 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Frank Mochol
Date: 2002-06-04 13:57
I play outdoor gigs quite a bit in the summer, and I just can't bring myself to use my Buffet. I double and I hate to leave the clarinet on a stand in the hot sun while I'm playing sax. Is there a really good ( usable) plastic clarinet out there? I've used my daughter's Vito occasionally, but it's a far cry from the Buffet. I seem to remember reading about a clarinet from I believe Britain called a Holwerth (sp?)or something close to that. The price of their plastic clarinet was the same as their wood models ( and it was pricey as I remember). Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks. Frank
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Author: William
Date: 2002-06-04 14:47
If it is of any comfort, I have used my Buffets in out-of-door gigs and concerts for over thiry years with no adverse occurances from "the elements." When the sun is hot, I do cover my clarinet with a towel for protection and, I do not play during rain--not even a light mist. What you might try is an older model Bundy Resonite clarinet. When those instruments first were introduced by Selmer, they were touted as the professional clarinet of the furture. Some symphony clarinetists even used them to show that they sounded as good as their expensive wood instruments. The theory, however, did not hold up under closer scrutiny. But, never the less, the Bundy Resonite was a well constructed plastic clarinet that did perform remarkably well, in its day. I think that in all of my years as a clarinetist, I had the most "fun" on my old Bundy, that I started taking lessons on while in high school (mid 1950's). Wish I hadn't traded it in. In my school band program, the Bundy clarinets were a "mainstay" for the beginners, but in recent years, the Yamaha's and LeBlancs (Vito's) were getting much better. Then, if money is no object, there is also the excellant "new" Buffet Greenline series which is constructed of a wood-plastic composite and impervious to varying environmental conditions. However, if it were me, I would look for an old Bundy Resonite, 1960's vintage. They can be played in tune and--with a pro quality mpc/reed set-up--will sound quite good. Good Clarineting!!!! (still playing my Buffets outdoors)
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Author: Blake
Date: 2002-06-04 15:34
For outdoor gigs I bought a new Buffet B-12 for about 200 and use my good mouthpiece. The feel of the keys is very similar to my R-13 and it works fine. I do fear for the good mouthpiece though outside in case I drop the horn and probably cover it more often than I do indoors The B-12 also made a nice backup for when my R-13 was in the shop. The B-12 is not made of shiny plastic so it "looks" more like wood and I bet the others won't even notice that youre not playing on your good horn. I tried out 10 of them at the store like I would a good wood horn. I was suprised at the varience in sound quality and production and intonation. For the price I paid.. I couldnt justify paying 100 to 150 plus repairs/repadding for a used one on Ebay. Blake
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Author: Paul
Date: 2002-06-04 16:10
When I first started to play again I bought a cheap plastic clarinet but had that horrible jr. high sound. Then, not only did I change my mouthpiece I also replaced my plastic barrel with a Buffet wood barrel. Matching a custom mouthpiece with a wood Buffet barrel made my plastic clarinet sound and ease of play 98% close to my new all wood Selmer 10IIS. Now, just replacing the mouthpiece by it self only improve my tone just a bit. But together I was amazed. Paul
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Author: Dee
Date: 2002-06-04 16:21
There is also the Buffet Greenline if you don't want to go with a student grade instrument.
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Author: michael
Date: 2002-06-04 17:07
Sounds like you are looking for Howarth's in London (www.howarth.uk.com), although I don't think they do a composite instrument now. Buffet Greenline is the obvious answer.
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Author: Marge
Date: 2002-06-04 18:09
Blake,
So where did you get a new Buffet B-12 for $200?
Marge
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-06-04 18:14
The Howarth clarinet page at http://www.howarth.uk.com/howclpr.htm says: "Howarth clarinets and barrels are also available in Anatone© with silver plated keys. Anatone© is a specially developed high-density polymer with exceptional acoustic qualities."
I played several Howarths, in grenadilla, rosewood and Anatone, at the ClarinetFest in Columbus a few years ago. There was no loss of quality with the Anatone instrument. The consensus of people who tried Howarths was that they were good, but not quite on the level of the big 4. Given the choice, if only because I play Buffet, I'd go with the Greenline for outdoor use. I tried several Festival Greenlines about 6 months ago that were excellent.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2002-06-04 22:13
i play outside gigs in florida in very adverse weather conds. i too will not bring my self to use my good wood clarinets so i began to experiment with alternatives. i first tried metal clarinets.project like crazy but sound tinny. then i stumbled onto older hard rubber clarinets (not plastic!) first i got a conn but its intonation is suspect so i bought something called the pruefer silver throat on ebay for $35. this horn sports a coin silver lining in the uper joint. this horn plays very well and can handle most pro tasks. this is also the most powerful clarinet i have ever played and is a preimer jazz horn. i dont think i was desighned to be a jazz horn but it shure packs a punch. i bought a second one for 40$ in mint condition and see them from time to time on ebay. usually they never sell at all because no one seems to know what they are. i strongly suggest you check one out for your self
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-06-04 22:46
While it doesn't claim to be a "professional" clarinet, you might want to check out the Vito V40. It has some very positive characteristics that are in the "pro" category. Do a search for V-40 or similar and you should find a lot from Bulletin Boards past. As said previously, the only composite Clarinet buiilt today at the true Pro-level is the Greenline.
