hehe, i feel *really* outta the loop on this one.

I have an old P-11 buffet (i think, too lazy to check now) that was made in 1968; i used buffets serial-checker. It`s still in great condition, but it is still a student model hoping to get one in the C series soon though.

Amber, I just got a clarinet at school . Can you give me some advice to learn quicker? Please? Thanks. I am in public school
Heather
Ontario

I played clarinet for 8 years, was envolved in the san diego youth symphony and high school band.... I got interested in computers and my clarinet ventured into the closet. I bought a new R-13 about 2 years ago, paid around $2,000 for it. Silver plated keys, beautiful instrument but i don`t use it anymore, i`m interested in selling it, thought i`d leave a message here... e-mail me at compman2k1@hotmail.com if you`re interested or have questions, i probably won`t be back here to see any replies.

Stringed instruments are a lot different than a wind instrument. The whole porcess of making the sound is totally different. IT doesn`t matter about old wood, new wood, blah blah blah... The Buffet Greenline is a mixture of Granadilla wood and polyprpholine (plastic - to avoid cracking) and it`s an excellent clarinet. My teacher, Dr. Lisa Oberlander plays on one, and man can she play. If you have a top of the line Buffet in good condition, and it fits you it`s going to sound good no matter what. So, just clearing that up for you... Bye guys... Keep playing - PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE

"I was alive in the wood, I was killed by the cruel axe. In life I was silent, in death I sweetly sing."

I have finally decided that the clarinet I should get after all this time is the LeBlanc Concerto II, and it is truly a wonderful instrument. In my opinion, a LeBlanc will almost always be as good as or better than a comparable Buffet- simply in the techniques and designs LeBlanc artisans use.

On the new Concerto II, there are hand scultured silver plated keys, that I dare any Buffet owner to match with their instrument. It has the famous ergonomy of the LeBlanc Mechanism, that truly is the best out that that i`ve tried. LeBlancs are also famous for being just comfortable to play, easy response, good tone quality, and again the mechanism. This is why I will always favor LeBlancs over any other maker out there, even a few of the custom ones ( although those arent comparable since they are hand made).

That will be my dark, small bore instrument and I will have my present LeBlanc as my big bored clarinet (produced by LeBlanc by the Noblet work team that has 250 years under its belt- more than any other instrument maker still producing today that was the basis for all the LeBlancs).

Bradley

Perfect practice makes nearly perfect!

Hello Bradley,

In your long search for the perfect clarinet: have you tried any of the older 1176 LL models?

I`ve just purchased one. Does it compare to the Leblanc Concerto. I believe that the "LL" was the "pro" model before the line expanded.

Thanks,

PS please send your responsse to my email so I`ll be sure to get it. Best, Bob

~Learning to play the clarinet is easy enough if you have a good instructor. My first year to play the clarinet (2002-2003 school year-6th grade) I was 1st chair all year! I made the 8th grade wind ensemble and I had my teacher`s recommendation to stay in band and take private lessons through him over the summer!
~Band is really fun and I hope all of y`all enjoy it and spiritually embrace what music does for the soul.
~KC (seventh grade next year)

I`ve been reading some of the forums on this website and I`ve come to think that Bradley needs to lighten up. People are entitled to their own opinions and you seem to think that yours is the be all and end all. A lot of people are not Le Blanc people, just as a lot of people aren`t Buffet people. A lot of people would prefer a custom Yamaha or a Peter Eaton. The principal clarinetist of the symphony orchestra of my city plays a Symphony 10-10 (Boosey & Hawkes large bore, for those who don`t know what that is) and its over 30 years old and its an exquisite instrument.

I happen to be a Buffet person as of all the clarinets I have trialed, this seems to be the instrument that produces the best sound for me. I didn`t like the Le Blanc concerto -I tried it with numerous mouthpieces and reeds to give it the best shot but it just wasn`t for me.

I would be curious to know your age and playing experience, Bradley that gives you this wisdom that you think you have. Coz its not just this forum that you have tried to impress your opinion on people.

I`m only 15.

I exaggerate on this forum because it has a lot high a percentage of beginners as posters than any other forum I`ve visited much less posted on. The typical beginner will hear "buy an R13" from a lot of people and because it is the easiest professional clarinet to obtain, will buy whichever one they try first (even second or third is still bad). Because it is a fact (and Buffet players on a professional level agree) that Buffet quality control is lower than a lot of other brands, a lot of these beginners get stuck with second rate clarinets- and I hate seeing that happens because it can be easily avoided.

