 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Cody329
Date: 2014-07-27 22:31
I am about to start my master in woodwind performance, so thus constructs my ability to purchase the best instruments as I need all of them. But I do have a very good Normandy 4. It plays beautifully and has great intonation, but I would really like to milk everything I can out of it.
Does anyone know of any good matches for this? I.e. good after - market barrels and bells, or good mouthpiece suggestions.
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Author: GaryH
Date: 2014-07-28 00:05
If it's very good with good intonation why change a thing?
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-07-28 00:23
Depends a little on what mouthpiece you're using. If the one you have plays well, I'd save money to concentrate on the other instruments you need - they're all more expensive than a clarinet to have anything serviceable. Is this specifically a degree in woodwind doubling? You'll probably need to invest real money in an oboe, a decent flute and the various saxes. A mouthpiece can make a noticeable difference in a clarinet's playing ease if you don't already have a good one. Not so much barrels and bells. If the clarinet ain't broke...
Karl
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Author: pewd
Date: 2014-07-28 01:18
If you're going for a masters, you should upgrade to a professional instrument.
What does your college professor advise?
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Cody329
Date: 2014-07-28 02:16
I use a Portnoy BP02 and a Marcellus M13 (haven't decided which one I like better). And I'm aiming for a little bit darker sound, especially above the staff. And as far as intonation, it's great for an intermediate horn, but always could be improved. Anything to make my struggle easier. Haha
And yes I'm getting my degree in woodwind doubling. I'm also on the prowl for a good headjoint match up for my yamaha 481(stock CY headjoint is not cutting it). Trying to see if I can just get a good headjoint instead of springing for a completely different flute. I've been considering just getting a EC head since I know it would pair well with the body without resizing.
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Author: as9934
Date: 2014-07-28 04:58
You could try some of Backuns barrels and bells. The Fatboy may help with darkening the sound, and you could pair this with a Moba bell of the same wood.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Wind Ensemble
Buffet E11 clarinet , Vandoren Masters CL6 13 series mouthpiece w/ Pewter M/O Ligature, Vandoren V12 3.5
Yamaha 200ad clarinet, Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, Rovner ligature
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-07-28 05:14
Which woodwind is your major instrument?
Karl
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Author: Cody329
Date: 2014-07-28 19:00
Karl, my primary instrument is bassoon. Which is another reason I'm avoiding a completely new clarinet because I'm saving to buy a nice used Renard 240.
I have a Backun protege barrel and i didn't notice that much difference, but I also got it for free so...
Also are there any reeds I should look into. I usually just use vandoren v12 3.5?
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Author: kdk
Date: 2014-07-28 20:34
Cody329 wrote:
> Karl, my primary instrument is bassoon. Which is another reason
> I'm avoiding a completely new clarinet because I'm saving to
> buy a nice used Renard 240.
>
Understood.
> I have a Backun protege barrel and i didn't notice that much
> difference, but I also got it for free so...
IMO, the difference between one barrel and another is too subtle to be worth the expense unless you have a specific goal (a darker sound is not very specific). The player may feel and hear a difference, but the audience will hear little or nothing of it. The only exception is when you need a different length barrel to solve a general tuning problem.
>
> Also are there any reeds I should look into. I usually just use
> vandoren v12 3.5?
Vandoren V12s are a standard high end reed. You won't lose anything (but the money you spend on experiments) by trying different ones - VD Rue le pics, VD Traditional blanks ("blue box"), D'Addario Reserves, Reserve Classics, Grand Concert thick blanks and Grand Concert traditional blanks all play a little differently out of the box from V12s and from each other. But if you're comfortable with V12s, there's no urgent need to go off on a potentially confusing and expensive exploration.
As a doubler, you may find synthetic reeds a convenience - moving quickly among reed instruments with reeds in varying states of dryness can cause frustration, and synthetic eliminates that issue entirely. There are players on this BB who play synthetics exclusively, others who still prefer good old cane, so you have to decide. The major two are Legere and Forestone. Others can write about choice of strength in the synthetics or search back in the BB archives.
Karl
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