 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: fernie121
Date: 2018-05-28 00:42
I just wanted to give a quick review of some of ridenour’s clarinets I’ve been playing. A few years ago I purchased his 576 and fell in love with the way it plays. I was using an old R13, and I used a really fantastic Selmer 10G throughout high school. (I’m 22). Recently I was having problems with the rather weak keywork of the 576. My teacher, Michele Zukovsky, suggested I contact Ridenour to see what he can do about the keywork. She actually really likes the way the clarinet plays. Even comparing the evenness in playing to her Wurlitzers. Ridenour ended up sending two clarinets. The hard rubber Libertas and a wood Lyrique G1. These clarinets are amazing! I played both of them for my parents (non musicians) and they really love the sound better than anything else I’ve showed them. (I play tested in front of them some brand new R13’s, a Yamaha CSVR and even a pro clarinet by Jupiter). Earlier today, I brought them to my teacher during my lesson so we could go over them. She was absolutely amazed by how they both played and said she will be recommending Ridenour clarinets to everyone else. After a good 45 minutes of messing with them and trying different combinations with the clarinets she advised me to keep my 576 and buy the G1. Based off my testing and her observations, the G1 plays a lot like the 576 but with much better key work and more resonance in the low register. The libertas are a completely different animal from the 576 and G1. It has a very pure and light sound. Almost like the sound “floats” if that makes any sense. We both prefer the heavier and deeper sound of the 576 and G1. But that could come down to my mouthpiece and reed combination. But again, all of his clarinets play wonderfully with tight intonation.
In Zukovsky’s own words, the Ridenour clarinets are not like buffet or Yamaha at all. They are something entirely different and are very special. And personally I couldn’t agree more.
Has anyone else had luck with his G1? I know the G1 is actually no longer in production. Keep in mind I only tried one libertas and one G1 and one 576. All three I found better than any r13 or Yamaha I tried based on my playing preferences. I tried them with a vandoren M30 13 with a legere signature 3 1/2, vandoren blue box 3 1/2 and a vandoren b40 13 with a V12 3 1/2 and signature 3 1/4. I preferred the feel of the M30.
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Author: Burt
Date: 2018-05-28 16:33
I have a 576 and a Libertas. I'm very happy with the playing quality of the instruments. As a result, I sold my pre-R13. The keywork is strong, and I like the register key design. The only negative is that the plating has worn off in the areas where I frequently touch it.
I use an M30 (Signature 3.25 reed), which I had cut down 2mm to get the Libertas in tune.
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Author: fernie121
Date: 2018-05-28 20:51
Burt, did you find the 576 and libertas to play very differently? Putting build quality aside I was surprised at how different they play.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2018-05-28 21:21
I thought that the G1 had been discontinued a couple of years ago ... maybe it's back in production.
I own and play an R13/greenline, a Ridenour Lyrique Libertas and Speranza (similar to 576), a Yamaha 650 and finally added a Backun Alpha. I have a few others that I don't depend on ... just collectibles.
I don't know about the 576, but the Liberta's key-work is VERY stiff ... it's base metal looks to be similar to the Alpha (might be made in same factory in Asia??). It's difficult to make small bending adjustments on these two instruments, so I don't think you will have problems with unwanted bending.
I asked Tom Ridenour to make a small tuning adjustment and he also replaced two pads, and for did this for free (I didn't expect this, at no charge). Otherwise, after playing the snot out of the Libertas for a few years, I just need a couple of bumper corks and it's as good as new.
It's true ... if the Libertas had the Buffet logo and price, Tom couldn't make them fast enough. The smoothness, warmth, evenness of timbre and blowing resistance is excellent. Notice that the chalemeau F and E are NOT flat on this clarinet! How does he do it without an extra vent key? The guy that designed the Selmer Signature also knows ...
My R13 and 650 don't have flies on them at all ... just different, all very, very good, surprisingly the R13 ... I think it's a greenline characteristic ...?
The jury is still out on the Alpha ... lightweight, air-tight, non-wood (a big plus!), tunes well, nice sound but it's a bit stuffy and diffused. I have to use a different MP/reed setup. In addition, the keys need adjustment, especially the RH pinky keys ... and I've had to decrease the pad height (just short of fuzzing the note out) in order to lower the pitch on a few notes. I think this is the foundation, with some customization, of a really nice clarinet. And, I'd actually pay more for non-wood instruments.
Ridenour is a pleasure doing business with, and also has a nice easy payment plan for his clarinets.
Tom
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Author: Burt
Date: 2018-05-28 23:15
Fernie, the 576 (mine is a 576BE - has a left-hand Ab/Eb key) plays somewhat different from the Libertas. But they are more alike than these vs the pre-R13 and Normandy I had before. And the key positions on the two Lyriques are quite similar. I use the 576 as the backup to my Libertas.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2018-05-29 00:00
The G1 never was in production - what you have is a prototype of a Clarinet that has not been produced and won't be.
I had one, sold to a student who liked it a lot.
Wood is too much of a hassle to deal with per Tom, and he prefers the Hard Rubber, so G1 isn't and won't be a thing.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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