 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2015-06-19 16:09
For those of you who have recently (say, within the past year) purchased a new clarinet (of any sort), can you tell me why you bought what you bought?
Especially if you bought new....i.e., didn't buy used/vintage. What factored into your choice? Just interested in how others think about this.....
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Author: fskelley
Date: 2015-06-19 18:56
About 2 yr ago I purchased a new Arioso from the Ridenours, to replace my vintage Leblanc Dynamic 2 circa 1958. My Leblanc looked and played nicely but needed a repad and other service. It would have cost more to revamp it than to sell and replace with new. But that's only because the Arioso was such a bargain (as the Ridenour 576BC still is). It would have made no sense to me to replace it with a $1500 Yamaha or Buffet, even if I liked it.
Another factor was that I was unsure whether any of my playing issues were caused by intrinsic acoustic characteristics of the Dynamic, that might remain even after comprehensive service. As opposed to the modern Ridenour designs that are spot on in intonation, evenness of resistance, and stability. I needed to know that any problems were from my own playing, not my equipment. (Same reason I'm also playing a Vandoren 5RV Lyre, it plays well for me PLUS is widely used and recommended.)
I would love to have been in a position to revamp the Dynamic and also get the Ridenour. Maybe I'd play the Leblanc more(?)- but only if I found it equally easy to play, and/or found something about its sound or feel to be more magic.
I like vintage. But it's not practical in every situation. Somewhat like driving a 1957 Thunderbird to work. (And I know that's a very poor analogy. But some aspects of it are fair.)
Stan in Orlando
EWI 4000S with modifications
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Author: William
Date: 2015-06-19 19:58
I choose to play the instrument that works best for me, regardless of it's age, appearance or brand. And for the record, I currently play a Leblanc Concerto Bb (purchased new, 1990's and set up by Tom Ridenour, it's designer) and a vintage 1960's Buffet R13 A (rescued from a high school band room, unused and in total disrepair)--forming a perfectly matched set, btw. They work for me and that's is all that matters..........
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-06-19 21:16
I bought a new Backun Alpha last month to replace my Ridenour RCP-576BC as well as the plastic-bodied instruments in my studio.
I bought it because I gig outdoors and rehearse indoors in venues with poor climate control. The Alpha is a worry-free non-wooden clarinet that is virtually without compromise. The tuning accuracy is nearly as impeccable as with the Ridenour; the sensitive response, lovely chalumeau register and superb projection are evocative of my favourite wooden clarinet, the Selmer Centered Tone; and the wonderfully centered and powerful timbre is reminiscent of a good R13. It also has silver-plated key work, which I prefer under my fingers. Another plus is the adjustable extra large thumb rest, which affords play-all-day comfort for the right hand. The Alpha is a delight, a treat, and a treasure for the kind of playing that I do.
The Ridenour, for me, just doesn't get the job done in terms of projection when played outdoors--and I've spent many hundreds on mouthpieces, reeds, and ligatures in a futile attempt to make it really speak. The key work on my 2010 example is soft, and I worry about it again getting knocked out of whack out on a gig.
The plastic-bodied clarinets replaced include a B&H 1-10 (gorgeous voicing and with nice ergonomic touches but incurably out-of-tune), a Yamaha YCL-20 (in-tune but annoyingly strident), and a Vito 7214 (worn and with sharp throat tones using my favourite mouthpieces).
I didn't buy vintage because I've already tried nearly every non-wooden vintage clarinet that was of interest to me. Only the Pruefers listed below have ultimately proven to be satisfactory solutions.
Post Edited (2015-06-19 21:24)
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