 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kurth83
Date: 2025-10-29 10:20
Someone here recently mentioned Tom Ridenour's ATG reed finishing system.
I bought it and started using it today, it gives much better results than my meager skills did. And it's dead simple to use. It takes a real genius to create a simple system that works so well.
Aging classical trumpet player learning clarinet as a second.
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Author: Karen763Purvis
Date: 2025-10-29 13:35
That’s fantastic to hear! The ATG reed finishing system by Tom Ridenour has earned praise for making reed adjustment accessible and effective—even for those new Official Login Page to clarinet. It’s great that it’s helping you get better results with ease. Transitioning from trumpet to clarinet is no small feat, but tools like this can really smooth the journey. Keep enjoying the process—your musical instincts are clearly strong!
Post Edited (2025-10-30 09:04)
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Author: PutnamFellow161
Date: 2025-11-03 16:05
I guess this is the only thing he makes that is good. His clarinets, not so much.
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-11-03 19:36
PutnamFellow161 wrote:
> I guess this is the only thing he makes that is good. His
> clarinets, not so much.
Disclaimer: I have no financial stake in any music product.
In my opinion, and that of a fair number of other players, almost everything Tom Ridenour produces is of high quality, especially for its price.
I really think you should tone down your negative opinion PutnamFellow61 until at least it is not only more nicely phrased but better researched than a guess.
How would you like it if someone said, "maybe the reason for you disapproval of his wares is that you have no talent for the clarinet or music?"
Normally I'd never reintroduce such hate speech, exemption granted when self inflicted.
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=481743&t=481730
The ATG system has paid for itself, in my discarding so few reeds, many times over. (I think I was the one that the may have advised the OP here.)
Tom produces dimensionally stable instruments with evenness of play and pitch across their range. Without him I could not have afforded my "A" clarinet.
Post Edited (2025-11-03 21:09)
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Author: PutnamFellow161
Date: 2025-11-04 01:42
It’s not a guess. I played one of his instruments throughout high school, thinking it was a great instrument and that the problem was me. I got fooled so hard. Tom and his som dismissed me as untalented when I was complaining about their instruments on YouTube even though I sound much better than Tom on my R13. Then they ridiculed me when I made that claim. Not good people.
Post Edited (2025-11-04 01:44)
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-11-04 06:04
PutnamFellow161 wrote:
> It’s not a guess. I played one of his instruments throughout
> high school, thinking it was a great instrument and that the
> problem was me. I got fooled so hard. Tom and his som dismissed
> me as untalented when I was complaining about their instruments
> on YouTube even though I sound much better than Tom on my R13.
> Then they ridiculed me when I made that claim. Not good people.
>
>
> Post Edited (2025-11-04 01:44)
How is it you sound much better than Tom on your R13?
Tom, if nothing else, has a beautiful tone. Are you saying that you each played YOUR R13 and you sounded better, or that you sound better on your R13 than he does on one of his instruments?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
You claim that Tom (and his son?) ridiculed you and yet:
"My former clarinet teacher gave up on me for being horrible."
Just for the record you weren't also taking lessons with Tom Ridenour were you? That's not a joke or asked disparagingly.
Still more you wrote, albeit in 2020:
"that you were behind your peers, took two years off, and when you came back your "tone quality [was] still the same on [your] new R13."
One could only conclude from the above given a status of being behind your peers didn't change, that that same tone on your R13 was in fact not what, at least you considered a good version of yourself.
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=481743&t=481730
You draw conclusions from one instrument and guess the entire product suite's bad because *you* had a bad experience?
While it's possible you had a bad instrument how is it most people don't feel so poorly about Ridenour's wares as you do? I mean in fairness not everyone loves RCP instruments, but I've never seen people comment that they were anywhere at the substandard you describe.
I'm sorry, either I'm missing crucial details or something is not adding up that causes me to believe that you are unfairly targeting RCP.
Show us where my conclusions are flawed (which of course is possible.)
Forget that Tom's instruments are IMHO wickedly more consistent than some Buffets I've tried. Should I disparage Buffet because I had to try numerous instruments before I found one that I liked? Is it possible that those instruments I found inferior may have been in part because they were and in part because they just weren't right for me? Is it possible others would have loved some of the instruments I passed up?
Educate us.
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Author: PutnamFellow161
Date: 2025-11-04 08:13
I’ve seen many negative reviews about Ridenour clarinets on FB and Reddit and YouTube including one from Earspasm. My experiences with his clarinets aren’t unique. I sound much better on my R13 than he does on his clarinets.
