Reviews/Testimonials from Delighted Customers
A lovely review from top British player David Campbell:
Excellent Bass Clarinet to low C from with good build quality, excellent tuning and great sound.
“Playing the bass clarinet has been one of the delights of my playing career, but so many of my students have been put off trying the bass because of the cost of buying one. Several companies have a “student’” bass clarinet in their range, but often they are not well-made, rather out of tune and rarely go down to low C (sounding like a low bassoon Bb). Les Craven, through his excellent Clarinet Company, has introduced an affordable, well-made, instrument to low C with great intonation and an easy tone-production. I encouraged Westminster School to buy one and one of my students at Cambridge University also plays one. They are astonishingly good and a lot cheaper than any other brands. I was also impressed with Les’s customer service and helpful advice. David Campbell
JAMES MAINWARING top LONDON FREELANCE PROFESSIONAL
“Les – this 576 b Ridenour clarinet is fantastic – so easy to play, much less resistance in the bore which means crossing the “breaks” between registers is smooth and effortless. It is also so well in tune and the ergonomic register key means much less movement in the left-hand thumb.
The evenness of note from Chalumeau to Altissimo is amazing also. Being made of hard rubber means it is not affected so much by heat or cold and remains stable pitch–wise during a long show. It also means the clarinet will not crack or warp in extremes of climate.
I was looking for a clarinet to keep in the theatre rather than carry my much more expensive clarinet to the theatre every day (I do not leave the clarinet there as the dry atmosphere has caused many instruments to crack) and now I have found one that has a lovely dark warm sound in all dynamics – Les I am delighted. Best wishes James”
BART WATTE - Professional Solo clarinettist of Belgium’s most prestigious Band the ROYAL BAND of the GUIDES
Bart bought a pair (Bb & A) of Ridenour clarinets to use when he does not wish to expose his expensive Selmer clarinets to extreme climatic conditions.
“Les the clarinets arrived today in excellent condition – I had high expectations but they exceeded all my expectations and the set up you have done on them is superb – thank you very much” Bart
ALISON LAMBERT Principal Clarinettist Longborough Festival Opera, Bass clarinet tutor Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama bought a Ridenour C clarinet and later added a Craven Sonoro mouthpiece.
“I recently purchased a hand finished C clarinet from Les and later a Craven Sonoro mouthpiece, designed and hand finished by Les and chosen from the many he has in stock. I selected a reasonably open mouthpiece with a dark and rich tone and fantastic legato properties. Les offers a bespoke service no matter what your playing style and requirements.
I then tried the mouthpiece with a Silverstein CRY04 ligature and the tone became even richer, more focused and projected fantastically well! I would highly recommend Les and his products- his personal service coupled with his extensive knowledge is a winning combination! - “Les this C clarinet is lovely to play “ Thank you Les!”
WILLIAM WHITE Professional freelance player: ” I am currently working with: Royal Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Welsh National Opera, English Symphony orchestra, London Concert Orchestra, Red Note Ensemble. I came to Les in need of a C clarinet as I had been booked last minute for a run of opera performances that required using one. Les had an instrument ready to go and after playing it for less than 15 minutes I felt so comfortable I took it straight in to first rehearsals.”
“C clarinets that I had played in the past were difficult to play in tune and weren’t very even in response. To my delight, Leslie’s C clarinet played with immaculate intonation and I am looking forward to playing my C clarinet as much as possible “
Rhys Taylor - Freelance professional with BBC, Welsh National Opera and many other ensembles.
“Les - this little C clarinet is great, really well in tune and a joy to play and a great price”
FRED CARLQUIST Professional Jazz / doubling musician / recording artist in Spain
“It’s the player and not the instrument as they say – but there are exceptions to every rule. The 576bc clarinet I got from Leslie a couple of months ago might be such an exception. The fantastic tuning, even response over registers and general low resistance has really made things way easier and actually helped me to reach a new level as a sax/clarinet doubler. After consulting Leslie I went for the 576b with the custom setup and the clarinet plays and feels absolutely fantastic. It has a big warm and flexible tone just as Leslie described it. Thank you!”
