 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: chantal
Date: 2002-05-30 06:17
hey you guys, i was wondering, since you all seem like experts here and ive never been here before...
i have had my clarinet for 6 years, and yes i do take care of it...is it possible for the quality of the tone to diminish? if yes, what do i do about it?
also, i am thinking of "upgrading" because mine was a "cheap" clarinet, any idea which brands are the best?
thankyou
love chantal
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2002-05-30 13:38
The only reason I can think of for the quality of tone to diminish is if it develops leaks around the pads. This can be corrected by having a qualified technician replace the pads and re-regulate the keywork. (Actually, I can think of another reason, but I assume you haven't playing on the same reed all this time.)
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-05-30 13:50
Both comments are pertinent. Occasional maintenance is required on pads AND those DERN little cork "spacers" which are necessary for regulation. Also tenon corks must be leak-proofed and the bore and mp kept clean. I'm not a believer in the "blown-out" theory either! Don
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-05-30 14:00
Even new clarinets sometimes need to be "tweeked"...
Do you want to upgrade regardless?
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Author: William
Date: 2002-05-30 15:20
I think that what most of us think is a change in the clarinets tone quality (ex., the "blown out" theory) is really a change in our own perceptions and expectations of what "sound" should be. What may have been an accepatble sound 6 yrs ago, may not necessarily be what you are hoping to produce today. So, it may not be your clarinet that has "changed" but rather, You.
Rule of Thumb: The farther away from your brain that you get, the less important your equipement becomes.
Your brain has developed a better concept of "sound" and that concept is Most important in influening how you play. (Ex. the more we listen to the Chicago Symphony clainet section, the more our brains tell us to "sound like those guys.") The more we hear, the more refined our concepts of acceptable performance become. So, listen, listen and listen--so many sounds and so little time....
Next, in importance (after you have developed an acceptable and functional embouchure) is the mouthpiece-reed set up. Your mouthpiece is the most influential factor in "instant improvement" of tone quality and response and should be the next step in "upgrading" your tone quality. There are some very fine custom mouthpiece designers (Sneezy Sponsers) that produce excellant--but expensive--products. Over the counter mouthpieces that do well are the VanDoran and Selmer models, but you will want to play many examples of each to find the one that plays best for you (often a daunting task, even for us "pros") I use mouthpieces made be Gregory Smith and Walter Grabner, both sponsers and excellant craftsmen (and, they play "pretty good") For reeds, I recommend VanDoren V12s--but you will need to go through a whole box to find a few that will work. Then, proper preping and balancing may be required before that "perfect" sound and response is achieved.
Next is selecting an "upgraded" clarinet. Stick to the Buffet, LeBlanc, Selmer or Yamaha brands. Each company offers "student" (cheapest), "intermedeiate" and "professional" models. The main difference between the two higher models is money and quality of wood used in manufacture. In recent years, the intermediate models have been approaching the pros, in terms of quality of sound, scale and intonation, to the point where it is often difficult to really hear any difference between a good intermediate and an average pro. For intermediate clarinets, I recommend the LeBlanc Sonata and the Buffet E-11 models. My own clarinets are the Buffet R-13s and Leblanc Concertos--both "pro" level instruments (that have been "tweeked" to optimum performance). Also, try as many clarinets as you can before you decide on "the one" that is right for you.
Next, if you really need to search farther, are the custom barrels, exotic ligitures, custom bells, rabbits feet and other "lucky charms" that some of us "rabidly devoted" (some may say, mentally committed) clarinetists turn to in search of our own "perfect" sounds. Remember, the order of importance is: concept, embouchure, mouthpiece/reed, and clarinet.
But most important of all is your daily practice schedule and the personal goals you have set for your clarineting (and how dilligent you are in pursueing your "dreams") Any clarinet, mouthpiece or other equipement that you purchase is only as good--to the ears of the public--as you can play it. However, while a "pro" clarinet will not neccessarily make you into the "worlds greatest" by itself, it will help you sound more like You want to--so the investment in an "upgrade(s)" is recommended.
Hope this cyberbable helps--Good Clarineting!!!! and keep listening.....................
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2002-05-30 15:46
If you haven’t cleaned tone holes in 6 years that is definitely one of the problems in tone quality.....V
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-05-31 05:02
Sandra wrote "Even new clarinets sometimes need to be "tweeked"... "
Actually almost ALL new clarinets need to be. Fokr a start, very few new clarinets have well-closing and regulated E/B & F#/C# keys.
William your first paragraph is just what I was going to write. Well said.
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