I didn’t take lessons from Ridenour, and that post was from 2020. I was severely depressed at the time, and I blamed myself when I shouldn’t have. In 2020, my R13 was still somewhat new and so it didn’t sound as good as it does now and my embouchure wasn’t strong after 2 years of not playing clarinet.
Post Edited (2025-11-04 08:20)
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Author: lmliberson
Date: 2025-11-04 15:04
"Tom, if nothing else, has a beautiful tone"
To you, that is.
What is assessed as a "beautiful tone" is purely subjective, i.e., "One man's meat is another man's poison."
I prefer to use one of W.D. Revelli's semi-notorious maxims: "You must be able to discriminate between your sound and a good one." 🙄
We all develop (generally over time with experience) our own criteria as to what constitutes our preferred kind of sound. Nobody is necessarily wrong. Some will agree with you, some will agree with the OP. Leave it at that.
Everybody has their own opinions. Honestly, who really cares?
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Author: PutnamFellow161
Date: 2025-11-04 15:15
I don't think his tone quality is all that great either. I can do better on my R13. He needs to use bad recording equipment to make himself sound better than he really does.
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-11-04 19:25
PutnamFellow161 wrote:
> I’ve seen many negative reviews about Ridenour clarinets on
> FB and Reddit and YouTube including one from Earspasm.
And I know people who like them. Consider phrasing your comments as one man's opinion having tried one of RCP's instruments, who himself is not only no-pro, but his own worst critic as to his aptitude.
I can't respond to " He needs to use bad recording equipment to make himself sound better than he really does." I don't know what that means. Maybe it's a typo.
And Mike Lowenstern (who I like and buy from), a competitor not liking RCP products. Shocking.
A story for context: Mike, as you may know has done funny videos using odd objects as ligatures, lampooning this market segment. https://youtu.be/6ghMCiV8hTg?si=3Pqogjk0t6ajdCIH
Here's Mike also talking about his adoption of a Vandoren ligature and its merits https://youtu.be/4WfsgtRHzko?si=1nV9ilZXvVzTDbKk&t=336 so I would advise you to take the comments of any person, not just Mike, with a grain of salt who may have a financial interest. I'm not saying that he or such people are lying, just that their statements need to be seen with potential bias.
> experiences with his clarinets aren’t unique. I sound much
> better on my R13 than he does on his clarinets.
...not a reason to disparage RCP.
And as to your own aged negative assessment of your play due to despondency, you did mention that your teacher also took issue with your play. But hey, that's just one person's opinion; my original point.
If you watch the second linked video you come to appreciate Lowenstern finding the base clarinet because his public school teacher felt he was so bad a player that he had to get him off Soprano clarinet...and look at him now.
Post Edited (2025-11-04 19:36)
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-11-04 19:31
lmliberson wrote:
> "Tom, if nothing else, has a beautiful tone"
>
> To you, that is.
>
Do you think it bad? The man has devoted a good part of his playing career seeking to approach Harold Wright's sound, which was much loved. But again, you're right, that's something people can disagree with.
But as also you also point out, who cares. Not me. Either way, the point here was that I thought the stab against RCP products was harsh.
Ridenour's tone only came up for me in response to it's being introduced by someone else first as the relevant factor it is not.
Post Edited (2025-11-04 19:37)
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Author: lmliberson
Date: 2025-11-04 21:17
Just to clarify:
1. As to who cares? I wasn't referring to his products at all but these subjective opinions that really only apply to the person opining.
In most cases (if not all) on this BB, none of us have any clue as to the ability and experience of any of us (you and me included) to assess any particular product, etc. What I like and what I play are my own choices based on 63 years of clarinet-playing experience, 46 of those as part of major symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles. But they are quite possibly meaningless to others if they choose to follow the path I've chosen. We're all individuals - some who know what they're doing and many who don't. If someone would want to blindly copy what I use and emulate my playing (god help them...), I highly doubt that imitating me and/or my choice of equipment (or anyone else's) would bring similar results, good or bad.
2. As to my opinion (uh-oh, I used that word! 😱) of Mr. Ridenour's sound? I don't make it a point to speak of other players except to my own friends and colleagues and only if directly asked. Sorry, but I don't know you and you're not my friend or a colleague. So, most often, I refrain from answering - such as is with your question. If you believe he sounds like Harold Wright (or approaches it), that's great.
My thoughts - or opinions - as to someone's else's sound, their playing, their music-making, etc. are only important to me in how I approach my own playing - what I like and what I choose to avoid. If you can't seek your own path as a musician you simply become stale and/or imitative.
