Can a cheap wooden clarinet be a \"good player\"?

[Airflyte]

[attachment=512][attachment=513]I ask this question to all clarinet collectors/enthusiasts/players!! We all know that generally speaking, \"you get what you pay for\" - and we all know there are exceptions to the rule. . . .
 . . .Well today, the United Parcel Service delivered my (16 dollar) \"Artist\" clarinet. The instrument is completely made of wood (possibly granadilla) and was made in Czechoslovakia (Kohlert?). The cork is worn and a few pads need replacing but the key work appears to very nice and the wood has very nice grain. I\'m not a material snob ( I do have hard rubber clarinets) but I like a quality wooden instrument as well.

I know everything is subject to individual perception but I really feel this oldie has potential
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[Airflyte]

This clarinet is possibly very similar to this one,
http://www.clarinetpages.net/vintage-odd-brands/czeckoslovakian-stencil-clarinets

[myopickumquatrhodes]

The scroll and the font of the writing within it certainly look very similar!

[Skyfacer]

Does the old wood of this oldie have more \'heft\' to it ? That is to say, does it
seem to be more dense than that of modern \'blackwood\' Clarinets.

[gkern]

That is a nifty looking horn - are those inserts in the tone holes?

And as far as cheap wooden clarinets go, I don\'t know if $52 would be considered cheap, but that is what I paid for a Jean Barre, which is one of the best players I have, on a par (well, almost) with a Selmer CT and an SML King Marigaux.

[DaveLeBlanc]

Those appear to be hard rubber tone hole inserts, as opposed to the typical plastic of today.

Usually, inserts are pretty much indicative of lower build quality, though a particular Normandy 10 (that I no longer own) did have a single plastic tone insert for some reason.  The thing still played like a pro.

[Airflyte]

Barry, my newest clarinet is a USA Selmer 103 (wooden) and without an actual scale it does feel heavier than the Kohlert (assuming this oldie is indeed a Kohlert).

I\'m no expert on acoustical properties, but would it make sense that a heavier/denser wood have less resonance and maybe a \"darker\" tone?

[myopickumquatrhodes]

The following, by Stephen Howard, came to mind, though it\'s about saxophones rather than clarinets.

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/misc/myths_and_materials.htm

[DaveLeBlanc]

In any case, the wood looks nice and throwing some gold lettering on there would really make it shine

[myopickumquatrhodes]

In response to the original question, I\'m sure that cheap, old clarinets can play beautifully. If buying unseen / unheard, I suppose it\'s largely a matter of luck whether or not you get a gem. For $16, you have a good looking clarinet, that\'s for sure.

[eliotah]

Hi :-) i got about 20 clarinets most of them are pro quality. the thing that amaze me is That a \"The pedler\" Hard rubber clarinet that i got for 20$ and fixed have the best sound of all and the intonation is better then all of them and even better then the R13 test that you made here:
http://www.clarinetpages.net/wooden-clarinets/buffet-r13

basically all the tones are on the 0 and two are 2 and -2  

can it be right? or am i missing something i compered it to a big list of very good

clarinets like

Leblanc LL
penzel Muller studio recording
buffet master
penzel Muller super brilliant

and more..

at the end this is the clarinet that i use the most.. go figure

[Airflyte]

The following, by Stephen Howard, came to mind, though it\'s about saxophones rather than clarinets.

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/misc/myths_and_materials.htm

Good article.

[eliotah]

The following, by Stephen Howard, came to mind, though it\'s about saxophones rather than clarinets.

http://www.shwoodwind.co.uk/misc/myths_and_materials.htm

Good article.

Wow amazing article! Just finished it.. Exactly what I was thinking. I guess I must ignore the clarinet maker and view it as a unique instrument and how it feels to me.

Thanks so much could have not ask for a better answer!

[Airflyte]

Now i have to ask, \"is resonance (in general terms) of a saxophone or clarinet really that important?\"  It\'s not like were talking about stringed instruments where resonance would be very important.

[DaveLeBlanc]

heck if a carrot can sound good then I honestly dont think so