Author: vjoet
Date: 2008-01-19 15:36
I am very pleased with my recent purchase of a Lyrique in A (Tom Ridenour). I read a review of it on his website by the Principal Clarinetist of the Welsh Symphony and that review convinced me to give it a try: If a professional would stake his reputation playing it on a national broadcast, it was worth investigating myself.
I got it yesterday, and have played it now for about 6 hours. My verdict: It is a stunningly fine instrument.
I have another A instrument, a Buffet Prestige, 1971. I've never enjoyed playing it, for I'm like Harold Wright who preferred very little resistance, and the Prestige offers a fair degree of resistance. (It is a semi-full Boehm, 7 rings, articulated G#. If anyone would like to make an offer for it, email me privately please.)
The Lyrique has a wonderful, full and non-stuffy tone quality.
The intonation is excellent: The lower chalameaux in not flat, the lower clarion not sharp. Altissimo is right-on, not requiring the addition of the Eb key to bring it up. Throat tones are a little flat (<5), but that is easily corrected via embouchure.
It plays easily in the full range. Imagine, the altissimo speaking just as easily as any other note.
The only fault I find with it, is throat A is a bit bright. But I can make adjustments for that, and Monday I'll ask my tech to look at it.
I have several Bb instruments. My main one is a 1961 R-13. Both my opinion and that of the various clarinetists who've tried it is that it is the sweetest clarinet they've ever tried. But I am so impressed by the Lyrique in A, that in several months I'm going to try the Lyrique in Bb.
(Oh, it came in a VERY nice double case with 2 barrels. I find the shorter barrel is the one that suits my setup best.)
Vann Joe
(amateur)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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