 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rrayneau
Date: 2019-10-23 17:26
I am 68 years old and have been teaching myself for 2 years here in the UK. I have had a few lessons but these have now stopped. I think I am making slow but steady progresss. I have joined a community band.
I play on a Buffet Prodige which is a decent plastic instrument. It seems to suit me but I have never had anything to compare it with.
I realise that assuming your instrument is of a certain standard, how you sound is more down to the player than the instrument. However I am thinking of upgrading to a Ridenour Lyrique.
My question is do you think, at my level, this will significantly improve the playing experience? I am thinking in terms of the ease of playing, and the sound.
Regards,
Bob Rayneau
Buffet Prodige, Vandoren 5RV, Legere European 3
rrayneau@gmail.com
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-10-23 18:27
I have no direct experience with the Prodige though I have seen them here in the States. I would say though that the Ridenour would be an improvement in that it will be really consistent in pitch and response and allow further progress to be easier.
Another horn to consider if available (and in similar price range new) would be the Backun Alpha. It would be worth your wild to try both if possible.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: HelenaS
Date: 2019-10-25 00:17
I play a used Selmer Signet 100 wood clarinet and love it. It's definitely a step up from my plastic Bundy. Someday, I'll get a better model, but I love the wood sound over the plastic and for the $200 I paid for a completely overhauled instrument the price was right too.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2019-10-25 02:58
rrayneau wrote:
"I am 68 years old and have been teaching myself for 2 years here in the UK. I have had a few lessons but these have now stopped. I think I am making slow but steady progresss. I have joined a community band.
I play on a Buffet Prodige which is a decent plastic instrument. It seems to suit me but I have never had anything to compare it with...
My question is do you think, at my level, this will significantly improve the playing experience? I am thinking in terms of the ease of playing, and the sound".
Hi Bob,
Something else to consider:
Are there other players in the band who have "better" clarinets you could try?
Also, my advice is to buy the best instrument you can afford. If you buy a used pro level clarinet you are not going to lose much money. I would consider a few major "players" like Buffet E12/R13/RC, Selmer Centered tone, maybe some Yamaha models (I never tried Yamaha).
Please keep in mind that even new clarinets may often benefit from proper set up by a skilled tech. Used instruments, in my experience, always need to be checked and adjusted.
A properly adjusted clarinet that holds vacuum, has proper keys opening height and spring tension would give you better playing experience.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2019-10-25 17:23
I agree with Paul on the Tom Ridenour clarinets or Backun Alpha. No muss, no fuss. I've had my Ridenour Speranza and Lyrique for years and with virtually no problems. The RCP576 is kinda-sorta similar to the Speranza in it's acoustic design ... Speranza not in production now, but was to replace the TR-146, I think, which was ABS body, instead of hard rubber ...
My Buffets, in contrast, always need something done to them.
My Alpha is nice too ... it's different than Tom's stuff, but plays well. I am in the progress of tweaking it with minor adjustment and external gear. I think someone could be/should be a specialist in the care and feeding of the Alpha clarinets, they have a lot of potential, IMHO.
I'd like cork/leather pads on the Alpha and see how that works ... the cork pads give you some adjustment options and, I think, more projection than bladder or Valentino pads.
Non-wood material for clarinets (even Greenline) should have clean/level tone holes and this encourages the use of cork for the small pads with good sealing.
Tom
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Author: BethGraham
Date: 2019-10-29 15:37
Helena S wrote
>I play a used Selmer Signet 100 wood clarinet and love it. It's definitely a step up from my >plastic Bundy. Someday, I'll get a better model, but I love the wood sound over the plastic and >for the $200 I paid for a completely overhauled instrument the price was right too
Same here, although my horn has had a little back and forth to the tech for tweaks. Overall, I've been quite pleased with its quality and with how it's supported my learning. (I've kept my "trusty stead" -- the Bundy -- as a good, reliable backup.)
To the OP: I wonder if a mouthpiece upgrade, or even a new barrel, would be a good move before getting another mouthpiece.
Hooray for lifelong learning!
Beth
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Author: m1964
Date: 2019-10-29 22:33
TomS wrote:
"I agree with Paul on the Tom Ridenour clarinets or Backun Alpha. No muss, no fuss. I've had my Ridenour Speranza and Lyrique for years and with virtually no problems...
My Buffets, in contrast, always need something done to them..."
I have no experience with either Tom Ridenour or Bachun clarinets.
However, my experience with various Buffet clarinets have always been positive:
E12 bought used off CL -had no problems, it played out of the case just fine.
R13 off "the auction site" needed complete repad and some minor adjustments but played fine after that. In fact, it sold recently and I did not lose any money at all after playing it for over one year.
R13P- bought new when on vacation in Europe, it required tenon shaving and some minor work but it is a pleasure to play.
I do not consider minor adjustment like key height opening to be major consideration in choosing the instrument.
Again, that has been my experience, "your mileage can very"
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2019-10-30 00:51
Why would you assume the Prodige is a bad/ problematic instrument? I've tested both that one and the Alpha and would say it is at least on par with it. A barrel upgrade would further improve it, maybe ad some mouthpiece/reed tweaks and honestly, unless you plan to become a soloist, just stay with it.
Has your former teacher checked it? If there are leaks, have a tech fix this.
OP, especially in a community band setting and with the short time of clarinet experience you had, upgrading now wouldn't make sense, imho
Best regards
Christian
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