The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2007-11-13 21:58
I just returned from the NCMEA convention last night. There were some exhibits but not as many as I had hoped for. As soon as I walked in, I immediately flew to the Buffet booth. I tried out two R13s and a Festival. I noticed that they played very similar. I preferred the R13 over the Festival though. IMO, the instruments weren't set up all that great and I just left the Buffet booth with a lanyard. I then went to another booth where they had another R13. It wasn't much different. Then I tried a Leblanc Rapsodie which shocked me because I was flat on it around 5 cents through out the whole clarinet when usually I'm sharp everywhere and I have a small bore mouthpiece. From there I went to Yamaha where I tried the 650(no CS's) and that had a very even scale tone etc. It surprised me. Then I saw an Andino by Rossi. I immediately flew over to try it out. I first I didn't like the keywork. The intonation was above average for most intermediate clarinets but as I started going pass Clarion G it started getting real sharp with the corresponding twelfth being in tune. Turns out I was the first consumer to try out the Grenadilla Andino in the South East (according to the Rep). Anyone else tried another Andino? They had the Polyblend but I didn't want to try it. What definitely captured my attention was the Cadenza and the Signature. They both played very nicely. But does anyone know anything else of these Andinos?
I'm sure they're fine clarinets just maybe the one I tried out didn't fit my set up right.
PS
If you ever get the chance, try out the acoustical rooms. They're great
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2007-11-14 15:55
I tried the Andinos at ClarinetFest in BC this summer. My mouthpiece would only fit the rubber instrument. To me it felt great. Not as good as the Buffet Toscas, but nice.
I thought that it was better (for me) than the Rossis themselves! I'm a little concerned that the barrels are not consistently sized --makes me wonder what other quality control issues they have.
As far as intonation goes, I don't have such a great ear, and the noisy demonstration room made it hard to judge much more than the instruments' responsiveness.
The (modest priced) Orsi&Weir clarinets were the stars at U-BC though.
Bob Phillips
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