You`ll find the opinions I try to shove into people`s brains is often different from the majority, and on this forum usually different from the only side being argued. I only try to help people see that there is another side to things- and I really don`t think anyone reads what I say and rushes out to buy or do whatever I`m endorsing.

You`re entitled to your opinions.

Bradley

I`d like to add that I`ve since my last post ordered a Leblanc Concerto II, and I`ve had it for a few months now.

The Leblanc LL is very different from my present Bb- they have different bore designs and sizes (the Concerto II is polycylindrical and .575 and the LL I believe is conical and .582). The mechanisms are probably the most different.

I`d also like to add that the Concerto II is different from the original Concerto in a number of ways.

Bradley

No problems, Bradley.

You`ve made your point. I`m just concerned as beginners tend also to be rather impressionable and the first information they receive about clarinets tends to be the information they believe and utilise. I just want to make sure that they are given someone elses opinion as well so they can make an informed decision. I do admire the fact that you have researched the instrument so much at such a young age. That is refreshing. There are people studying performance full time at my university that know less about the clarinet than you. Just don`t let it make you arrogant about your knowledge. Keep up the work though.

Cheers. Thomas

I play clarinet and I was selected to go to honors band. It was a very long day when I went though because we practiced our instruments all day then had a concert that NIGHT!

I am from Zelienople, Pennsylvaina
where are u guys from?

~AlyssaH

Hi, I am 21 and I have been playing my clarinet since I was 8, it was my moms and she has been playing it since she was 8. They bought it brand new then. However this style of bundy clarinets where discontinued.

My main areas in performing are chamber music, solo-concerto work and opera. I have found after playing and purchasing most all the major pro models of Boehm clarinets over several years, the ones I was most impressed with were the ones that felt most comfortable in my hands and produced clarity and a rich, deep tone quality. I favored the Buffet Festivals I owned for their easy projection; but I found them heavy, the tone too-spread, and they caused wrist pain with prolonged use. I loved my Selmer 10G`s for their sweet, focused tone and delicate nature for chamber music; however, I disliked their lack of power for orchestral playing and their unpredictable intonation quirks. My Leblanc Opus had fantastic intonation and a rich sound, but it never quite felt right in my hands. Other instruments I tried at clarinet festivals over the years have struck chords in me... recently, the Wurlitzer Boehm model really tempted me, but its price tag was abominable.

I play on a set of standard silver-plated Buffet R13`s made in 1975 (one of Buffet`s banner years in production quality) now, and I have to say that I play and sound better on these clarinets than I ever did on those expensive ones I owned previously, and my recordings are much more refined in every way. I find the biggest influences on quality sound (besides player ability, of course) tend more to be the mouthpiece, barrel, and reeds. With the right combination of these, even a plastic student clarinet can be played well and the listener will never know the difference.

What seems to suit me best currently are these, if it helps anyone`s considerations:
--Standard silver-plated (for resilience against wear) R13 clarinets, both ca. 1975
--Gregory Smith 1+ mouthpiece
--AccuBore Dark Moennig barrel for the B-flat clarinet (darkens tone with more resistance and improves intonation)
--AccuBore ribbed PowerStar barrel for the A clarinet (frees up response and improves intonation)
--Grand Concert Evolution or Gonzalez FOF reeds
--Rovner old-style ligature (thicker material), modified with a black "mouthpiece saver" patch inside the surface that contacts the reed

Also, the two clarinets I own now are ones I purchased used. Many other pro players who`ve heard me on these have told me they wish their new, expensive clarinets sounded as good. When I let them try my instruments, they didn`t want to give them back. So, don`t get caught in some trap of assuming that the higher the price, the better the equipment. Each one is different, even from instrument to instrument within each particular brand and model, and only from trying them individually will you be able to make a truly informed decision based on what YOU yourself need and on your personal preferences in sound and feel, etc.

My daughter just began playing the Clarinet. I don`t expect her to be in a Symphony or Orchestra some day but you never can tell. My head is swimming trying to decide what "Brand" clarinet to get her. I have read about Bundy, Selmer, LeBlanc, Vito, Artley 17s, and many others. I am following a few on E-bay but I really don`t know which direction to lean. Money is an issue. I can only afford a few hundred dollars and would rather spend less. I was told to stay away from the 100.00 posted clarinets by her band instructor.
any help would be appreciated!