” All the best! Fred” www.fredrikcarlquist.com
About one year later Fredrik sent one of his students from Spain to visit Leslie and he also purchased a Ridenour 576b Bb clarinet:
“Dear Leslie – Anselm my student sounds great on the new clarinet. Quite interesting to see how his sound and phrasing improved thanks to the even scale on the Lyrique. I’m quite addicted to mine I must say. My Selmer series 10 doesn’t get much play time these days. I’ve practised hard the past year and I’m now started to record a jazz clarinet album. I’ll be more than happy to recommend this clarinet and your service to anyone – thanks very much regards Fred”
MICHAEL PIROTTA Professional Maltese Freelance Clarinettist
“Dear Les, Your service is amazingly good and love the work you have done on the new Ridenour Libertas. It is so responsive and it seals perfectly , the top register is very easy to play. I am delighted to play on my new Ridenour clarinet . Tomorrow will play with it in a classical symphonic concert and Saturday another pop gig in Gozo. Cheers Mike”
MARK O’BRIEN Bass clarinettist of the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
Recommends hard natural rubber bass clarinets in particular for rehearsals and performances where the climatic conditions could cause his very expensive wooden bass clarinet to crack.
From the Czech Republic
I have been playing a Lyrique Libertas Bb clarinet for 9 months and have a great feeling about it. Compared to my previous student level wooden instrument (famous make) the Libertas feels much more mature. I liked my old instrument but the Libertas has something more to it , it allows me to go much further when I blow ( – my breath seems to take me further) and I was surprised when I realised this……………….I feel pretty secure with the new instrument and Leslie was really friendly and helpful not only during the discussions before ordering but also when I began to play the instrument and needed some clarification regarding fingerings and other related things after the purchase….Thank you Leslie and it is great to know there is a top professional player able and willing to support even at distance…..I also play Leslie’s mouthpiece now and after some transitional period settled on it and more often I experience these moments when I and all around me know “it is there” ……………Bob Popek “
20th DECEMBER 2022 This from a very happy customer who bought the prototype wooden SM - W clarinet recently
“Hi Les, do hope all is going well for you. I just wanted to tell you that I am absolutely loving playing the clarinet I bought from you. I have a long way to go but it is a wonderful instrument and such a joy to play! Every day I can’t wait to play it, and it is enormously responsive. I love it dearly.
I also wanted to tell you that I took it and my old clarinet to my professional repairer a few days ago, just to swap the thumb rests over (I have a Ton Kooiman thumb rest) - he is a highly trained specialist who has been in the business for donkey’s years and repairs and maintains all the Army’s band instruments. Anyway, he looked at my instrument and said “I expect that cost you £5,000 or so?” and when I told him you’d sold it to me for £850 he nearly fell off his chair. He said: “Do you mean eight hundred and fifty pounds?” In a voice of total disbelief. He looked at it very closely and was deeply impressed with the quality of it, so you have given me a wonderful Christmas present!
I hope we shall meet again in 2023, and I wish you all the very best for a great Christmas and a very productive year ahead, Jeremy”
From Glasgow Scotland
“Dear Les May I take this opportunity to thank you for providing me with a wonderful clarinet and great customer service. I do not know of any shop sale person that would be so caring and thoughtful as you have been Les. I would have no hesitation in recommending you to others. Thanks again Les and thanks for everything. Kind Regards Jim “
From Northern Ireland
“Dear Leslie Since buying the Libertas clarinet last year I am happy to say my long time interest in “clarinetting” has greatly revived. This is an instrument which easily lives up to the claims of the maker in all ways. The construction is excellent, the keywork too. There is absolutely no hint of distortion in any weather or temperature conditions, moist or dry, and the clarinet comes with it’s own very good case.Lastly, I have to say that the price for such a quality instrument is amazing, coming in at some hundreds of pounds less than one might pay for many another top rated clarinet.I should add that, on your expert advice I subsequently invested in a Silverstein ligature which is a revelation for it’s ability to adjust to the players requirements. Finally, Leslie thank you for your ongoing help and instant response to emails. Edward Kearney”
SEPTEMBER 2021 KAREN WEST GODDARD - BRISTOL
“Can’t recommend Les and the LC Sonoro SM clarinet highly enough! Tried a Buffet Divine at great cost, but had to return it, as it sounded awful (accept it could just be me). I was so disappointed. But a friend recommended the LC Craven Sonoro and even though it was a fraction of the cost of the Divine, it was a much better instrument to play. Les also helped me to get the thumb rest set up to ease my arthritic thumb joint. It makes such a difference having an esteemed, professional clarinettist setting the instruments up to ensure that they are as in tune as they possibly can be. Looking forward to hopefully having some lessons from Les! Thank you so much”
From Zurich Switzerland:
“Finding a good C clarinet was something that occupied my attention for a long time. The quality of the two C clarinets I bought before (not Ridenour clarinets I hasten to add – Leslie) were extremely disappointing: I returned both a couple of weeks after buying them.
