So maybe you need and want a shitty clarinet to achieve the objective
you have, maybe you need a quite expensive one. Nevertheless, the point
is what you do with it.The clarinetist of one chamber orchestra I've wrote for had to use a 'C'
clarinette that sounded like shit to play all the notes, instead of her cool but expensive B flat, the result is that I don't
liked the sound she had.(If you want to compare I can send you the files)
Richard Barret has a couple of interesting pieces for C clarinet (look for
a cd with Carl Rossman). these pieces wouldn't sound as good in a B or A
clarinets, because it would loose the hard edge of the rhythms/melodic
contours.
so, I say Richard Barret's pieces would sound "like shit" on a B clarinet.
probably your's sounds "like shit" on a C clarinet. both clarinets can
sound good -> only the pieces they play can make them sound "shit".
Conclusion: don't blame the clarinets, stop giving them wrong pieces.
Don't assume that one clarinet is worthless because he's being given the
right material to play with.