And, as opposed to both you and the OP, I have not offered any thoughts on that particular subject. It simply becomes fodder for gossip.
It's not that I'm sitting on the proverbial fence - it's that, in the end, it's ultimately just not that important.
Well, to me.
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-11-04 22:07
lmliberson wrote:
> Just to clarify:
>
> 1. As to who cares? I wasn't referring to his products at all
> but these subjective opinions that really only apply to the
> person opining.
That you realize to take the opinions of people on the bboard with a grain of salt, be it because it's just one person's opinion or based on their proficiency at play or judgement doesn't mean that such opinions can't negative effect people's livelihoods.
Now make no mistake, an honestly poor product brough to light, that's fair game.
>
> In most cases (if not all) on this BB, none of us have any clue
> as to the ability and experience of any of us (you and me
> included) to assess any particular product, etc.
True, but the individual presenting that opinion was quite clear on his own inadequacy, albeit said (again at his own admission) during a point of despondency and several years ago at that (much that his recent criticisms of RCP still exist: this thread not the first.)
And again, to the extent that was just his negatively biased opinion of himself, he reported some teacher of his also left wanting more or his play. But I admit to have 0 context there.
Ridenour makes quality product, not some cryogenically enhanced ligature metal that forms the butt of jokes. A pro should temper negative reviews, let a self proclaimed (once?) remedial player looking to blame equipment.
> What I like and what I play are my own choices based on 63 years of
> clarinet-playing experience, 46 of those as part of major
> symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles.
Sounds good. It also sounds like you're not only light years more proficient than the individual who put down RCP but you're also less likely to be so openly judgmental. Thanks, that's sort of my point.
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Author: lmliberson
Date: 2025-11-04 22:36
Well, I’m not commenting directly on anyone’s opinion, yours or the OP. However, I would like to think (perhaps incorrectly?) that when someone makes comments about a product or player or whatever that those who read such comments might ponder what is being written somewhat critically? If ya don’t think, what’s the point of reading.
There’s plenty on these pages that I would consider pure drivel (is there impure drivel?). It’s whether or not this can be be discerned by the reader. Back in the day, I recall reading in the original Clarinet magazine (the small one published in the 1950’s) suggesting that if one hung a string inside the bore of the Bb it would convert it into an A. Okay….well, now we hear how AI can evaluate one’s playing. Good luck with that. It’s mind-boggling (to me, anyway) what some people buy into. Critical thinking - and, perhaps, a wise teacher?
And, btw, I can be very judgmental. Just not here. Well, until I have a weak moment…
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Author: kdk
Date: 2025-11-04 23:24
lmliberson wrote:
> There’s plenty on these pages that I would consider pure
> drivel (is there impure drivel?). It’s whether or not this
> can be be discerned by the reader. Back in the day, I recall
> reading in the original Clarinet magazine (the small one
> published in the 1950’s) suggesting that if one hung a string
> inside the bore of the Bb it would convert it into an A.
I've read that, too, but it was suggested by someone here, a lot more recently than the 1950s. Apparently, some legends have long lives. I actually went as far as to get a piece of string and test the idea. Apparently, I didn't use the right string.
And I still use an A clarinet when needed.
Karl
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Author: lmliberson
Date: 2025-11-05 00:09
Yeah, Karl - my first clarinet teacher (a long time ago, in a galaxy seemingly far away) had a slew of those old magazines in his office which he gave me to read. I copied practically every hint in those magazines down in my primitive cursive (which is even more primitive these days!) to refer to later.
I still have them today!
My favorite: "If you wish to ruin your embouchure in a hurry, smoke a pipe or cigar or eat something on which there is a lot of salad oil. Result: the reed will feel as soft as tissue paper.....Cigarettes do not seem to affect the embouchure."
Which is why I never took up smoking cigars in junior high school!
The rest is history.
P.S. My high school owned a couple of Buffet R-13 A clarinets which I got to play for the last three years of my high school career. I have no idea if they were any good but I sure felt official playing them.
Thank god for that as I also didn't have the correct type of string...
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-11-05 01:56
lmliberson wrote:
> There’s plenty on these pages that I would consider pure
> drivel (is there impure drivel?). It’s whether or not this
> can be be discerned by the reader. Back in the day, I recall
> reading in the original Clarinet magazine (the small one
> published in the 1950’s) suggesting that if one hung a string
> inside the bore of the Bb it would convert it into an A.
> Okay….well, now we hear how AI can evaluate one’s playing.
> Good luck with that. It’s mind-boggling (to me, anyway) what
> some people buy into. Critical thinking - and, perhaps, a wise
> teacher?
