Author: gwie
Date: 2021-08-19 20:27
I played the CSG from 2007-2017, with some crossover with the CSVR from 2017 onwards, and now just the CSVR.
I've always liked the CSG, because it has a different sound than the R-13 and clones. There is a quality of overtone resonance that I found incredibly appealing when I first tried it out at ClarinetFest Vancouver, especially the A clarinet, and I am really grateful to Tomoji Hirakata and Dr. Justin O'Dell for spending time to answer my questions about the instrument. A former student of mine had acquired a set of CSG's but found them different enough from Buffet to warrant a switch back; I handed them by Brannen-customized set of R-13's and never looked back. Later on, I acquired a set of used CSG2's, with the extra LH Eb/Ab lever and the low E/F resonance thumb key, and used them through 2019. That set went to one of my conducting students.
Especially with the CSG2, when paired with the Zoom barrels that I preferred for playing in orchestra, on recordings they instrument cuts through the ensemble very easily, although it doesn't seem that way when sitting/playing it. A few people tend to characterize it as a "dark vs. bright" thing but that isn't very accurate--the tone itself is quite covered, but has a resonant quality that is easy to distinguish in the woodwind section blend. It's this characteristic that I think some folks don't like--it is like violins that don't sound all that loud under the ear, but project beautifully in a concert hall. The localized result for the player vs. what the audience hears can be deceiving. Anyhow, I did want to try other barrels that did not exist in the short ~55mm length that the CSG's use, and the arrival of the CSVR was an opportunity to try something else.
With the CSVR, I feel like I have all of the good things that my set of R-13's came with, but with better keywork, better intonation, and more consistent behavior "out the door" without needing an overhaul from new. I had the opportunity to select them from a huge number at the Yamaha Atelier with the help of my friend and colleague Thomas Carroll, and I've been recommending it to students ever since.
Edit to add: I would be happy with either set, as they all served wonderfully in orchestra and chamber music playing, especially the A clarinets of both models.
Post Edited (2021-08-19 21:54)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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