 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Won Kim
Date: 2001-09-23 02:44
Hello everyone
I'm recently feels so good on playing the clarinet. Even though I'm not going to major it, I still goingto play it in the college and community for the rest of my life. (I'm a Junior in HS right now) I wanted to buy an A clarinet for school orchestra but fortunately they decided to purchase one for me (I can use it at least for 2 years) The deal is that I want to upgrade my intermidiate clarinet to a professional model. I feel kind of bad because I bought Selmer Cl210 just about a year ago.. and I didn't know much about what clarinet is really good. however I think I'm improved a lot through practices and lesson. And my parents agreed on purchasing a new pro-clarinet for me so that I can use it for the rest of my life. I personally like Selmer clarinet because of it's dark and deep sound. I think Buffet R-13 is the most popular pro-clarinet for all players. So I need a lot of advices before I purchase one. First of all, I want to know how much do they usually cost. Since I prefer the Selmer clarinet I want to know the advantages of Selmer signiture clarinets. I also would appriciate if you give me some informations about R-13. Please give me your best advice. This is a really big purchase for me...Thank you
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Author: Jessica
Date: 2001-09-23 03:09
R-13's are known for having a nice dark sound! As far as how they compare to the selmer signatures... well, play them and find out! I'm not sure how much selmers usually cost, but I know my friend bought her R-13 (I ended up with a Festival) for around $1800.
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Author: Jonathan from HK
Date: 2001-09-23 03:45
I am currently playing on a pair of Buffet RC and a Signature Bb. Perhaps, I can tell you something about the advantage and disadvantage of Signature.
Yes, Signature does have a dark and full sound (though not a powerful sound) and it is very difficult to achieve the same with my Buffet RC. However, because Signature is more hard blowing with greater resistent, you need to have a more easy blowing mouthpiece and reed (e.g Vandoren M14).
But the cons for Signature are many because it is not the most pupoluar instructments around you. Firstly, it is difficulty to find accessorie. For example, the barrels of Signature are between 645 and 625 mm but barrels for Buffet are between 640 and 670 mm. You can therefore hardly enjoy the choice of Moenning or Chadash barrels as Buffet clarinetists do. Particularly if your Signature is somewhat too flat like mine, you will have great difficulties to find a shorter barrel in the market. Secondly, you may feel alone when others are talking about Buffet but you have little information about your Signatures. Also, you are hardly able to find any CD recording in which the clarinetist is playing Signature. You may simply not know how other Signature players sound like. Finally, I think Signature in US and UK markets is quite expensive and even more expensive than Buffet R13 and RC. Think about buying a matching A clarinet in the future.
Having said so, there are some good comments about Signature as you can find them in Selmer's website or this Board. More importantly, musical instrument is a very much a personal choice and the taste is different from one player to the other. You should try some instruments before you make your decision.
At the end, if you ask my personal choice, I will say I prefer Buffet RC over Signature because it is more easy blowing and more accessories are available for experiment.
Good luck.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-09-23 13:57
For a full dark sound have you considered Peter Eaton or Howarth?
If you are looking at Signature check the low key pads. Are they sealing extremely close to their edges? Selmer has made large tone holes with pads & key cups that are simply not large enough for reliable seating. They may have corrected this recently.
What ever you get, it is important to get it well adjusted to correct all those not-quite-right factory adjustments. This can make a huge difference to how it plays. Most retailers probably don't do this automatically.
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Author: Jon
Date: 2001-09-24 01:41
I think R13's go from $1500 to $5000. I guess it depends on how many extras you get. Jon
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Author: KevinS
Date: 2001-09-24 03:51
Hello,
I'd like to give you my opinion on purchasing a NEW professional level clarinet. I currently play one of several R-13's ranging in age from 1960 to 1984. I like the sound they produce. I also like the fact that they play very easily for me. However, if I were going to buy a brand new clarinet, I would probably start trying out as many Yamaha SE or SEV clarinets as I could get my hands on. I was very impressed by the SEV's that I tried at the ClarinetFest. The intonation was impeccable with the Chadash barrel and Greg Smith mouthpiece I have.
There were many differences between the SE's and the SEV's The SEV I tried had a full, dark tone that really impressed me. The SE had a larger sound, and was a bit brighter, particularly the Low E and F, and the B and C.
Buying a new horn is a very personal choice. If you stick with the big 4, you shouldn't have any problems as far as quality and workmanship. Have fun making your choice!
Kevin
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-09-24 12:07
"If you stick with the big 4, you shouldn't have any problems as far as quality and workmanship".
Really!?!?!
I've seed disgusting pads. Disgusting tenon corks. Shoddy set-up. Pads (& cups) of insufficient diameter to adequately seal on tone holes. Ultra-thin Plating. Splits. Binding pivot tubes. Ill-conceived D#/G# lever-to-key linkage. Adjustable thumb rests like toys.
Associating quality control with new instruments is, in my opinion and experience, misguided.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2001-09-24 20:48
Go to a fairly big music store.
Bring a tuner, a pair of good ears and your favorite mouthpiece and reeds.
If you have a teacher with an open mind bring him/her along, that will definitely help.
Take your time, try all brands and if you can several clarinets of the same model. There is not really any better brand, and each instrument will have a slightly different response than the other even if they are of the same model.
-Sylvain
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