Klarinet Archive - Posting 000128.txt from 1999/04

From: Edinger/Gilman <wde1@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Eefers, cheap and otherwise
Date: Fri, 2 Apr 1999 23:57:22 -0500

Nicole wrote:

"I am also trying to purchase an Eb soprano clarinet. Being a high
school student, I cannot afford a very expensive one. I am in terrible
need of one. Brand and make does not matter to me, and I am willing to
purchase a used horn as long as it is in playing condition. If anyone
knows where I can purchase one for an extremely low price, please let me
know. Thanks to everyone in advance.
Nicole"

Having recently entered the wonderful world of eefers myself (as an
amateur), allow me to share some of my observations. The Eb is a
beautiful, enchanting instrument, but it is probably more demanding - or
at least less forgiving - than the Bb. Perhaps more importantly,
getting a particular instrument than will serve you well is known to be
much more difficult than with a Bb. The general word is that there are
almost no good plastic ones out there, and most of the rest "don't play
in tune." I'm personally evolving more toward the idea that none of
them play very well in tune unless you really work at it, and the best
ones simply make that more possible. The mouthpiece is similarly even
more important (is that possible?) than on a Bb. Reeds are a bigger
hassle too.
Are you sure you want to do this?
The top scorer seems to be the Buffet RC, the R13 having a much less
esteemed status. Patricola is getting rave reviews and costs far less
than the RC. But both of these are no doubt out of your price range, so
I'll cut to the chase: I got lucky with a used, beautifully
reconditioned Noblet, and I know of a professional who says his Noblet
is better than any Buffet Eb he's ever owned (I won't say who it is
because it was a private e-mail to me). A lot of pros use Noblet for
harmony clarinets because the quality/price ratio is so favorable, so
keep your eyes open. Otherwise, you're probably going to be stuck with
a Bundy. But they're still fun, and blow easier than anything. You
weren't trying out for the NY Phil with it, I assume.

By the way, why is it the middle line Bb on my Eb sounds so good? The
A+reg. key sounds even better than the A+side trill key, in fact. In
fact, many of the throat tones on it are much nicer than on my Bb's.

Bill Edinger

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