 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: KJ
Date: 2001-07-31 10:12
Well, I got into my school's senior band as a 3rd but will be moved to 2nd in the fall due to what the band director thinks is, on my part, "extraordinary talent for someone in their first year of playing" (Yeah, I'm sure...) The repetoire is somewhat challenging (there's a page of 32nd notes all above clarion G in one piece), but I find it playable, provided that I'm using a good clarinet (the 1st chair's E-13, for instance, which is the only wooden clarinet being played in the school).
Only problem is, the choices of clarinet available to me at the moment are not quite as good. I own a Selmer CL300B (Christmas present) with serious intonation difficulties (everything goes completely out of tune past clarion B, the altimisso sounds like a dying cat--but I know it's not my lack of ability), an uncomfortable RH key cluster, and all sorts of other problems. I've hardly practiced since school ended, the clarinet is becoming more and more unplayable, trying to blow through the mouthpiece with a Vandoren 3 or 2.5 while playing in the clarion and altissimo is nearly impossible, and I'm beginning to lose confidence in my playing ability. However, I'll have access to a Selmer Signet of unknown year and model. Due to the Canadian instrument-ignorant (anti-wood) sentiments of my school, the Signet has been kept practically hidden, thus unused and unrepaired, for years because no one was interested in wooden clarinets.
I'm quite aware that changing the mouthpieces on both these instruments will make quite a difference, but would it really be a panacea for the all the intonation problems? I know that beginner instruments aren't always well manufactured, so I'm rather skeptical as to what the effect of a better mouthpiece would be. Regardless, I'll get a new mp before school starts, but I'm trying not to put all my eggs in one basket.
Now for the questions...Should I use the CL3 or the Signet? Is it time for me to sell the CL3 and get a new (wood) instrument (and burn holes in mine and my parent's pockets)? There's Grade 11s and 12s in my school playing Artleys and Jupiters (ugh) and they sound great, why can't I? Or should I bother getting the CL3 repaired, knowing that beginner instruments inherently don't like higher level repetoire?
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-07-31 14:01
KJ, what intelligent questions for a first year player!!! Really!
Have you tried the Signet that you mentioned? I've played some that were pretty good and could be much better than your CL3.
What about purchasing an instrument of your own? You might want to look into a good Buffet E-11. There are a few people who hang around Sneezy who have them from time to time for $500.00 or less. You might could pay one out on "time," or use a credit card and make payments.
A good mouthpiece is an excellent primary concern. And, keeping your instrument in good working condition is also a primary concern. Do those two things before anything else.
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-07-31 14:09
have you asked your buddies to let you try thier clarinets. All you have to do is put your mouthpiece on them. Then you can compare horns.
Best of luck.
i agree with Brenda-- you will do well.
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2001-07-31 15:57
Hey, check out the Signet -- and see if it's marked Signet Special or Signet Soloist, which are respectively, the "better" and the "best" models of the Signet line. They're decent intermediate horns -- I have a Sololist that I really, really like. I think they have a bit bigger bores than E-11s, but that's based on my impressions of playing my other horn, an Evette & Schaeffer (E-11 forerunner) and not on actual measurements.
See if you can't get access to the Signet before school so you can do some practicing and comparison. It may be as simple as a phone call to your conductor.
Also, have you asked a repair tech or a teacher about the problems you're having with the CL300?
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Author: Wes
Date: 2001-08-01 17:05
Good Luck! It would be good to get someone who knows clarinets and mouthpieces to take a look at the instruments.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-08-05 02:30
Maybe your instrument needs a good overhaul and proper adjusting. If the pads are too high or too low, intonation problems will abound even on the finest of professional clarinets. Minute leaks can make a horn play out of tune yet not be noticeable in any other way. There could be other problems too. Selmers are decent horns and you should not be having such problems.
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