 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mario
Date: 2001-08-01 12:36
Hello:
I am on the market for a top-of-the-line "C" clarinet. I currently own a pair of Rossi and use an excellent set-up. My new "C" must live to these standards. My only constraint: the new "C" be in tune with a normal mouthpiece (in my case, Gregory Smith mouthpieces). That means a so-called "large bore C". I also want nice tone color, although the "darkness" of it is not that critical (I am planning to use it to play folk music replacing irish flutes celtic music). And yes, it has to be a Boehm clarinet.
Where whould I go? Would you advise having it made custom by Steven Fox? Is there a specialist out there where I should turn? What are the best "C" these days?
Thank you very much for your help.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-08-01 13:54
My only experiance is with the Buffet E-11 C clarinet. I am not so certain that you could do much better with a more expensive or custom-made clarinet. Mine is in tune with a Kaspar (Chicago) mp and a Chadash barrel. The tone is "brighter" than my Bb, but not as "shrill" as a typical effer. The scale is even from top to bottom and it is fun to play. Someday, as I regularly play LeBlanc A & Bb Concertos, I would like to try the LeBlanc Concerto of Opus C for comparison purposes--you might want to try them as well. Let me know what you discover in your search. Good luck.
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Author: Mario
Date: 2001-08-01 13:55
I already know about the fact that the big "4" have "C" clarinets as products. I am looking for "boutique" manufacturers that would have a "C" model of better quality (comparable to my Rossi).
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Author: Mario
Date: 2001-08-01 14:12
I am already interacting with Rossi and Fox. Is there anybody else who is a specialist in "C"?
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Author: William
Date: 2001-08-01 15:57
You should (and most likely are) be aware that it is not necessarily "who" makes the clarinet, but rather "how well" you play it. Good Clarineting, Mario, and let us know which instrument you decide on, etc.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-08-01 16:43
I played a Buffet E-11 C clarinet at International Musical Suppliers a few weeks ago and was amazed at how nice it played! Lisa Argiris showed it to me with a Chadash barrel and her comment was, "You used to have to spend $4,000.00 for a really good C clarinet--but not anymore!"
It really was nice. Nice key action, etc. So, I have to ditto William's remarks and put in a word of recommendation for it. I think her price (IMS) was in the mid $800.00 range.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2001-08-01 17:20
I have a Leblanc Esprit in C (cost about $2000) that plays pretty nice. I bought it to play folk music and fiddle tunes. It plays pretty well in tune with a Ralph Morgan J6 mouthpiece (for Bb cl.). I would think the Leblanc Opus would be a great playing C cl. but the last time a I checked they were back-ordered for several months. Steven Fox makes a C with an extended low range to D that might be interesting. C clarinets are fun to play, with a quick response and a comfortable feel under the fingers.
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Author: Josh
Date: 2001-08-01 17:24
If you're interested in "boutique" makers (such a cute term!), Patricola makes a great C clarinet. I'd advise trying that one out...especially if you have Rossi's. (I don't know what wood you have them in, but if it's their Honduran Rosewood option, you can get a Patricola rosewood C to match.) Good luck!
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Author: Mario
Date: 2001-08-01 18:22
Thanks everybody. All of you way that they are fun to play. I cannot wait to get mine. I did not think about the Patricola, this is great option. A "C" extended down to D by Fox is also an interesting idea.
I have heard only excellent comments elsewhere on the "C" Leblanc Opus. It is definitely another option that I plan to investigate. I will let you know.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-08-01 18:37
Mario -
At the ClarinetFest in Columbus a few years ago, I played a number of C clarinets - a Leblanc Opus, a Buffet RC, a Fox and my own 1928 Buffet. The new instruments seemed approximately equivalent, and all were quite good, if not quite the equal of, say, a Rossi Bb. (I liked my own C better than any of them.)
More recently, I played my C and the new Buffet E-11 C, which impressed me as good, but there was a noticeably bigger distance between it and my C than there was between the Opus, RC and Fox and my C. That is, the E-11 was not as good as the top-of-the-line instruments, which you would expect with it selling for under $1000. The intonation and response were fine, but it didn't have the depth or sophistication of tone you get for more money.
I don't recall playing a Patricola C, but I liked their Bbs.
Good luck finding the right one.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Sandee
Date: 2001-08-01 19:32
My Noblet "C" plays easily, generally in tune, with a full sound. I use a Vandoren B45
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Author: Sandee
Date: 2001-08-01 19:34
My Noblet "C" plays easily, generally in tune, with a full sound. I use a Vandoren B45
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Author: Gregory Smith
Date: 2001-08-02 00:48
If one can find a used Ri3 Buffet C clarinet (not RC) from the period of 1960 - 1995, I think you'll find a clarinet of exceptional quality, especially if it is fitted with a custom Chadash C barrel to go with your Bb mouthpiece. I use an R13 C (which is not made anymore) from around 1993. The smaller cylinder of the R13 gives the cover to the sound that the C clarinet needs from sounding too hard or brilliant.
This is what I use in the orchestra with a Bb mouthpiece custom fit with a Chadash C Barrel. I have searched high and low but have yet to find a C clarinet mouthpiece that sounds nearly as good as my present configuration.
G. Smith
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-08-02 02:03
It also has C proffestional models including reformed Boehm models if you search for a Rolls Royce class manufacturer. German Wuritzer may also have one.
It seems C clarinet specialist is quite rare. I would take Czec Amati C. It is cheap, enough for my fun.
http://www.schwenk-und-seggelke.de/englisch/index.html
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