-18 16:42
Beleve it or not Selmer PARIS saxophones are done the same way. The parts are made in their France factory and shipped to the Elkhart factory for final assembly.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-06-18 20:13
Many instruments are done like that. In fact, you would be shocked to know some of the leading instrument makers that "contract" out their work and don't actually make their lower priced instruments themselves. So, with the Yamaha clarinets having such a good repuation for workmanship, I really wouldn't be worried about them for entry-level plastic instruments. Buy from a reputable dealer and you won't need to worry.
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2001-06-19 02:05
Buffet for one has Shrieber make all their clarinets from the B-10 to the E-12.
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Author: Dave Beal
Date: 2001-06-19 18:11
I guess it's a little much to expect Brenda to be an expert on clarinets AND sports cars. :-)
BMW makes the Z3 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, along with the X5 SUV. But her point is well taken; we Americans can make quality products, we just don't do it often enough.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-06-19 19:22
Well, I stand corrected (or sit). Although my husband once owned a Z3 (the first year they were made), I got its point of origin confused. But actually, I know quite a bit about sports cars, although I'm far from an expert. It's been a hobby of ours for about 32 years. But, don't ask me to do any repairs. We sold the Z3 because it never failed to draw 12 year boys around us every time we went to the grocery store, etc. We never had to look for our car, just the crowd when we went out into the parking lot.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-22 00:39
Gordon said:
"I wonder if the key posts are screwed into the body as with the Japanese version, or whether they are moulded in (as with most plastic clarinets associated with America - Yuck for maintenance!)."
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I can't say ... if Mark C. is correct & if they are already mounted on the joints .. then I am not sure how one could tell. ??? (could you look & see?)
The _IMPORTANT_ thing here that Gordon speaks to is the problem with all the UMI Clarinets. The posts come loose/off/out & its not a good situation. The fellow who is teaching me clarinet repair doesn't like to talk about UMI & their posts on student Clarinets!
Best to all,
mw
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-06-22 10:47
Grab a post with smooth, parallel jawed pliers and turn the post anticlockwise.
If it is screwed in it will yield and turn, and can easily be screwed back.
If is moulded it will eventually break free and have to be glued back.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-22 15:50
Is is possible that in breaking free of the "hold", that the plastic body could break as well???
Thanks,
mw
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