I had read about Ridenour C clarinets before, but did not want to spend so much money without testing the product first. This is where Leslie came in. When I went to the UK on holidays last year, I asked Leslie if I could stop by his house to try and buy the C clarinet. The rest is history. Leslie was extremely hospitable and gave me great advice and support. As someone else already said: completely beyond the call of duty. The clarinet itself is fantastic. The mechanics are solid, the sound is rich, full, completely stable and reliable in all registers. I can full heartedly recommend anyone to buy Ridenour clarinets. I currently have an A and Bb clarinet from ‘one of the two famous French brands’; I have no doubt that if I ever need to replace one of them, I would buy a Ridenour. I would also definitely buy them through Leslie. The level of quality control and (after) sales support he offers is second to none! Dirk “
JULY 2021 IAN HUNT - COLCHESTER ESSEX
“Dear Les - Have had the pair of Bb & A Craven Sonoro clarinets a week now and I must say I am very pleased with them. Both play very freely and the A is especially nice to play. I am glad I had the extra custom bells and barrels and cannot wait to play them in the various groups I play with. “
OCTOBER 2021 JOHN PEPERELL - HARWICH, ESSEX
“Having very recently bought a Craven/Sonoro Bb clarinet from Les I cannot but highly recommend the superb professionalism and service received from my very first email enquiry to receipt of such a lovely instrument with such a rich tone and simplicity to play. Having been the lover of the Selmer Series 9 for many years but just an amateur I have made an excellent choice of replacement. With our many exchanges of messages I feel a friendship has emerged and anyone looking to upgrade from whatever clarinet will be delighted with any Craven / Sonoro or Ridenour product.”
LOUISE BAYLIS – Clarinet teacher - WEST WALES
“I recently purchased a Sonoro bass clarinet from Les and am absolutely delighted with the product. It played perfectly straight from the case, and has a lovely depth and warmth of tone. Intonation is excellent across all registers, including altissimo. It plays freely and keywork action is smooth and comfortable under the fingers. It feels solid and well built, and the Reed and Squeak case provides a snug fit for transporting instrument. Les has been so supportive through whole purchasing process, offering invaluable advice and tips. A beautiful instrument to play and excellent customer service. Thanks again Les!”
JULIA HEROD
“I received brilliant service from Les in the purchase of a Sonoro wooden Eb clarinet which arrived last week. It has a beautiful tone and a lovely feel to play. I love the mouthpiece too. Throughout the process - from discussions before placing the initial order up to to delivery - Les kept me updated as to the status. Great customer service from a top professional. Thank you Les!”
DAVE CLUDERAY – LEEDS
“Hi I have just taken delivery of the Lyrique 576. Buying a clarinet from Les is the musical equivalent of going around Harrods with a personal shopper. From the initial enquiry to final delivery he is with you all the way, answering all questions honestly and replying promptly to messages. His pre-sale set up is one of the finest available and I would doubt there is a better playing and sounding instrument under a grand. I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending Ridenour clarinet Products UK Ltd to anyone be they amateur or professional.”
JUNE 2020 VICKY WILSON
“I have just purchased a Ridenour Lyrique Bb clarinet. It is a fantastic instrument at a really good price. I love the sound and the intonation is spot on. Les offers a brilliant service.”
NEIL HICKLING
“Les, with his many years of top level professional playing experience, was incredibly insightful with his assistance during my visit. 5* products and A+ client care. Brilliant!!!!!! “
DECEMBER 2020 LIAM BORGSTROM - DUBLIN
“Les clearly has made it his mission to help people play the clarinet. He walked me through the whole process of choosing an instrument, and provided swift and excellent advice at every step of the way. I have his new Sonoro SM Bb, with his Craven mouthpiece and Silverstein ligature, and it is an absolute joy to play. He set it up himself, and it responds to the lightest breath. The insight and expertise that he puts into his service and into the instruments is just superb, priceless, and extremely welcome.
In short, getting a clarinet from Les is like getting a light saber from Obi-Wan Kenobi.”
Alex Jones recommends The Clarinet Company. April 2023
There is absolutely no better source in the country to get a clarinet from. Not only are Leslie’s instruments top class (the BC01 tunes better than the Buffet Prestige I’m used to!) , his service is impeccable and he readily gives advice on embouchure and projection (a great deal to receive this advice from a retired pro!). Leslie clearly cares a lot about providing quality to musicians and is not in it to make a huge profit like so many instrument businesses appear to be these days! I would highly recommend any of the instruments I tried at Leslie’s shop and was particularly impressed with the rubber Bb I played and the Bass Clarinet I bought for their incredible tuning. I will likely be returning to the clarinet company when I have the £ for an Eb clarinet. To say the obvious, Leslie’s Craven BC01 Bass Clarinet is leagues ahead of everything in its price category (Jupiter, Yamaha) and competitive with top pro instruments. You’d be silly not to try one (and get a nice day in South Wales).