 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2010-11-10 01:15
I received a 210 a few weeks ago and here's my amateur, fairly detailed review. Overall, I'd say it's a VERY good clarinet. And IMO, worth more than what it costs by the way it performs. If you're in the market for a great clarinet, you can (and I have) done much worse than this, and not much better. Especially not for that price.
Fit and finish and superb. The keywork on the bliss is different than most R13s, Prestiges, Yamahas, etc. that I've played in the past few years. And I feel that it's a little more comfortable and just seems to flow better. To me, it seems like (and pardon the pun) everything is at your fingertips. I wasn't reaching as much, and the adjustment from the factory was very good. And it looks pretty darn flashy. The model I'm playing is silverplated, however the banding, posts, thumbrest is still black nickel. Nice, but I'd prefer black nickel. Just looks cooler to me.
Sound. This is what it's about. The fit and finish are bonuses, but the sound is really VERY good. The tuning is very good. I'd say it's a LITTLE more off than my Ridenour Lyrique, but well within the playing scope. Have no problem playing it in my various groups, blending, staying in tune, and having a good time playing. At first I wasn't convinced with the Bliss barrel, preferring almost any other barrel to it, but I figured I'd just try it as setup for a while, and the bliss barrel really grew on me. Sounds very nice, and looks a lot cleaner on the clarinet than others. The low registers are very sonorous (great word!), and the upper register speaks just fine as well and, with practice and adjusting to the instrument, sounds nice and is easy to control.
Well, that's pretty much all I look for in a clarinet. Is it comfortable, easy to play, and sound good/in tune. Yup, yup, and double yup. The looks are a bonus, the price is good, and it's tough to find something better. And damn near impossible at that price.
Alexi
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2010-11-10 22:36
Perhaps it was just "one" made on a Friday afternoon at 4:30 p.m. BUT I worked on my first Bliss a week or so ago and was appalled at the workmanship of the clarinet. The keys were soft and the fitting between the pillars was way too lose for a new clarinet. It had the black nickel keys, which, doesn't make a bit of difference so long as the instrument plays. I must also add the way too soft black synthetic pads leaked like a sieve. Hopefully the rest are better.
John B
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2010-11-11 02:09
The 210 with the silver plated keys come with your old fashioned bladder pads. I wasn't TOO crazy with the valentino pads anyway. Seemed a little squishy. The instrument I have is well setup and no really noticeable play.
Alexi
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Author: Franklin Liao
Date: 2010-11-12 08:46
Ahh. I personally do think highly of this line of clarinet mechanically. 210 has been reported to be the former Leblanc Cadenza killer even during prototype evaluation stage from what I recall. I think of it as something that directly threatens E11.
I have found great virtues of composite material by spending some time in Taipei. I think this is the kind of condition where the composite line of Bliss is really to shine in.
Post Edited (2010-11-12 09:36)
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Author: kjSean
Date: 2010-11-12 18:02
In your opinion, how does the Lyrique compare to the Bliss?
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Author: PrincessJ
Date: 2010-11-19 22:58
I'm a Bliss 210 owner. Structurally, mine is pretty much flawless, apart from one teensy little issue with the mid joint tenon. I had to have a little bit of material removed from the wood to allow the cork to do it's job, as apparently the joint wasn't "reamed out" all the way in the factory. But other than that it's fine, the pads haven't shown any sign of leaking (I have the black nickel keywork with the black pads) so far. I play for about three to five hours every day on and off.
I absolutely love the wood, it's one of the most visually dynamic Clarinets I have ever seen, very smooth and dark.
In my opinion it sounds just as good as it looks, I'm able to get a great palette of tones to work with, bends come easy, the lower register is very rich and easy to work with, it's generally a good instrument.
Maybe they made two of them on 4:30 on a Friday?
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