 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2002-01-05 21:55
Recently beeing recomended alot recently, the greenline instruments are gaining alot of recognition. Is this copyrighted by Buffet? It would be nice to see other companies come out with crack resistant instruments instead of the crack prone instruments of today. Every clarinet I had made of wood has cracked with the exeption of my A. I take superb care of all my instruments only to have to send them to be pinned. My Festival is certanly a problem because the cracks keep closing up so it is sent back to me unfixed. I certanly do not want a clarinet that I have to worry about cracking.
I was thinking about buying a good plastic (hard rubber/resonite) clarinet or metal clarinet off Ebay and fixing it up myself. What brand/models should I be on the lookout for that play well but wont cost that pretty of a penny?
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-05 22:07
If you don't want to shell out the extra money for a Buffet greenline, you might try a better quality plastic such as the Leblanc Vito V40. That is one of the better plastics because it has the undercut tone holes and plays a bit better than the cheaper Vitos.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2002-01-05 23:37
I second Brenda's vote for the V40. They can occasionally be found on ebay for under $200, and are worth far more. They play very nicely, and have a brushed finish which looks far nicer and more natural than a high-gloss plastic. Though I enjoy metal clarinets and own two fine ones, I believe the V40 would outperform either of mine in most settings. (I also own a V40.)
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Author: Paul
Date: 2002-01-05 23:49
Joesph;
I just got a Yamaha 20 off of EBay for about $150. The C and B pad on lower joint required reseating. This horn is almost unused by previous owner.
(IMHO)
The intonation is better than my R13. I believe it is one of the best plastics out there. The keywork is pretty sturdy also.
I had a Vito for my outside/backup horn for several years until I played a Yamaha 20 a while back. Sold the Vito.
If you get the chance play the Yamaha 20. It may increase your choices.
Cheers,
Paul
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Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2002-01-06 01:47
Thanks for the responses so far.
On ebay I once found an Evette & Schaffer plastic brushed finish (I think) clarinet. Any good? I've actually repaded a yamaha and thought it was made pretty good but haven't tried the Vito V40 yet. How's the Vito large bore clarinet?
Is there any brands that are older. The reason I am asking is that I plan to set it up myself with cork and leather pads and readjust key hight and wouldn't feel right doing such if the instrument was already in good shape.
I am really curious about the hard rubber clarinets that were marketed as pro models back in the days.
I intend to use it as my outdoor/ to use anywhere I don't want to use my good clarinet instrument.
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Author: Rene
Date: 2002-01-06 13:16
The Buffet B12 is also quite good. it has undercut tone holes too, and plays perfectly in tune.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-06 14:54
The Vito V40 is a much more expensive clarinet than the standard Vitos that you see all the time. It retails for about $895.00 new and is recommended by lots of band directors in our area of the country as an instrument that really is more of an intermediate instrument than a beginner's. I agree the Yamaha 20 is better than the standard Vitos and has good intonation. But, it is not better than the V40.
The V40 is harder to find than the standard Vitos. But, if you wanted to buy a new one at a good price, call International Musical Suppliers and they'll give you a good price (under $600.00). They might even have some used ones at a better price. I've only seen a couple of V40s on eBay and neither were in very good shape. But, it can happen.
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-01-06 20:46
If you can find a 60's Selmer Bundy Resonite in perfect shape like I did, than you have Selmer's contribution to the crack-resistance of the Big 4.
What is with me and 60's clarinets?
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-07 13:53
I played a wood/plastic model Bundy for my first instrument. It was a good clarinet. I started in 1961.
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Author: Laura
Date: 2002-01-07 21:52
Everything that I have heard about the Greenline says that it is actual MORE prone to crack than the regular wood...I was considering getting one until I had multiple people tell me this.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2002-01-07 22:07
Laura wrote:
>
> Everything that I have heard about the Greenline says
> that it is actual MORE prone to crack than the regular wood...I
> was considering getting one until I had multiple people tell me
> this.
What have you heard?
Who did you hear it from?
Why did they think it was more prone to cracking?
Are they qualified to render a technical opinion on the subject?
Did they cite actual data of the Greenlines cracking?
There have been no reports on this board about Greenlines cracking and this is probably the most knowledgeable collection of people in one place that you will find.
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Author: Shawn
Date: 2002-01-10 15:22
Joseph-
I, too, have a cracked Festival. My horn took four years to crack. It is unfortunate that wood is so unstable, but these are the chances we take as clarinetists to have a sound that is truly rivaled by none. I would definitely play on some Greenline clarinets before EVER considering the notion of playing on a metal or plastic clarinet. I've been to the Buffet site outside of Paris, and I have seen them make the Greenline first hand. It is an interesting process, and at first I thought this was just a means of the company using left over "Mpingo dust," but after having my third of seven clarinets cracking I believe this could be an ingenious idea.
-Shawn
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