Thomann 33 Euro Chalumeau: first impressions

[@williemacon30]

I love this instrument it really does sound like a clarinetI Love this instrument it really does sound like a clarinet

[@janhelgeschnoebbe]

Great solo play at 7:03 . Sounds fantastic! Thank you for the introduction to the instrument. I ordered the same model today. I like the idea of having a mini clarinet in your bag when you go to the studio or a jam session.

[@arwenacoustic795]

Glad I could help!

[@mccypr]

It’s amazing how much that thing sounds like a Clarinet! Thanks! Happy New Year! 🥂🥂🥂🥂🙂😎

[@arwenacoustic795]

I was surprised!

[@chongshaohong2969]

Impressive! It's smaller than the soprano recorder but plays one octave lower, and has a range of two and a bit octaves! The tone is pretty nice too.

[@corneliaippers603]

Arwen said 1 octave and 1 tone, hence a ninth only. And with her real clarinet mouthpiece, not the supplied one…

[@arwenacoustic795]

Yes, an octave lower, thanks to stopped pipe mechanics but only just over 1 octave range, those high notes were just squeaks!

[@WoodwindSpirit]

Very interesting, thanks for sharing your impressions. :) The chalumeau is such a beautiful instrument. ♥ I never tried the one from Thomann, but one from Tupian. (As it was the first time I tried to play a reed instrument, at first I failed very badly. But now I love this wonderful instrument.) ... Love the playing at 4:10 😍 Keep up the great work, musical greetings from northern Germany! ♥ Meike

[@arwenacoustic795]

Thank you :) The tune at 4.10 is called "Ye Banks and Braes" and is a Scottish folksong. Happy New Year from the UK.

[@cathytai]

Oh cool, i have to try one, even as wonky as it is in some ways it can also sound pretty nice. What fun! Thanks for the demo!

[@arwenacoustic795]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@ViewtifulSam]

There are some very pleasant sounds to be made from this, and most of all you seem to be having a lot of fun with it :) Maybe a nice side "toy" for clarinetists. Very cool demonstration, thanks!

[@mantistoboggan2676]

I have this Chalumeau and its really fun to play but like you say the small range makes me want another one that actually has the second register.

[@jorgbaumann5042]

a great idea! And it is so interesting to listen to you. But playing with vibrato? (The same old question …) Anyway, thank you so much for introducing the more jazzier side of a chalumeau. Completely new to me, but awesome!

[@arwenacoustic795]

Yes, vibrato not really in keeping with Chalumeau 🤣

[@wolfunplugged]

thanks for that hint! sounds lovely and is very affordable!

[@wdashwor]

Interesting! Thanks for the demo. Despite the limitations, it has quite a nice tone. 🙂 Does it require more or about the same breath pressure as a regular clarinet?

[@arwenacoustic795]

About the same as the upper register I would say.

[@nathleflutiste]

II've bought one ten years ago, it has a very sound, but the original reed wasn't that good. I wanted to do an aperture near the mouthpiece (like the Yamaha Venova) to make it able to play the second octave, but since I gave it, I kind of left it. But it could be interesting.

[@arwenacoustic795]

I have to agree with you on the original reed, it was terrible!

[@comtaar2245]

I don’t like the Thomann chalumeau. It’s nice to try out but it is so heavy to blow. I suspect it shouldn’t be since a clarinet is not like this.

[@arwenacoustic795]

Oh, I wonder if it is the mouthpiece, I didn't find it heavy with my mouthpiece.

[@amagiaestaemvoce5381]

Favorite Fantastic

[@Bliksembrak]

Wow. I want one😅 Do you het oboe mouthpieces too?

[@arwenacoustic795]

No, it is based on a historical instrument, a forerunner of the clarinet. Forerunner of oboe is called a shawm :)

[@famweiland8989]

i recommend a Tupian model, with dubble holes

[@arwenacoustic795]

Do they do larger Chalumeaus too? This one is a soprano.

[@papselrawr]

@@arwenacoustic795 I have one in G, but I believe they make models down to F.

[@Blokfluitgroep]

I tried one. However, I myself liked the "clarineau" more. The version I have has the same pitch as your model, but also has extra valves to get one note lower and three notes higher. You even get higher notes in a higher register, but I don't like timbre of those notes. The notes of the first B to e are beautiful.

[@xarv368]

Have you tried to get the second octave by blowing the notes of the first octave harder?

[@arwenacoustic795]

No I haven't tried that, it doesn't work on any other woodwind instrument, even the transverse flute, blowing harder is the wrong technique, you need breath support and a movement of embouchure. As you can hear from the note bends- no amount of embouchure adjustment is going to create a 2nd register. Worth considering though. This is how we innovate!

[@ViewtifulSam]

I think the cylindrical bore would kill the even harmonics like on the clarinet, no? Meaning an octave (second harmonic) overblow should be inaccessible. But I could be wrong, of course.

[@o.hobbyplayer8984]

Sehr gut gespielt 👍👍❤️

[@carmennichting8468]

What type of reed did you use instead?

[@arwenacoustic795]

I think it was a vandoren 56 Rue lepic

[@pseudotonal]

The low D a bit sharp. The F# is even more sharp!

[@arwenacoustic795]

Quite!

[@chvalis]

What clarinet mouthpiece (brand and type) are you using there? Thanks

[@arwenacoustic795]

Just a vandoren M30.

[@-------K-------]

@@arwenacoustic795 Was the original mouthpiece that came with it of bad quality?

[@arwenacoustic795]

@@-------K------- I don't actually know, there was such a horrid looking reed attached to the mouthpiece it put me off trying it. I will clean it and try it in a video at some point in the next few weeks :)

[@PletonTibere]

Bonjour, active le sous titrage s'il vous plait 🙏

[@arwenacoustic795]

The automatic subtitles should work in any language. I've added English as the official language but there are no other options, the automatic subtitles should be there.

[@PletonTibere]

@@arwenacoustic795 ، bonsoir / j'ai vérifier aujourd'hui et ça marche la traduction automatique, pour le français, Merci beaucoup 🙏

[@Pierluigi_Di_Lorenzo]

Similar to Nuvo's Dood, I guess.

[@argi0774]

It is of course NOT the same pitch as a soprano recorder

[@arwenacoustic795]

Yes, I probably should have mentioned that 😄

[@Frahamen]

Thimothée Chalumeau?

[@arwenacoustic795]

From the German shop "Thomann"

[@Klangzeug]

To me - hearing that instrument feels like biting in a peach and getting goosebumps. 😂 but despite of this impressive for the price point.

[@arwenacoustic795]

Impressive for the price point sort of sums it up. I did use a good mouthpiece and reed though, not the ones that came with the instrument. I must try out the mouthpiece it came with soon.