 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Cindy
Date: 2001-12-27 05:03
What do you think about the Yamaha V? I need to get a new clarinet, and am looking into it. How is it compared to the R-13?
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Author: KevinS
Date: 2001-12-27 14:06
Cindy,
I've had my Yamaha SEV Bb for about 2 weeks now. I decided to explore the Yamaha line after speaking to the designer and trying several at ClarinetFest in New Orleans.
Compared to my R-13's (I have 2 different R-13's, a Full Boehm and a 1960's era R-13):
The SEV is a top line custom professional clarinet. Yamaha makes the horns with top quality unstained grenadilla. The R-13 directly from a music store is a standard professional instrument.
Price comparison: for around the price of a silver plate R-13, you can get a top line instrument. You should be able to find them new between 1500.00 and 1800.00. Noteworthy music, in Roanoke, VA is someone you can check with on pricing and availability. That's where I bought mine.
The Yamaha is easier to blow (I guess this is referred to as having less resistance) and speaks well through the range of the instrument. I'm really satisfied with the tone and intonation. It is easier for me to control and requires little extra effort to keep in tune in comparison to the Buffets. The Yamaha 4CM mouthpiece that ships with the instrument actually sounds better on this horn than some of the other custom mouthpieces that I've purchased for my R-13's.
What I like most about the clarinet is the sound. It has a big, round, dark tone with lots of overtones.
It's definitely worth the consideration if you're looking for a new clarinet.
Good Luck,
KevinS
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Author: Paul
Date: 2001-12-27 15:05
Hi Kevin;
Did you compare the SEV to the CSV? I've heard that the AE is the darkest of the their 3 pro horns. I'm considering the CSV but l am without one to try out in the great Northwest.
Cheers,
Paul
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Author: KevinS
Date: 2001-12-27 23:46
I did try th CSV. Recently, the Yamaha rep, Jim Murhpy was in town with the designer of the Yamaha clarinet line. They had several horns to try
There is a big difference to me. I actually tried about 6 of the CSV. 3 silver plate and 3 nickel. The sound of the CSV is much more muted and the horn does not respond as well, in my opinion.
Interestingly, the Silver Plate horns had a more free and open sound than the nickel. The designer pointed out that this is a quality of the Silver Plate vibrating more freely than the nickel. How true this is, I'm not qualified to say, but there was enough of a difference between the two to be noticeable. And, the Silver Plate horns all sounded similar to one another while the Nickel plate horns sounded similar to each other.
Anyway, you might want to give some of the vendors a call. Look on the sponsor's page here. If you can't find a Yamaha dealer, try Noteworthy Music. You can contact them by email to robert@rev.net
Good Luch
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Author: Paul
Date: 2001-12-28 16:10
Kevin;
Thanks for the detailed info regarding the CSV and the SEV. Did you select your SEV from several or are all of the Yamahas like peas in a pod?
Can I take a chance on just ordering one (1) and know that it will be just like the next one?
I too currently play a Buffet R13. It's tuning problems drive me crazy. I do control them to a great extent but, it certainly limits my pleasure while playing.
Thanks again for all of your input.
Cheers,
Paul
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-12-28 16:42
Kevin S,
Please, if you would, put on your skeptic's hat for a minute, and explain to me how the plating on the keywork could possibly affect the tone of the clarinet? I'm most interested in hearing your theories................
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-12-28 23:03
Paul wrote:
> Can I take a chance on just ordering one (1) and know that it
> will be just like the next one?
Nope.
> I too currently play a Buffet R13. It's tuning problems drive
> me crazy. I do control them to a great extent but, it
> certainly limits my pleasure while playing.
Paul,
R13s vary from horn to horn. You may want to look at replacing your R13 with another.
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Author: KevinS
Date: 2001-12-29 04:35
I agree with Mark. You shouldn't just order one horn to try. Regardless of the brand As noted, each Yamaha V series is somewhat "custom" with hand undercut toneholes, and the usual variations in wood density, etc... Each horn has it's own "personality", you should choose the one that pleases you best. One thing I can tell you is that with the several Yamaha's I tried, the variances between the clarinets that were similarly constructed (i.e. plating types, model numbers) were less pronounced than in other brands of clarinets I've played.
Note also, that you will find many, many posts here, including information in Sherman Friedland's Corner about the good intonation and free blowing qualities of the Yamaha professional horns. Just because it's not a Buffet doesn't make it a clarinet of lesser quality.
Don't just "replace your R-13 with another" because it's a Buffet. All horns seem to "vary from horn to horn" some more than others. If you're looking to replace your horn, replace it with the clarinet that best meets all of your needs and wants, including tone, intonation, quality, workmanship, look, "feel" and warranty. (not necessarily in that order!)
I've bought and sold several clarinets from the different makers, Leblanc, Buffet, Yamaha and Selmer. Each has it's own good and bad points. For me, the SEV meets the criteria to make me happy.
In response to Dave Speigelthal: Skeptic's hat would be appropriate.
Not being overly educated on the finer points of molecular structure of metals, I can't offer very deep theory. One of the points made by the designer as I was trying the clarinets was that Silver is "softer" than Nickel, and will vibrate more freely. I was also testing the V series horns against my gold plated 1960's era R-13. It was noted that the gold plate was softer still than the silver plate, and therefor, the vibration would be even more "free" than the Silver plate. I found the explanation puzzling to say the least, but I wasn't the acoustician/designer/engineer in the room that day.