>
> And, btw, I can be very judgmental. Just not here. Well, until
> I have a weak moment…
Obviously that's just insane, but if one did believe that... Backun has a barrel to try to sell you:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IzU0CreE6To
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: PutnamFellow161
Date: 2025-11-05 04:23
SecondTry wrote:
> PutnamFellow161 wrote:
>
> > I’ve seen many negative reviews about Ridenour clarinets
> on
> > FB and Reddit and YouTube including one from Earspasm.
>
> And I know people who like them. Consider phrasing your
> comments as one man's opinion having tried one of RCP's
> instruments, who himself is not only no-pro, but his own worst
> critic as to his aptitude.
>
> I can't respond to " He needs to use bad recording
> equipment to make himself sound better than he really
> does." I don't know what that means. Maybe it's a typo.
>
> And Mike Lowenstern (who I like and buy from), a competitor not
> liking RCP products. Shocking.
>
> A story for context: Mike, as you may know has done funny
> videos using odd objects as ligatures, lampooning this market
> segment.
> https://youtu.be/6ghMCiV8hTg?si=3Pqogjk0t6ajdCIH
>
> Here's Mike also talking about his adoption of a Vandoren
> ligature and its merits
> https://youtu.be/4WfsgtRHzko?si=1nV9ilZXvVzTDbKk&t=336
> so I would advise you to take the comments of any person, not
> just Mike, with a grain of salt who may have a financial
> interest. I'm not saying that he or such people are lying,
> just that their statements need to be seen with potential
> bias.
>
> > experiences with his clarinets aren’t unique. I sound much
> > better on my R13 than he does on his clarinets.
>
> ...not a reason to disparage RCP.
>
> And as to your own aged negative assessment of your play due to
> despondency, you did mention that your teacher also took issue
> with your play. But hey, that's just one person's opinion; my
> original point.
>
> If you watch the second linked video you come to appreciate
> Lowenstern finding the base clarinet because his public school
> teacher felt he was so bad a player that he had to get him off
> Soprano clarinet...and look at him now.
>
>
> Post Edited (2025-11-04 19:36)
My teacher had issue with my tone quality which was affected by the Ridenour clarinet. If I had an R13 instead, he would have called me his most talented student.
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-11-05 06:08
PutnamFellow161 wrote:
>
> My teacher had issue with my tone quality which was affected by
> the Ridenour clarinet. If I had an R13 instead, he would have
> called me his most talented student.
Owning both makes of instruments and having tried many from each, the only conclusion I can draw from this is that you weren't the only one deficient in skill here, so was your teacher.
I can get that one instrument may play better than the other, but the difference your describe doesn't comport with reality.
Either the teacher tried (which he should have) your instrument and couldn't reproduce your problems, suggesting it you not the instrument, or he did reproduce the problems and would be absurd in wanting to drop a student whose deficiencies weren't you, the student's fault, (making him a jerk) or he didn't try the instrument and assumed the problem was with you, which makes him a jerk.
Did he at least test that the instrument properly sealed?
(During Covid I could spray an instrument to prevent disease transmission.)
You had others try the RCP clarinet, yes? Where there structural defects that others could produce?
Something is not adding up here. Tom would not send an instrument out the door that he didn't personally set up and play test first. Was it damaged in shipment somehow?
Post Edited (2025-11-05 06:09)
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Author: PutnamFellow161
Date: 2025-11-05 06:32
Explain how I was able to sound much better on my R13 without going to lessons after high school if I was deficient in skill. My Ridenour clarinet was made in China so it was going to be a piece of crap in the first place. I never had others try my ridenour clarinet. My teacher thought that he could have sounded great on it which I highly doubt since I was never able to sound great on it. Nice try, Ridenour. I know it is you. Or you’re someone who is paid by Ridenour. And the people who say the Ridenour clarinets are good are terrible players. I'm not at all impressed with their tone quality.
Post Edited (2025-11-05 09:18)
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Author: PutnamFellow161
Date: 2025-11-05 13:03
Also, talking trash about Earspasm's playing ability on the Bb is insane. He is a fine Bb clarinet player.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RGUSEnACXc
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-11-05 18:17
> Explain how I was able to sound much better on my R13 without going to
> lessons after high school if I was deficient in skill.
You want me to explain the deficiency of RCP gear based upon the self proclaimed assessment of one player I haven't heard play? OK, I'll try, but I don't think you'll like it:
Either---far less likely mind you--there was some fundamental flaw in your RCP clarinet that you or your teacher should have addressed and been able to reproduce or your abilities on the clarinet were at the time very limited and you sought to blame this on your instrument.
