Author: TomS
Date: 2021-02-06 21:47
Disclaimer: I don't know the Ridenour family and was not paid or compensated for the following comments. I'm just and old man and have been playing since 1963:
After several years of procrastination, and already owning other instruments made by Tom Ridenour, I've "bitten the bullet" and purchased a new Lyrique 576.
I wish I had made that decision many years ago.
My first impression is that the 576 has the best tuning and possibly the best overall playing characteristics of any other clarinet in my current or past possession.
The key-work is perfectly regulated and fit's my wonky old man's hands like it was custom designed. The keys are strong, nimble, balanced and there is no play or sloppiness and are likely to last as long as in clarinets costing 10 times as much. Would I pay more for infinitesimal cosmetic improvements? No, not a penny. It's a matter of, it's what I like to call, "practical perfection". Besides, I like having identical backups of everything, so one more of these for a spare wouldn't break the bank.
The blowing resistance is very even, note to note, and register to register. All registers speak with ease and control. The altissimo can be navigated delicately (for you Band players struggling through the old marches in the stratosphere) The timbre is warm and with no trace of hardness or glare in the upper clarion register.
And, again, the tuning is excellent. The low F is only slightly, slightly flat, depending on you and your setup. The altissimo E is in tune, the standard F is a hair flat (long fingering right on) ... only the F-sharp takes a little finesse of fingering. For the testing, I am using a D Addario Reserve Evolution MP (440) and Reserve Evolution reeds #3. The clarinet seem to tune acceptably with the Vandoren M13 lyre and M15 lyre, and tends to be on the low side of pitch, but manageable. The 576 seems to be (??) designed for 440 pitch calibration ... I guess ...
So, I know there are still guys and gals playing this instrument. I just wanted to reiterate that the RCP-576BC is still available and still, IMHO, a great clarinet for all.
If your are looking for an all-weather instrument, I believe the 576 definitely out performs my Backun Alpha. And for less money.
Get one while you can. For under a grand, this instrument should be in everyone's clarinet arsenal.
My usual 3-cents worth ...
Tom
Post Edited (2021-02-07 01:30)
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