 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: frank
Date: 2006-04-12 21:35
I just got my Chadash Bb clarinet today. I am expecting the A in a few weeks or so. So far, I am very pleased with the horn. It feels more resistant than my 1983 Buffet R13. Guy seems to have just improved and refined the R13 style of clarinet. This was one of his goals. I spoke with Guy awhile back and he said that players who are used to the R13 will feel at home on his clarinets. This is apparent. The physical makeup feels very comfortable and is very R13-like in sound. He made quite a bit of advancements to the keywork, such as: nylon adjustment screws on the LH C lever and crows feet, valentino pads throughout except for 6 cork pads on the upper joint, no bell ring or rings on the barrel, heavy silver plating. The clarinet seals like a drum and the finish is quite nice showing off the flawless natural polished grenidilla. Guy also gives a lifetime warrantee I believe for repairs, etc. Not too shabby of a deal.
The sound is rich and focused. Although the horn doesn't have a bad resistance, I prefer a tad more free blowing of an instrument. As I break it in, I am sure resistance should wear off a bit. The intonation is great.Was it worth the money? Sure! I think it will get more use than my rosewood French bore Rossi. Two of my colleagues recently got their Chadash Bb's and find them to be wonderful horns. The Chadash should easily blend with the "big 4". 3 cheers for Guy and his clarinets! The only disappointment was receiving the clarinet in a very sturdy, but unclassy ProTec case. For 5 grand, I expected to be pampered a little all the way around. But then again... I am not playing the case on a gig. 
Post Edited (2006-04-12 21:37)
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Author: clarinetfreak
Date: 2006-04-13 02:28
Dear Frank,
How long was the wait for the set? I heard there was a pretty long waiting list.
Good Times!
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Author: vin
Date: 2006-04-13 14:50
Just tell Guy what kind of double case you want and he'll get it for you. As of a few years ago, it was included in the price of the clarinets.
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Author: frank
Date: 2006-04-13 17:13
It took about 6 months to get my Bb. I am still waiting for the A. I am not sure how many assistants he has, but I guess that it is not many. Not a bad wait time!
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Author: Scotti
Date: 2006-04-13 19:31
I was very excited about these instruments when I first heard about them, and then they sort of went away, without much buzz. I was pleased and surprised to see in the liner notes for the Martin Frost Brahms Sonatas and Trio that he uses a Chadash Bb Clarinet.
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Author: vin
Date: 2006-04-13 22:15
"I am not sure how many assistants he has, but I guess that it is not many"
Probably zero.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2006-04-14 02:34
I believe Guy does the clarinets all by himself. They are wonderful instruments. I have tried them a few times. They are remarkably even and play beautifully with a great sound. If I could afford a set I would seriously consider them.
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Author: frank
Date: 2006-04-14 16:24
My barrel cracked yesterday that came with the clarinet. I told Guy, and he is sending another barrel STAT! He is a wonderful man to deal with, very kind and professional. The clarinets are worth the price. They are as even as a Selmer Signature, but have much more flexiility and color for my taste. I would say that his clarinets are well worth the near 5 g's a piece that he charges. Great product and service! It's a keeper!
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2006-04-14 16:57
Big manufacturers try to poduce their instruments mainly by automatic gears. On the other hand, small companies like Chadash or Rossi try to seek handmade.
I love my Rossi the more I play.
When I first found Chadash clarinet in Chadash catalog in some ten years ago, I hesitated to buy one. Now it may be a high time to try one since Mr.Chadash accumulated very much experience.
Mr.Julian Bliss posted that he ordered two sets of Leblanc/Backun clarinets by what he felt by playing their prototype models. Reading Doc's posting that proto-type model may be like a F-1 racer and that mass-produced one may differ (possibly far) from that, I felt Julian may have made a premature decision. However, Chadash's clarinets will be proto types everytime he makes one.
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Author: Sylvain
Date: 2006-04-14 17:57
Hiroshi,
As careful as Guy Chadash can be making hs clarinets, not 2 clarinets of his will be the same. He may not be faced with the large volume manufacturing processes, but he still has to worry about consistent quality.
I have had my clarinet tuned by him a year ago and I am quite happy with the outcome. I also had a chance to play his design and they are great instruments. In essence, they are what one expects from a great R13. However, Mr Chadash, like many of his colleagues and competitors, has the tendency to promote his design as the best out there and will be very unwilling to admit that the equipment you play sounds better for you than what he has to offer.
-S
--
Sylvain Bouix <sbouix@gmail.com>
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-04-14 18:44
"Barrels without rings.....cracks"
As far as I know the Chadash barrels have metal rings.... no?
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Author: susieray
Date: 2006-04-14 20:10
<Barrels without rings.....cracks>
I really doubt rings will prevent cracking. I have seen too many cracked barrels with metal rings to believe that. I also have Fobes, Grabner and Segal barrels, all without rings. None of these has cracked. Some pieces of wood are just more prone to cracking than others and it is pretty much impossible to predict which ones will crack and which ones will not.
Just my experience. ![[happy]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley12.gif)
Sue
Post Edited (2006-04-14 20:41)
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2006-04-15 01:56
Just something to consider; If there's a waiting list, does that mean that Chadash simply finishes an instrument and sends it to the person on the list? Doesn't this preclude a buyer from trying multiple instruments and picking the best one? Even if they can turn down one and try the next, isn't this process slow and cumbersome?
If it were me, I'd always want to try mutiple instruments of the same model. I think that is where the big companies have an advantage. As people have said, no two instruments will be the same, so how do you know that the one sent to you is any better than going through a whole group of Buffet R13s, RCs, Festivals, Prestiges, and Toscas? (restricted to Buffet, since that is the history that Chadash has)
I understand that's how it's done with many top flute brands, but I think the benefits and advantages of those models are greater than the difference in an "improved R13" and the rest of the market.
If I'm making a poor assumption of how the instruments are selected and distributed, anyone with experience is free to nullify this observation.
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Author: terry
Date: 2006-05-09 10:28
Zero assistants, at least any time I have been to his shop to have his magic worked on my 70 year old full Boehms (A and Bb). I played his Bb and A and fell in love, but cannot afford them.
1929 matched A and Bb Herman Todt Clarinets, Chadash Mouthpiece, Fogietta reeds, http://sterkel.org/clarinet
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Author: terry
Date: 2006-05-09 10:30
Chadash barrels have rings. The 3 I have and all those I have seen in his shop over the years all have rings.
1929 matched A and Bb Herman Todt Clarinets, Chadash Mouthpiece, Fogietta reeds, http://sterkel.org/clarinet
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-05-09 12:38
I have seen ringed barrels crack.
Even old ones
Those who make ringless barrels accomodate for the instabilities in the design in various ways. Choice of the wood that is used is also crucial.
Disclaimer...I make and sell barrels, mostly without rings.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: tomkinsonl
Date: 2006-05-09 23:03
Just to clarify: the Buffet barrels modified by Mr. Chadash do have rings, whereas the barrels made with his instruments do not.
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2006-05-10 00:50
Guy will sometimes make barrels with rings, but lately, the ones I've seen when visiting him at his shop did not have them. As far as I know, this is how the newer ones come standard.
For the record, while Guy and I have a mouthpiece business together, I have nothing to do with his clarinet business other than I play on his instruments.
Chris
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Author: xxColorMeJoshxx
Date: 2006-06-01 11:50
Guy does incredible work - it was worth every penny to get my clarinet overhauled by him as well as a barrel made.
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