Did the instrument always play, to your mind, poorly, from day one? Was it damaged in shipping?
> My Ridenour clarinet was made in China so it was going to be a piece of crap > in the first place.
I think I understand the problem here based on the above sentence. There is a fine line on the clarinet board between speaking the honesty people need to hear and not being mean, ready:
The problem is likely yours, not any instrument's.
We have been thru this before on other posts. First off, Chinese products are NOT universally substandard, and other countries products aren't universally superior. Rather, you get what you pay for, and Tom Ridenour has found vendors in China who produce his instruments with adequate quality, that aren't the "shlockiest" and cheapest manufacturers the country can offer, but are still cheaper than domestic production. Every instrument he sells he hand finishes and tests and he has a substantial number of happy customers as evidenced by the people on this board who choose to use his instruments.
> I never had others try my ridenour clarinet.
Then it is not simply your skills at clarinet that I, much that I do not mean to hurt your feelings, call into question but your executive judgement. When you face issues with what you think is an instrument one of your first strategies is to see if others with skill at that instrument can reproduce it.
> My teacher thought that he could have sounded great on it which I highly
> doubt since I was never able to sound great on it.
My conclusions: either your teacher knew the problem lied with you, not the instrument, or is a jerk to assume it without at least examining and playing the instrument, or you have some cognitive dissonance here. That latter label can be hurtful when not at least accompanied with truth. Ready?
If you were a good enough player, and nothing was fundamentally wrong with the instrument, your abilities on it versus your R13 wouldn't likely take you from worst to best student in a teacher's studio. And if you were as poor a player as you describe, neither instrument would make much of a difference.
(Wait, did your teacher play clarinet?)
> Nice try, Ridenour. I know it is you.
Karl. It is time for you to intervene.
PutnamFellow61, I've been on this board for quite some time and don't show any history of bashing or praising one vendor's instruments over another. I've conceded my Buffet an easier instrument *for me* to play than my instrument from RCP, but again claim, with utterly no connection, fiduciary or otherwise to RCP, that Tom makes quality and affordable instruments.
> And the people who say the Ridenour clarinets are good are terrible players.
You have mental problems or are a troll. I'm sorry.
Let's examine the cognitive dissonance of your above statement. By your account wouldn't these people have to be nothing short of awesome players to offset all the terrible aspects you claim endemic to RCP instruments?
> Also, talking trash about Earspasm's playing ability on the Bb is insane. He is > a fine Bb clarinet player.
This is where I know, again, that you have mental problems PutnameFellow161. Here's a quote from me:
"If you watch the second linked video you come to appreciate Lowenstern finding the base clarinet because his public school teacher felt he was so bad a player that he had to get him off Soprano clarinet...and look at him now."
This serves to point out ("and look at him now") that Mike Lowenstern is quite the accomplished player. In fact none of my so called bashing (which wasn't bashing) had anything to do with his play, but rather how there is some disparity between one video of his that mocks ligatures and another that endorses a specific brand of ligature, that seeks to point out that when money is at stake, reviews have to be taken with a grain of salt.
I've expressly said I like Mike and buy from him.
PutnameFelloe161, I will leave you with some beautiful irony. If your problem to some extent lies in reeds, the very ATG method from the producer you bash may not only improve your play, but opinion of the company.
Karl, I think it may be time to close this thread.
Post Edited (2025-11-05 18:20)
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Author: PutnamFellow161
Date: 2025-11-05 21:43
Lmfao your English was so bad that I wasn’t able to comprehend what you were trying to say. “base clarinet”
I know it was the Ridenour clarinet and not me anyway so it doesn’t matter whether or not my teacher tried it or not.
The bad players I was talking about all had bad tone quality. I’m done here, Ridenour.
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-11-05 23:32
PutnamFellow161 wrote:
> Lmfao your English was so bad that I wasn’t able to
> comprehend what you were trying to say. “base clarinet”
>
> I know it was the Ridenour clarinet and not me anyway so it
> doesn’t matter whether or not my teacher tried it or not.
>
Wow, all my arguments, including the 99.99% spelt correctly fly out the door for you because I spelt bass clarinet, base clarinet, the spell checking missing that for lack of contextual misspelling?
You had trouble following that, let alone in context, really? Trouble sounding it out?
That's "the hill" your placing your fight on?????
Here's one of the bboard's rules. Go look it up if you don't believe me.
"No pointing out spelling errors - even in jest. If you have something to contribute to the thread, you of course should spell everything in your answer correctly - no need to propagate the mistake!"
