 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sea Galan
Date: 2008-01-12 15:53
Good Morning friends. I'm interested in getting some personal feedback from clarinet players that have some experience with the Yamaha CSG Bb with the Hamilton keys. On the WWBW page there are several reviews and they are all positive. How does it compare to an R-13, if that's possible and also about the Hamilton keys. Do they really make a difference in the sound.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-01-12 17:43
I can't recall the exact threads, but several folks have put comments here about the CSG/CSGH. I think they were largely favorable. Try the search function.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: C2thew
Date: 2008-01-12 23:10
the recent yamaha line clarinets are very very good. the sound going from note to note is much more even then the few r13's i've played.
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2008-01-12 23:24
The CSGs are amazing on so many different fronts. The bottom line is that they play wonderfully in tune and have a great warm sound. I bought mine and left my R13 upon trying it out.
I took the horn I bought fresh out of the cardboard box from Japan. The individual parts were wrapped in plastic sleeves. I mention this because so much is made of the adjustments that need to be done to an R13 to make it playable after transit from France (isn't France closer than Japan??). The pads sealed increadibly.....like cork!!! Yet the pads are bladder and are quiet as such. The spring tensions were perfect (no adjustments needed there either!!!!).
After playing on mine for a year it is still in beautiful shape and plays just as beautifully. I still have the opportunity to switch on rare occassion to an R13 for the heck of it............the Yamaha leaves the R13 behind in the dust in both pitch and sound.
As for the Hamilton keys. I wanted something more resistant to my highly acidic finger sweat (I can really tear up a silver plated key in no time). Even though the plating is only a few microns thick, it has held up perfectly so far (again, one year on the Bb and counting) with NO wiping off of the keys after every practice (as I had to do on my silver Buffets and Selmers).
Unfortunately I disagree with the marketing folks at Yamaha who claim a difference in sound. But I would not trade my Hamilton keyed horn for any other material available......except perhaps for solid gold.
..........Paul Aviles
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Author: MJSmith
Date: 2008-01-13 02:07
Try the CSG out yourself. There are several music students here who have tried them, and a very few of them have purchased. Just like with any brand, there are going to be some good clarinets and some bad clarinets that come out of the batch. While I agree, the Yamaha line of clarinets is consistent, I am finding that they aren't all that much superior. It depends on what type of sound you are going for. Also, try different instruments to see which ones feel good in your hands. On the Yamaha V Series, I feel comfortable, but I did not like the feel of the CSG. The top joint is slightly longer, and the barrel is much shorter (not sure how that can affect tunning). I too disagree about the hamilton keys.
In Yamaha land, my preference is the V series clarinets--they have a true focused tone, and sound very warm. Don't rely on customer reviews on the manufacture websites--try the horn yourself. If you find a Selmar that works for you, and it sounds as you want a clarinet to sound--then by all means that might just be for you! I found an R-13 that plays as many reviewers are raving of the CSG, and I have my Yamaha V, that I will still play on as my practice and small gig performances.
California State University, Fresno
B.A., Music Education - (c/o 2008)
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2008-01-13 15:42
For what it's worth, here is a link to a recording of Bradley Wong, Professor of Clarinet, on the Western Michigan University Dept. of Music site. He is a Yamaha artist, and plays a CSG Bb and a CSGH A clarinet. Scroll down a couple of lines, and you will see a link to an a capella recording.
http://www.wmich.edu/music/faculty/som_fac_wong-bradley.html
Granted the quality of MP3 recordings isn't great, but it gives you some indication of what one of these sounds like in the hands of a pro.
At the bottom of that page is also an e-mail link direct to Prof. Wong. You might want to fire off a question or two to him about the instruments.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2008-01-13 15:44)
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