 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JPMarcellus2011
Date: 2011-11-24 17:03
I'm looking to buy a new set of clarinets. What should I expect in terms of intonation? All the brands and companies out there say that they have the most perfect tuning whatever available, but what should I actually be looking for? What other traits should I require of the new instruments I'm looking to purchase? Thanks!
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-11-24 17:25
You can explore on your own; but, in the end, you need a knowledgeable second pair of ears to listen to you --someone who is not getting the bone -coupling to your hearing from the mouthpiece.
Start with the responsiveness of the horn and quickly check it for intonation with a tuner. It would be nice if, with no effort on your part, you can keep the green light of your tuner on as you play scales and arpeggios.
If you've got a bad transition between two notes in both registers, look at the key work. Maybe the problem can be cured with an adjustment to the pad opening height. Take it out to the shop's technician and have it adjusted.
Check the 12ths if they are wide or narrow, and it is otherwise a serious candidate, you might want to set that horn aside and think about a tuning barrel swap --maybe one of the others in your stack of trial instruments has a friendlier barrel.
When you've gotten rid of the clarinets with difficult tuning, find those best in tone quality and responsiveness.
Are you set on a mouthpiece? Remember that that and the barrel dominate the tone color and responsiveness of the horn; so you might want to ...
Good luck. Be particular. Fall in love.
Bob Phillips
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Author: snilsson
Date: 2011-11-24 19:20
The Educator's Guide to the Clarinet by Tom Ridenour has a whole section about how to test and select clarinets. It goes into great detail about how to properly test for tuning, blowing resistance, response and tone. This information could save you a lot of money.
Some years ago I bought a Buffet RC Prestige A clarinet without testing for tuning. After all, my old Buffet Bb had excellent tuning and you would expect a top model from a major brand to get the basics right. That turned out to be a big and costly mistake. A mistake that I could have avoided with proper knowledge.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2011-11-24 22:03
With much playing, preferably for a week or two . For more info consult Ridenour's book and the article "How to Select An Artist Clarinet", by Snavely, which appeared in The Clarinet some years ago. Also, if possible try three or more of the same make and model , all at the same time. Always try before buy.
richard smith
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Author: Joseph Tomasso
Date: 2011-11-25 15:27
Everyone has given you good advice or good places to look for good advice so I won't pretend to know anymore than anyone else.... but I do want to add my two cents!
Keep your ear critical, but your mind open. There really is no such thing as a perfect clarinet, oboe, saxophone tc... There is, however, the perfect instrument for you. When I play tested my yamahas that I purchased this year, I bought them fully understanding they each were going to take time to master in certain ways. I was extremely happy with the intonation but I would be lying if I said every single note was always at 440 without any work on my end. Find the best scale for you, not because someone else who play tests the instrument has a perfect scale. Take the advice of others, but remember it is your purchase and your clarinet.
try not to get too caught up in sound quality until you've clearly evaluated intonation as well. When I purchased my first buffet clarinet all I cared about was how pretty the "tone" was and how it said buffet. It ended up being a nice instrument, but there were three major intonation issues with the horn that caused years of struggling before I sold the instrument to a student out of frustration (at an insanely low price mind you!). I firmly believe we all create our own sound anyway. After 3 months I'm sure i'd sound the same on a brand new Buffet as I do on my new Yamaha. Sound is important, but make sure it does not come at the price of working too hard to control your instrument.
Finally, treat this like it will be the last time you are ever able to afford a new clarinet for the rest of your life. I think if we make the investment thinking long term, we are more apt to make the best decision.
Thats pretty much what i have to say. I'm no expert, but I have purchased way too many instruments for my own good... and certainly made a lot of mistakes (namely the first 4 times i tried to buy a clarinet based on the name, not the characteristics of the instrument!)
Bachelor of Music, Sax/Clarinet Performance (2005, 06)
Master of Music, Multiple Woodwind Performance (2008)
Master of Music, Oboe Performance (2013)
Gainesville Chamber Orchestra (Clarinet)
University of Florida 2010-2011(Visiting Lecturer in Woodwi
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