If you couldn't follow me it's far more evidence of you lacking capacity here, not me.
> The bad players I was talking about all had bad tone quality.
> I’m done here, Ridenour.
So let's follow this line of reasoning here. All the players you were talking about, that being the student's of the teacher who broke things off with you, had baseline bad tone, but when you played an RCP instrument your lousy tone so stood out even compared to these students that this was the defining reason that teacher broke things off for you.
PutnamFellow61: it is clear to anyone reading this that your tone stinks, and I don't mean the one you produce on the clarinet.
I cannot stress enough that I am not, nor do I have any connection to Ridenour clarinet products. You need look no further than my history here to see that.
If anything, and I personally doubt it, fingers could be far easier be pointed at you being his competition given this isn't your first foray into RCP bashing here.
Post Edited (2025-11-06 00:17)
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Author: OmniClarinet314
Date: 2025-11-06 11:53
It's not hard beating Ridenour at making clarinets rofl
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Author: TomS
Date: 2025-11-09 19:28
Used ATG system for several years until I started using the Vandoren VK1 synthetics on M15/13 and B40-lyre/13 (miles apart, but depends on venue and my mood) ...
Also have several of Tom's clarinets.
But a really good cane reed is preferable. I'm too busy to spend much time finding reeds ... stopped playing in ensembles and now working on fundamentals at age 73!
Hat's off to Tom for his relentless work for the clarinet community!
Tom
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-11-09 19:40
OmniClarinet314 wrote:
> It's not hard beating Ridenour at making clarinets rofl
Really, your ROFL (rolling on the floor laughing?) OK?
It is a little harder beating Ridenour at making clarinets at the prices he charges, which is of course the only fair comparison.
Is that less funny?
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Author: OmniClarinet314
Date: 2025-11-10 23:14
An E11 is better than any of his clarinets
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-11-11 01:25
OmniClarinet314, PutnamFellow, ClarinetGod... all the same person probably with a multiple personality disorder.
Can't back up anything he says and just loves to poke fun at Ridenour.
It's unfortunate that this forum's outdated technology doesn't do well at blocking your IP because I know that Dave Charette has done this multiple times.
You claim you were depressed and blamed yourself when you shouldn't have? I think someone gave you some happy pills and then you decided to deflect on anyone and everyone.
Now, when you say that everyone who plays a Ridenour would sound better on any other clarinet... here's Bob Straka playing on a Ridenour (although with Brad Behn mouthpiece and adjustable barrel).
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Ej1IxPdYIt8
Oh, and I'm sending this thread to Dave Charette again.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: Slowoldman
Date: 2025-11-11 02:36
Whether this is a disagreement that has gone off the rails, or trolling that's drawn a crowd, I agree that it may be time to close this thread. It seems to have gone completely away from the original topic.
Amateur musician, retired physician
Delaware Valley Wind Symphony, clarinet 1
Bucks County Symphony Orchestra, clarinet 2 (sub)
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Author: DougR
Date: 2025-11-11 02:48
I have less than no interest in getting into a flame war about Tom Ridenour's products. I'll simply say I was turned on to his ATG system by a top player in the NYC market (including NY Philharmonic and Metropolitan Opera) who uses and recommends his ATG system. I tried it, and it works. I do resort to a reed knife now and then, because it's marginally more convenient, and because Vandoren reeds have improved so much over the last few years that they barely need any fiddling at all. But the ATG apparatus has saved me from throwing out innumerable reeds. Period.
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Author: OmniClarinet314
Date: 2025-11-11 18:34
I'm not impressed by Bob Straka's tone quality. I've heard high schoolers who sound better than him on R13s. Baptiste Amet sounds better than him on his RC Prestige. Actual good clarinets. Ridenour should just stop making clarinets.
Post Edited (2025-11-11 18:38)
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-11-11 19:01
OmniClarinet314 wrote:
> I'm not impressed by Bob Straka's tone quality. I've heard high
> schoolers who sound better than him on R13s. Actual good
> clarinets. Ridenour should just stop making clarinets.
>
>
> Post Edited (2025-11-11 18:35)
* Many people on this board play or put into their taglines the use of Ridenour clarinets.
* I venture to say that far less so advertise use of an E11: no offense to Buffet as it being their entry level wood instrument less targeted to advanced and professional players.
I also venture to say that this is so because many people like Ridenour instruments. If that's not you, well no one person can be all things to all people.
