 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: tkillian
Date: 2017-03-01 02:24
If you had $1800-$2000 to spend would buy a
1. Vintage R13
2. Modern ? Fill in the blank....
3. ?
Fyi, clarinet is my second instrument but I'm practicing and playing and teaching more and more
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2017-03-01 02:30
$2000 could buy an R13 that is more more recent than one that I would call "vintage". If you can wait, one may pop up that hasn't had much wear.
Steve Ocone
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-03-01 02:39
3. Several older Selmers (BT, CT and Series 9) and rebuild them.
Only because I like to play what some consider as 'junk'.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2017-03-01 02:55
I'd by a Boosey & Hawkes 926 or 1010, but I realize that's a non-starter for most folks in the US, so R13 sounds right for that money and that sound.
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2017-03-01 03:32
There probably aren't any clarinets often sold in that price range new that can compete with a good used R13. I did buy a "new old stock (NOS)" Leblanc Esprit that was in the case still un-played for just $1699 from a well-known music store on the famous web site. The Esprit, designed by Tom Ridenour when he worked for Leblanc, has a colorful, round sound and superb tuning (or at least mine has these features), "slots" into each register well and is easy to control. The Esprit was described as an entry level professional clarinet and it at least lives up to that description. It does not sound exactly like an R13, though for my tastes, it plays more evenly and has a nicer sounding altissimo than most R13s. If you can find one of these for sale on a trial basis that will let you return it if you don't like it, the Esprit might turn out to be just what you're looking for.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2017-03-01 04:54
Selmer 10G, and have it looked at/adjusted by a great tech.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: crysania
Date: 2017-03-01 19:10
If I didn't have a horn? An R13 from before the 1990s. I have a horn from the late 1980s and I wouldn't hesitate to get one from that era. It's a brilliant instrument.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2017-03-02 04:54
In your price range, I'd give a new Yamaha YCL-650 serious consideration--but I note that clarinet is a secondary instrument for you. If there's a possibility of your clarinet sitting unplayed for weeks or months on end while you're focused on your primary instrument, the non-wooden Ridenour instruments would be my top recommendation.
With clarinet being a secondary instrument, a case could also be made for picking up a slightly-used Yamaha YCL-450, and having it rebuilt to your exact specifications. That would leave you with more than enough in the budget for a superb mouthpiece to compliment it.
Post Edited (2017-03-02 05:05)
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Author: tkillian
Date: 2017-03-02 05:38
Great info. I play every day. Funny I am haven't heard "it's the player not the instrument".
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Author: TomS
Date: 2017-03-02 09:55
For $2K a new Ridenour Lyrique Libertas deserves a serious trial. Warm, responsive and in tune. Had mine 3 years (?) and had but one tenon cork and 2 pads replaced. Plating is worn down on some keys, but had same issue on my Buffets. The Libertas is a low maintenance instrument, especially if you have it re-padded with synthetics.
For a wooden instrument, I LOVE (and regularly play) the Yamaha 650.
Both instruments are very different, both excellent, with the intonation on the Yamaha better in some places and worse in other places. Wood feels different, vibrates differently than hard rubber, feels different under the fingers. I think the Yamaha is more free blowing then the Libertas and has more center and core, but not really bright or raspy as other brands/models, like the R13, IMHO.
I am eagerly awaiting the availability of the Yamaha SEVR in the USA as a "big brother" upgrade to the 650 ... or perhaps a CSVR, which is probably less similar to the 650.
For wooden clarinets, it's Yamaha and for non-wood, the Ridenour clarinets are unmatched. You can spend more and get less ...
Tom
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Author: TomS
Date: 2017-03-03 00:46
In our local semi-pro Wind Symphony, we have a Buffet Festival, a couple of R13s, a Selmer 10G, a LeBlanc Opus II and THREE (!) Yamaha YCL-650s. That's a pretty remarkable ratio of 650s to other brands/models ...
Tom
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Author: BrianLundberg
Date: 2017-03-07 19:39
My opinion...
I'd buy a Backun Alpha, a Backun Fat Boy Barrel, and a Backun Traditional Bell.
I have tried this combo and I like it better than my R13 small bore.
[ Edited - GBK ]
Brian
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2017-03-08 22:04
I played on a set of r13s from the 80s for a very long time and loved them greatly. The sound was very rich and even and easy to make. In the late 90s i regret selling them....alas life is like that!
David Dow
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Author: tkillian
Date: 2017-03-12 14:28
Played my first R13 yesterday. It was a "golden era vintage". Now I see what all the hype is about.
The depth of tone, the ease of upper register, wow.
Amazing. I'm buying one next week, 1968, refurbished. Etc.. ..can't wait
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Author: moma4faith
Date: 2017-03-14 16:50
I have helped students find nice R13's for less than $2,000.00
If I had the money and needed an instrument, I would be on the lookout for a pre-owned R13.
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Author: tkillian
Date: 2017-03-14 18:30
Yes, I found one and am buying it (for much less than $2000)...excited....it's been repadded, corked, adjusted etc.
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2017-03-15 08:11
I would say.. that the ridenour lyrique or liberates would be my first bet. (i prefer the lyrique because it is lighter weight than the libertas.. but both are nice)
Being ebonite you don't have to worry about warping/cracks etc. Especially as it isn't your only instrument.
And if you get his mouthpiece... the clarinet sounds wonderful! intonation is great. and definitely better than my buffet. tone isn't quite as pretty as my buffet. but it isn't far off. and for the price difference etc, I would never have bought the buffet at all, had i been able to test the liberates first.
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