Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-11-25 04:36
Not sure, but I heard the Divine is discontinued. Maybe there are just too many stinky Buffet clarinets out that all sound the same and don't really offer any advantages. Yeah for Buffet if they are dumping horns that show no special advantages.
Right now I do not know of anyone using a Hawkins nor a B40 on a Backun, but call up Richard. He is a nice warm guy to talk with. Send him an email too.
Again, I repeat, don't get stuck on pricing.
I had a rude of awakening not long ago and thought I knew alot about horns. I was in your very same situation. I tried an assortment of several horns from lots of countries and companies. I'm so happy with what I have now and if you had a blindfold on when testing all of these assortments of horns you'd never believe that my first choice was the Yamaha CSVR's and the second choice was the Yamaha;s German bore CSG, a straight bore. I'm not the first pro to play on them. The solo clarinetist with Toronto Sym is using it and of course John Bruce Yeh, with Chicago. I had to go to the plants to get one, because you can't fine too many in the stores. I would gladly pay $10,000 for each of the horns. Oh, I even played on some very nice Buffets from the 1960's.
Even after 2 months now I look forward to playing on them. It's that much fun. No they are not perfect, but in my opinion the Backuns are not either, nor are any instruments right now. None of the companies are listening to the great musicians of our time.
An option is to ask the plant sales people at Yamaha to have their specialist pick out a set. You will save around $5000 per horn compared to the Divines which may have been discontinued and $23,000 or so of savings of $23,000 or so for a set of Backuns. Sure there is a sound difference, but as I said above are you looking for that really dark sound or a warm sound that will fill the halls of places like the Chicago Symphony. The Yamaha CSG German bore may just meet what you want, but I don't know if you want a smaller bore or a large bore that may not ring in Severance Hall, one of my favorite halls I've ever played in.
I my opinion there is not a great horn on the market right now, but some that stand out are the Yamaha's, the Selmer Signatures, and the very heavy Recital horn. Yes the Backuns are very good too, but they for sure won't land you an orchestra position, because I feel they are too dark. I'd rather see you play on a reformed German warm sounding horn which will fill Severance Hall and ring the walls.
Just be careful with your money and have others hear you play before forking out so much money. I almost want to grab your arm and take you with me on the journey I just went through.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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