Klarinet Archive - Posting 000546.txt from 1996/05

From: Fernando Silveira <fersilv@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: Buying a new clarinet
Date: Thu, 23 May 1996 16:55:28 -0400

At 10:55 23/05/96 +0100, you wrote:
>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
>
>--
>===========================================================================
=====
>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
>===========================================================================
=====
>
>In some points i aggre with you, but you have to see that these
instruments(Buffet E-11 and Amati) prepair and improve your students with
the same fingering about R-13, Prestige and Opus. Of course, many of your
students yearn for to be a proffessional, and, of course, will play with one
of the professional models available on the market.
The horns I have on my class are good. They are made with a good wood, the
intonation is always better the plastic clarinets and the fingering is easy,
at least, for the young ones.
Cheers
Fernando Silveira
Principal - National Symphony - Brazil

   
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