How much can the key plating really made a difference, I can't truly say. I was able to "feel" and "hear" a difference between the Silver and Nickel plated clarinets using the same Reed/Mouthpiece/Ligature combination at the top end. Maybe it was subconcious, but it convinced me I needed to buy a silver plated SEV!
Kevin
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-12-31 14:00
Kevin,
If your clarinet sound is being produced by the vibration of your KEYS, then you gotta problem, pal!
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Author: KevinS
Date: 2001-12-31 14:30
No Problems Here, Dave. My horn sounds great!
Check with the acoustician at Yamaha for his opinion
Kevin
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-12-31 15:44
That would be like checking with the fox for his opinion of hens...............Perhaps you might check with "Fundamentals of Musical Acoustics" by Dr. Arthur Benade --- this is considered to be the best (and possibly the only legitimate) comprehensive physics description of how clarinets (and other musical instruments) actually produce the sounds they do. Unfortunately, there is a lot more work that should be done in this area, but there is no financial (and precious little scientific, apparently) incentive to do so.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-01-05 02:12
So I have l have now learnt from the Yamaha designer that a clarinet with keys made from, or at least coated with cheese would need less effort to play because cheese vibrates more 'freely' than metal.
Give me a break!!!!
Actually, what I have learnt is that some designer guy is full of ...... (shame on Yamaha to be associated with him!) and some people fall for it to such an extent that they start hearing things.
Or have I misheard what is being said here!
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Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2005-03-13 22:34
One can must not discredit the importance of psychology here. If a player feels an enhanced sensation in his or her fingers from the silver keys and that is translated as a "more resonant tone" to the beholder- that imagery will allow that player to play better on that horn. Even if the silver has no real effect on the actual sound produced. I play an unlaquered Yamaha Z tenor because It sounds so much more resonant to me than the lacquered version. Acoustics tell me that its probably a trick of the mind. It probably is vibrating more in my finger tips and I am falsly translating that as a better tone. Regardless- that imagery helps me to play better on that horn.
Cars are the same- a lot of time and money is spent making the driver "feel" the pavement in sportscars. While that will not maike a car drive faster it does help the driver feel more in control.
I do not view this as a trick- only as a bonus to the musical consumers!
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-03-14 12:56
Yamaha also has a large catalog of "B Stock" instruments available that are offered at a considerable discount.
The retailer must place the order, and delivery time is comparable to other new items... they receive some price break on the purchase, so their margin is slightly better (that's there incentive).
I owned (and sold) an SEv - A clarinet that was wonderful to play.
The amount of time I spent behind an A clarinet didn't justify ownership.
May I also suggest you consider the Tom Ridenour TR-147 clarinet in A?
They're similar in tonal character to the LeBlanc Concerto/Opus line, at substantially less money than the Yam line.
For most of us, the least amount of money spent on the less frequently played instruments, the better.
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Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2005-03-14 15:42
Synonymous Botch wrote:
> May I also suggest you consider the Tom Ridenour TR-147
> clarinet in A?
> They're similar in tonal character to the LeBlanc Concerto/Opus
> line, at substantially less money than the Yam line.
>
> For most of us, the least amount of money spent on the less
> frequently played instruments, the better.
Thats interesting....Tom Ridenour was the one who created the Leblanc LL. I guess he's on his own now. Since he was the one who got Leblanc in the clarinet market his horns must be very good. I didnt know he was still making clarinets
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Author: sinkdraiN
Date: 2005-03-14 17:13
Sinkdrain wrote:
>Thats interesting....Tom Ridenour was the one who created the Leblanc LL. >I guess he's on his own now. Since he was the one who got Leblanc in the >clarinet market his horns must be very good. I didnt know he was still >making clarinets
It appears I am misinformed....Tom R had nothing to do with the development of the LL.
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Author: jez
Date: 2005-03-14 17:55
If you're considering a new Yamaha, I'd wait a while till you can try the new CSG. I think it'll be available soon. I think it's a brilliant instrument.
jez
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2005-03-14 22:43
I have a wonderful Yamaha SE in A, not the SEV. Plays very well and evenly in all registers. Compliments the LeBlanc (also reverse cone bore) Ambiance.
jbutler
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Author: Matt Locker
Date: 2005-03-15 12:15
I own an SEV of both types (A/Bb). I purchased the Bb after trying Leblanc Concerto, Selmer ?, Yamaha CSV, & Buffet R13. I did not like the Leblanc, the Selmer was nice, and the R13 was very nice. I felt the SEV had much better tuning & played at about 99% of the Buffet. I supported the local store and purchased the Yamaha. It's been a great clarinet over the 4 years I've now owned it. It's got lovely keywork although it took some getting used to as it's very slightly different than other brands from what i can tell. It truly did seem to be a much better built clarinet than the others, particularly the R13 which had a couple issues straight out of the box. I also now own an SEV-A, recently purchased as used A-stock from WWBW. I absolutely love my A clarinet. It is a beautiful player with a gorgeous sound. I tried a CSV-A also but did not like the way it played. The CSV seemed to be a little mellower at the upper end but the SEV has much better response and overall I liked it much better. I'm really happy I bought it. BTW, I think the A plays better than the Bb
I'm a happy camper.
MOO,
Matt
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Author: jez
Date: 2005-03-17 11:31
Sinkdrain,
I haven't had a chance to directly compare them. I've compared the CSG with an AEV and I definitely preferred the AE to the SE but it's a long time since I tried one.
jez
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