 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: xxkatemariexx
Date: 2011-04-22 16:31
Ok, so I need a professional clarinet. Has anyone tried all three of these or have any information to help me decide. I know that everyone has a personal favorite but is there a reason NOT to buy any one of these instruments. I have heard the R13 is an excellent choice, why? I really just love the St. Louis. though. Any information would be helpful.
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Author: Bb R13 greenline
Date: 2011-04-22 16:56
as my name states i have an R13 greenline and its wonderful. It gets a beautiful sound, AND i dont have to worry about it cracking. definately something you might wanna look into
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Author: CocoboloKid
Date: 2011-04-22 17:14
When you say you "really love" the St. Louis, is it because you have played one and you loved the sound, the ergonomics, and the way it played for you, or do you just find it to be the prettiest of the three?
If it's the former, then there's your answer! If you've played it and you love it, then that's the clarinet for you.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-04-22 17:42
Go with the one that YOU like best, not the one that's the most popular.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2011-04-22 18:32
A lot of unanswered questions here.
Are these NEW or USED instruments?
Do you get to pick from several of each?
Have you ruled out other Selmer models, Buffet models, Leblancs, and have you considered Yamaha?
What type of music do you play?
....are you a seasoned pro, a student, etc.?
If you are a student, what does your teacher say?
If you need an ear to listen to you, take note of the following:
You are equidistant to Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus. There are some really good pros in those areas.....if you want advise that is not readily available in Lima, consider a road-trip.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: William
Date: 2011-04-22 18:59
FWIW--I have played both R13's (1960's vintage) and Leblanc Concerto's, selected from hundreds at the Kenosha, WI facility during the early 90's. The Concerto and Opus clarinets have the same accoustical characteristics, only the keywork has changed on the Opus II models. Currently, I am playing my old R13's because I feel they afford me more expressive musical flexability--ability to play louder when necessary during orchestral and wind ensemble solo parts. The Concerto's are better "in tune" with themselves and have very pleasing tone qualitites, however, I feel a bit restricted to the ppp-mf dynamic levels. However, I have been told be listners that the Concerto's sound carries well to the "back of the hall", so perhaps it's all in my head (or ear, whatever). I recently completed an orchestral concert series during which the sub Principal clarinet was playing a new Selmer A with a Buffet R13--a loner because his new Bb had cracked and the replacement was not available. He preferred the Selmers, however, to my ear, the R13 Bb and the Selmer A had almost identical tone qualities. I think that if I were required to rank the instruments you mentioned, I would put R13 first, Leblanc Opus II, second and Selmer three--although, if you find a good example of either model, you probably could not go wrong. And do not forget the Yamaha's which lots of clarinetist's seem to prefer. Worth a try....... As I said before, I am currently in the "Buffet Mafia" although I have the other "family" hiding in my closet.
I hope all this rambling helps a bit. Bottom line: play the instrument you like the best--it's really the most important factor in instrument choice.
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Author: golfnclarinet
Date: 2011-04-22 20:20
I have 1969 R13 and my son has Opus(not II) Bb and Selmer 10 A. Selmer 10 (in key of A) gives sweet tone and I really love this horn. I'm not good to tell you how my horn sounds but I think I like Opus better than my R13, just little bit.
But, it could be different to others.
It's all your decision.
I wish I could have them all.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-04-22 22:26
Kate Marie -
All three are professional quality clarinets. All three are used by top professional players. Good players make their personal sounds regardless of which instrument they play.
It's much more important that you find out for yourself which you prefer and that you get a good example.
Several years back, I wrote the following:
When you evaluate an instrument, you have to go in a certain order.
(1) INTONATION. This is by far more important than everything else combined. A clarinet that plays out of tune is useless, no matter how fine its other characteristics. While intonation is of course affected by mouthpieces and reeds, and slight errors can be adjusted, the intonation of an instrument has to be very nearly perfect to begin with. Bring an electronic tuner and a friend to watch it, so you won't make adjustments to accommodate flaws in the instrument. Be ruthless. If you have a dozen new clarinets in front of you, you can probably eliminate half of them on this criterion alone.
(2) EVENNESS OF SCALE. Each note must be just as loud and have the same color as the ones on either side of it. You must be able to play without notes popping out or being dull. Test by slowly playing small segments of a chromatic scale -- 4 or 5 notes at a time. Again, after-market tweaks can make small improvements, but it has to be right at the outset.
(3) QUICK RESPONSE. The ability to make wide slurs without blips, begin any note cleanly and move from note to note quickly and seamlessly.
(4) OTHER QUALITIES. Only when you eliminate instruments that don't have the first three qualities can you go on to the rest. In no particular order, I think of beauty of tone, flexibility of tone (i.e., the ability to make many good tones), a comfortable amount of resistance and physical ergonomics.
(5) FINAL DECISION. Finally, you depend on gestalt -- how well the instrument accommodates to how you play -- how much it lets you find new ways to play. An instrument can have every quality described above and still not reach out and embrace you. You need to feel good when you play it. It needs to feel like an extension of your body and breath.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-04-22 22:41
You'll never, ever find a clarinet that plays absolutely bang-smack in tune nor has a perfectly even scale. Some notes will be out by a varying margin and some notes will always be more shaded than others which are common characteristics to all clarinets. Ones where both these factors aren't glaringly obvious or can easily be corrected are some way to being perfect, but still aren't - they're at best as good as they can get.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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