I found a video of this Bob Straka you mention on Youtube. I have no idea whose instrument he was playing but I thought his tone lovely.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ej1IxPdYIt8
Before you criticize it I'd suggest two things from you no less than that you've expected of others: like Bob come out from behind your bboard handle and provide your name, and second, put a video on Youtube of your play. Pray tell, why do suppose its he who has the orchestra slot and not the high schoolers you mention?
Given all the off the rails trash talk of Ridenour Clarinet Products (RCP) in this thread it is only fair that it be balanced. Here goes:
Not simply given the dwindling supply of African Blackwood from which to make instruments, (which as Tom points out was its originally chosen material not for sound reasons but the almighty dollar,) but the potential for wood to change its shape on an instrument (i.e. clarinet) already inherent to its design being a compromise in getting as many notes to play as closely in tune as possible, Tom puts forth reliable and affordable hard rubber instruments that hold the pitch and color of their sound, even in resistance across registers, while the player modulates the pressure of their air column.
Maybe how RCP clarinets fight back makes it less than your cup of tea, but some players like this.
That said, I am so sick and tired of people on the internet who, under the cloak of anonymity, present the worst versions of themselves that they'd be too chicken to manifest face to face. I'm not perfect but I try to act online no differently than in person. Again, to beat a dead horse, I'm not financially impacted in this business space.
If you don't like a product feel free to say "in my opinion" .... and why. But these one liners that trash talk a vendor are unfair IMO to their making a decent living.
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Author: OmniClarinet314
Date: 2025-11-11 19:46
I'm sure that the high schoolers can get the orchestral positions especially in a no-name orchestra like Mesquite. They all sound better than Bob. If many people like Ridenour clarinets, why don't more people play them? In high school, the only person I knew who was using a Ridenour clarinet was me. Everyone else was using R13s. All I see is hate towards Ridenour clarinets. I think the reason why E11 isn't as frequently mentioned is because they have R13s instead. A good professional clarinet shouldn't fight back. It should make it easier. I feel very unlucky that this prick of a clarinet teacher recommended a Ridenour clarinet when I was in 9th grade and that my bum ass parents weren't able to afford a better clarinet. Almost as if something didn't want me to make All-State.
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-11-11 21:13
Bob Straka has a masters in clarinet performance from Yale. His clarinets are stencils of Ridenours as they are final prototypes without logos. They're the Libertas II models.
https://www.rclarinetproducts.com/bob-straka-artist
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-11-11 21:20
OmniClarinet314 wrote:
> I'm sure that the high schoolers can get the orchestral
> positions especially in a no-name orchestra like Mesquite. They
> all sound better than Bob. If many people like Ridenour
> clarinets, why don't more people play them? In high school, the
> only person I knew who was using a Ridenour clarinet was me.
> Everyone else was using R13s. All I see is hate towards
> Ridenour clarinets. I think the reason why E11 isn't as
> frequently mentioned is because they have R13s instead. A good
> professional clarinet shouldn't fight back. It should make it
> easier. I feel very unlucky that this prick of a clarinet
> teacher recommended a Ridenour clarinet when I was in 9th grade
> and that my bum ass parents weren't able to afford a better
> clarinet. Almost as if something didn't want me to make
> All-State.
Bottom line: you need therapy. The whole world is out to get you and is against you: Your teacher and your parents. The cards were stacked against you and nothing is ever your fault. The notion of taking responsibility for yourself is so foreign to you.
And I know exactly why more high schoolers aren't using them. It's not hard to figure out the psychology behind buying boutique and high branded instruments - and no, it's not because they are 'superior'.
But your head is too full of your own victimhood and lashing out that I'm not sharing it with you.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-11-11 21:26
OmniClarinet314 wrote:
> I'm not impressed by Bob Straka's tone quality. I've heard high
> schoolers who sound better than him on R13s. Baptiste Amet
> sounds better than him on his RC Prestige. Actual good
> clarinets. Ridenour should just stop making clarinets.
>
>
> Post Edited (2025-11-11 18:38)
Bob Straka gave up his R13 in favor of the 576bc - the very clarinet that you blame.
From his 'bio' page on RCP's website:
Review of Lyrique 576bc
For as long as I’ve known Tom, I have admired his logical and steadfast dedication to make playing the clarinet simple and affordable to everyone. Still, I was skeptical when he tasked me with his thirty day Lyrique challenge this past summer. How could a hard-rubber clarinet possibly compete with my R13, especially one costing less than the basic E11 model? I have played R13’s for thirty-eight years and felt that I owned a gem. In retrospect, I have tried and rejected far more Buffets for myself as well as my students than I ever recommended. While I’m sure there are some really great ones still available, they are difficult to come across or be able to afford for all but the greatest artists.
