 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Irwin
Date: 2002-01-08 16:02
I needed to get a backup horn for outdoor marching, etc., and didn't want to spend a lot of money. After investigating what was out there for the money I wanted to spend (about $250), I ended up getting a restored Malerne from Dave Spiegelthal for that price. It arrived yesterday, and I'm shocked at how good it sounds. In terms of intonation and tonal quality, believe it or not, it's not far off from my Opus. Of course, the quality and mechanical ability of the keywork can't begin to compare to the Opus or any other pro grade horn (although it's certainly more than acceptable), but in my opinion, getting a vintage horn that's not one of the "big 4" may be viable choice for a student or anyone not wanting to sink a lot of money into a horn. Of course, this advice is predicated on getting the horn properly restored by someone competent and totally reliable (such as Dave Spiegelthal).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-08 18:29
Irwin,
Great to hear it worked out with the inexpensive used instrument. Dave is an honest and knowledgeable guy. It's nice to work with fellow Sneezies when we need something. Hope it plays well for a long, long time.
Of course, we all know the Opus is king.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bill
Date: 2002-01-08 19:07
You just never know. I still have the plastic Vito that my parents bought for me back in the 60s. It has an exceptional sound. I still use it on those odd occasions when I'm not sure what the playing environment will be like. I am told that if I were to sell it, it would not fetch even $100, but I've spent more than that just keeping it in good condition.
Even worse, I bought a Buffet B-12 for my son to learn on. My old Vito by far the better horn.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2002-01-08 21:24
Ha! reminds me of my "first" clarinet - in primary school, was a plastic Yamaha - I loved it at the time, how odd!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Irwin
Date: 2002-01-08 22:34
Brenda,
I agree with you 100%. I've had dealings with several Sneezy regulars besides Dave (Gregory Smith, John Butler, Omar Henderson - Doctor's products, Brannens, Ben Armato, Discount Reeds, and YOU!, just to name a few), and in each case was satisfied way beyond my expectations.
And of course I agree with your comment on the Opus!!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2002-01-09 03:28
Brenda and all,
The Sneezy folks that I have dealt with are in large part players themselves and have a cumulative (we should figure this out sometime - like the auto transmission shop down the street that has a number of older technicians and says that they have 138 years of knowledge fixing transmissions) experience about horns, what makes them work well and not -- , and are sensitive to giving the extra measure to make things right for the customer (a really hard comodity to find these days !). For every rule there is an exception but the balance tips heavily in their favor (IMHO) and would be a good starting place for new players, (even some of us older players) to start their search for goods and services.
The Doctor (a Sneezy sponsor)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2002-01-09 15:23
Just as a lot of us "Old Timers" already know--new (or "young") does not necessarily mean better. Continued Good Clarineting. All!!!!!!!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-01-09 21:40
I, also, have been blessed to find Dave Spiegelthal and his "mania" (which I share) for the handiwork of R. Malerne. He has "Spiegelthalized" a wooden Standard Bb R. Malerne for me also a hard rubber Conn-stencil R. Malerne Bass. I salivated for a week over a R. Malerne Alto on e-bay but the echo "over my dead body" seemed to float through the bedroom. I thought about it. (Joke honey!!)
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2002-01-09 21:58
Isn't it funny how partners (whatever) often have no idea of just how important it is to spend thousands of dollars on instruments and music?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2002-01-11 07:56
Doctor Henderson,
If we could add up the cumulative years of experience available within this (comparitively minute) gathering, I don't think our combined psyches could handle it. I mean, compared to the exponential expansion of worldwide knowledge in the same time period this BB has existed, at least my tiny mind can't begin to imagine the scope of it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2002-01-11 19:17
I mean, with all the technological advances in recent years piling up with ever increasing volume and speed, can you imagine where musical instrument technology will be five/ten years from today? I can't.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-01-11 21:18
As far as clarinets, the technology in five or ten years will probably be about where it is now, which is about where it has been for the last hundred years or so when the Boehm-system clarinet started appearing. I'm sorry, I can't count the Buffet Greenline as a technological advance ---- it's basically a regular clarinet made from sophisticated particle board material. And modern CNC machining may have removed expensive hand labor from much of the clarinet-building process, but I don't believe the final products are significantly better than the equivalent clarinets of past decades. So, Ron, where do you expect clarinets to be in ten years? And, for that matter, why does it matter? Music is about art, not technology, and the clarinet is merely an instrument --- a means to an end, not the end itself. If the clarinet were to change significantly, such that it no longer sounded like a clarinet, then it wouldn't BE a clarinet any more, would it? So I expect we'll see further very small, incremental changes, some of which may become incorporated into the standard clarinet design, and many other attempts that will go by the wayside, as scores of similar attempted 'improvements' have done in the past. Wind instrument playing, after all, is fundamentally a 'retro' pastime, after all ---- we're trying to play mainly old music, which very few people listen to any more, using old acoustic (non-electronic) instruments. So how much does technology enter into the picture?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2002-01-12 16:45
I don't expect any revolutionary departures from the present design/mechanics of Boehm clarinets. Maybe Vito will offer more colors :]
There has been a lot more happening to the Oehler (German) system, from what I've read recently, than to standard Boehms. We might see the Full Boehm become more economically practical. Well, maybe not, I don't have any way of knowing if there's a wide enough demand. How many people know what a full Boehm *is* anyway?
CNC machining? It's marvelous but if some of the stuff Buffet is sending out is CNC machined, that's too bad. They need to do More hand work, not less. It may reduce expensive hand labor at the factory, true. The hand labor ends up being done at dealer's local stores. It's irritating.
There have been several attempts at making a better middle Bb. Maybe someone'll come up with something there. Outside of better pivot screws and such, I don't know what I'd like to see. Oh, I know, I'd like to see all those cheap things made outta recycled soda bottles and teapots from India, China etc., discontinued. I've seen a couple of 'em first hand; they're an insult. Two local techs each have one, one from China the other from Russia, I guess as a reminder that things could be worse :
We need to remember to be thankful for what we have and keep on playing old but never stale music 
Happy tootin', Everyone :]
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-01-12 16:51
ron b wrote:
> We need to remember to be thankful for what we have and keep on
> playing old but never stale music
And how 'bout some of the new, exciting music for clarinet? I grow weary of the warhorses - there's plent of <b>good</b> new music out there begging to be played at recitals. And, no, not all of it requires playing in the stratosphere or thousands of dollars in electronics!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-01-14 14:47
Mark,
I'd venture an opinion that the problem isn't the LACK of new, exciting music, but rather a lack of AUDIENCE wishing to listen to it! I personally don't know anyone, other than myself and a couple of other clarinettists, who would have any interest in attending a clarinet recital, regardless of repertoire. And how about the tremendous amount of superb orchestral music that's been written in the latter half of the 20th century? Around here (in the DC area) none of the radio stations play anything more recent than Rachmaninoff (not even at 3 am, when they used to play all the interesting stuff!), and the professional (and even community) orchestras rarely program anything except the "warhorses". Maybe the area where I live is an anomaly, but I have grave doubts about the future of 'classical' music, so much so that the smaller world of clarinet solo and ensemble music is but a minor concern to me. I'm still considering giving up the clarinet, taking my soprano sax into the studio, and recording a couple of albums of synthesized, monotone 'smooth jazz' pap under the stage name of "Davy S".....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
