Klarinet Archive - Posting 000535.txt from 1996/05

From: Luuk van Buul <vanbuul@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Buying a new clarinet
Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 05:55:05 -0400

On May, 23rd Fernando Silveira wrote
>
> Dear Laura, if you can, find one wood Buffet clarinet E-11, it is very good.
> Today I played on one AMATI clarinet, bought for one student of mine, and
> it was very good too.
> Anyway, always looking for one WOOD clarinet, because its seems better then
> resin.
> I hope helped you.
> Cheers
>
> Fernando Silveira
> Principal - National Symphony - Brazil
>
> At 16:15 22/05/96 -0500, you wrote:
> >Dear Experienced Clarinettists,
> > I'm a beginner who's been playing for about two years now. That
> >doesn't sound like very long, but I'm getting much better and would like to
> >move past my cheap Artly. I got it for $300, and it's like a good friend,
> >but I would like to upgrade for my entry (hopefully) into the top high
> >school band. As you may understand, I have a very limited income (my life
> >savings is still under $400) so I'm looking for a pretty cheap, but nice,
> >wooden something. I have no idea what I'm doing though, so I was hoping
> >maybe you guys could provide some guidance for me in this clarinet
> >purchasing endeavor. Oh yeah, I'm looking for a Bb instrument.
> >
> >Thanks in advance,
> >Laura Hatfield

I do not agree with Fernando. I've had several students on cheap wooden
clarinets (mainly Buffet E-11, B-?? and Amati) and my opinion is that these
instruments are unreliable. Intonation is mostly bad, blowing is uneven and
sound thin. And the dreaded Buffet disease also strikes on these models:
cracking of upper joints and barrels as well. Maybe there are some good E-11's,
but when just buying one from stock you almost certainly end up with a bad
instrument (well, maybe not bad but one which will give you lots of trouble).
On the other hand, I have some experience with plastic clarinets, too. I'm a
member of the Philips' Symphonic Band and sometimes we play full evening
'classical' concerts, sometimes we are going out as a marching band. For indoor
use I own a Leblanc Opus which is expensive while you can't even place a harp on
it (is this the right word? I mean a clip to hold marching music with which is
placed on the bell). So I had to buy something for more 'heavy duty - heavy
weather' use.
I've played on some plastic Buffets (I don't remember the type), some plastic
Holtons and one Vito. I didn't like the Buffets, on the same reasons as the
cheap wooden ones. The Vito was usable, but not too good. The Holtons are my
choice when wanting to buy a cheap instrument. In Holland they cost less than
$400.
Blowing is very easy, intonation good (they don't need much correction). Sound
is the same as with any professional instrument (!). The drawbacks are: rather
sensitive for temperature changes; the material is very soft so they get
scratched very easily; keywork is not very well finished.
Blowing is so open on this clarinet I had too choose a more resistant mouthpiece
to use with my Holton in order to match better with my Opus.
My advice to everyone who wants a clarinet under let's say $900,- is: just give
the Holton a serious try.

Luuk van Buul

--
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L.J.M. van Buul vanbuul@-----.com
Philips Research Waalre Philips Optoelectronics Centre
Prof.Holstlaan 4
5656 AA Eindhoven Tel. +31 40 2744649
The Netherlands Fax. +31 40 2744335
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