After the initial three-four days of getting used to the feel of the 576, I began to realize just how much less effort it took to make great music on it. The Lyrique allows me to shape beautiful phrases with accurate intonation. Denying my biggest doubt, I am able to make the instrument sing with the same colorful resonance as my R13. Technical passages are much easier to perform confidently since every note responds the same from the altissimo through the chalumeau registers. The key action feels refined overall. My singular concern in this area is a rather short and steep throat A key which takes some getting used to and makes rolling a challenge. Also, I did have to apply Elmer’s glue to reattach the felt to the inside of the case.
When I did retry my R13 after playing for a full month on the Lyrique, it felt blown out and somewhat unwieldy. I suddenly realized how much effort I had been expending to finesse the intonation and response idiosyncrasies of my beloved Buffet.
As an educator, this has been an even more important revelation. My middle school students most likely have no idea how to correctly affect the numerous subtle response and intonation deficiencies of their mostly intermediate level instruments! The Lyrique clarinet will lift that responsibility from them and allow my students to perform to their best ability. I plan to recommend and use the 576 for all of my clarinet students beginning this spring, and look forward to enjoying the musical results in the future. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and craft again, Tom!
-Bob Straka, Masters in Clarinet Performance, Yale School of Music
My conclusion: You don't know how to play a clarinet nor how a clarinet should sound... and that... is why you failed.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-11-11 21:32
I'll just add that Tom dropped another video about a month ago with Crystal Biccum - a professional retired MILITARY clarinetist.
Admittedly, I bet some of the talking points were 'fed' to her... and budget considerations may have been the primary motivation for considering Ridenour's line, but she gives her opinion and a brief sample of her playing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koIfw8QjUCc
(I don't know enough HTML to make that a hyperlink. Sorry.)
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2025-11-11 21:55
Your story "miraculously" sounds like that of PutnamFellow161, except he made his All State's...
or did he.... http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=476110&t=476077
OmniClarinet314 wrote:
> I'm sure that the high schoolers can get the orchestral
> positions especially in a no-name orchestra like Mesquite.
I'm sure you believe that. I'm sure you're wrong. I play in some groups whose name recognition pales in comparison to Mesquite, whose ranks include phenomenal performance majors from places like Julliard who are forced to supplement their livings outside of music.
> They all sound better than Bob.
I think you mean to say that in your opinion they all sound better than him. I on the other hand know, it's not my opinion, having been around enough students in my day, that they not only lack his sound but simply lack enough time with the instrument, not to mention maturity, to learn the breath of orchestral excerpts needed to be a good player.
You know what's even more absurd, that the worth of a clarinet brand is hinging upon your opinions of one player of its wares.
If many people like Ridenour
> clarinets, why don't more people play them? In high school, the
> only person I knew who was using a Ridenour clarinet was me.
> Everyone else was using R13s. All I see is hate towards
> Ridenour clarinets. I think the reason why E11 isn't as
> frequently mentioned is because they have R13s instead. A good
> professional clarinet shouldn't fight back. It should make it
> easier. I feel very unlucky that this prick of a clarinet
> teacher recommended a Ridenour clarinet when I was in 9th grade
> and that my bum ass parents weren't able to afford a better
> clarinet. Almost as if something didn't want me to make
> All-State.
A story: some of the finest clarinet players I've met emigrated from the former Soviet Union where rubber bands quite literally served as clarinet springs for lack of ability to acquire gear in their marketplace; forget about good reeds.
They became virtuosic despite this practicing their behinds off with what they had and would have killed for an instrument as good as Tom's.
OmniClarinet314: I wish you were around to have the great Kalmen Opperman as your teacher. Your complaining about your instrument would have resulted in him playing, flawlessly, with it, the exercises you didn't master.
Then, he would have become apoplectic.
Screaming, he would have said "this,"pointing to a music stand's etude music, " is your key to advancement!!!!"
His wife Louise would have come in from the kitchen he'd be yelling so loud. The student waiting for his lesson after you would have come into his studio as well thinking someone was being attacked.
Subsequent to this, best case scenario, you'd be warned to never take this attitude again if you expected him to teach you. Worst case, you'd be booted as his student.
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-11-11 22:41
Oh it's the same person. I have absolutely no doubt about that.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #4 reeds
ATG System, Cordier Reed Trimmer, and A.L.E. Reed Balancer
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Author: kdk
Date: 2025-11-11 22:41
OK, enough. There's no longer useful information being generated as it has devolved into no more than personal sniping back and forth among a trio of people.
Karl
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The Clarinet Pages
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