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2002-06-05 03:29
Greenline's have a bad tendency to break of at the middle tenon. Yamaha make a number of plastic models over and above the basic student model.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-06-05 10:42
Here in New Zealand Howarths and Peter Eatons are considered in the top echelon along with the big 4. But that is probably because we are not influenced so much by American fashion as America is.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-06-05 12:53
Gordon (NZ) wrote:
>
> Here in New Zealand Howarths and Peter Eatons are
> considered in the top echelon along with the big 4. But that
> is probably because we are not influenced so much by American
> fashion as America is.
No - it appears as if you are influenced by British fashion as Britain (and her former colonies and protectorates) are ...
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Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-06-05 13:43
Nothing feels like a nice clarinet! I suggest that you try a Vito, Buffet B-12 or older plastic Evette Schaeffer or a Yamaha with a good quality Mpc. You can get a nice, used one and then invest $$ into a second mouthpiece so that if you drop it you won't miss your favorite mpc. You could also try putting a nice barrel on the plastic instrument. As for oboists...none that I know would even consider taking their concert wooden oboes outdoors!
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-06-05 16:34
Used plastic Bundys are good professional clarinets
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Author: jim lande
Date: 2002-06-06 00:33
>Author: Mark Charette (---.ford.com)
>Date: 06-05-02 08:53
> Gordon (NZ) wrote:
>>
>> Here in New Zealand Howarths and Peter Eatons are
>> considered in the top echelon along with the big 4. But that
>> is probably because we are not influenced so much by American
>> fashion as America is.
> No - it appears as if you are influenced by British fashion as Britain (and her former
> colonies and protectorates) are ...
Gordon, in NZ is the Rolls the top of the line car or the Mercedes or what?
What are the fav. sports cars. (Anything by MG?)
And who is the favorite James Bond? Sean Connery (like in the U.S.) or Roger Moore (like in U.K) ((just a guess))
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-06-06 11:45
No, I don't think so Mark. That ended decades ago.
Jim I'm not enough preoccupied with top cars and James Bonds to know.
We are quite likely to look at cars with a realistic view.
A couple of years ago a local guy bought a new Rolls Silver Star (?). He found dozens of faults in it and wanted his money back. He was led to believe by the sales outlet that this vehicle was the pinnacle of perfection, and found it was not. Even if the faults were corrected he could never subscribe in his mind to the illusion. He wanted his money back and under fair trading laws was possibly entitled to it. I don't know what the legal outcome was.
We have a very wide variety of vehicles here, and if there is a shortage from one particular country it is quite likely Britain.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-06-06 15:16
Gordon (NZ) wrote:
>
> No, I don't think so Mark.
Considering your sweeping generalizations of America I was just wondering ...
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Author: dAVID dOW
Date: 2002-06-06 16:16
Actually America has a wide open market and product from a variety of manufacturers! Yamaha, Leblanc, Selmer, Amati, Buffet Crampon, Louis Rossi, Schrieber, Eaton, Howarth are all known of and available, in fact Howarth has sent freinds of mine clarinets by mail no charge just to try!
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-06-06 16:52
My vote would go to older hard-rubber clarinets --- my 'orchestra' Bb/A set is a pair of semi-matched 1940s-50s (I think) vintage Couesnon hard-rubber clarinets -- sound terrific and no worries about cracking in extremes of temperature and/or humidity.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-06-07 13:06
ark, what was the perceived "sweeping generalization":
"In New Zealand Howarths and Peter Eatons are considered in the top echelon along with the big 4."
or
"NZ is probably not influenced so much by American fashion as America is."
or the implication that there exist fashion in America regards choice of clarinet.
Is there no element of 'fashion' that makes Buffet so popular in America. Many posters in the past have said or implied this in a variety of ways. That's where I picked it up from. Yes, it may well be a generalization, but there is nothing wrong with a generalization if it is based on observable truth, providing it is not made out to be a UNIVERSAL truth applying to individuals in the group generalized, and I certainly did not mean to imply that. I hope you did not infer that.
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-06-07 13:28
I once knew a guy who owned a Rolls and it broke down one day. He phoned Rolls and they said Rolls never broke down but they would send someone out anyway. Opinions are like xxxxxxxx, everyone's got one! (x's are for "clarinets"..yeh)
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Author: Heinz Bloch
Date: 2002-06-16 14:31
The American sound was created by Chedville(a frenchman in the USA) and a Moravian(Freank Kaspar). This in the world of mouthpieces. As far as I know I don't think Americans produce pro model instruments and they rely primarily on french clarinets.
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