Klarinet Archive - Posting 000573.txt from 2000/01

From: "Kevin Fay (LCA)" <kevinfay@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Eefer!
Date: Mon, 17 Jan 2000 16:39:47 -0500

Patra Healey asked:

<<<I am in the market to purchase an Eb soprano clarinet. I have not done
any
real research on it yet, but does anyone have any input on this. I know
that I need to just go and try them out, but it would be nice to have some
idea of where to start.>>>

Eefer -- another favorite subject of mine. I play a lot of it -- the more
you play it, the more fun it gets. My opinions/preferences:

When I bought my latest Eb (about 7 years ago), I had a mail order house
send me 2 each of Buffet, Leblanc and the only Selmer they had in stock.
The Buffets played better in tune, so I bought the one I liked better. It's
an R-13; there may be other models of Buffet Eb marketed now. Leblanc has
an Opus Eb for sale; I don't know if it's acoustically different than the
model I tried years ago (but costs a LOT more). Someone on the list has had
good luck with Patricolas, too -- since they are cost-effective, try one of
those too.

As a gross generalization, tuning on the little horn is much more squirrelly
than the bigger siblings. In particular, you altissimo is apt to play a bit
flat -- this is one of the characteristics you should test for, both in the
selection of the instrument and the mouthpiece.

As far as reed strength goes, this depends totally on your mouthpiece. Very
critical to get a mouthpiece that works for you.

A couple of years back, Peter Hadcock was interviewed in The Clarinet about
Eb playing. He recommended a Dan Johnston mouthpiece very highly. Since I
was using Dan Johnstons on my Bb/A at the time, I didn't need a lot of
convincing to get one for the little guy. It works. Dan builds 'em with
the expectation that you won't use an Eb reed, but a Bb reed with the butt
cut down -- nevertheless, I tend to use Vandoren Eb reeds on it.

The best mass-marketed Eb mouthpiece I have tried is the Hite. It plays
remarkably well in tune for me. It is physically quite thin, however, so
you may have to purchase a Rovner ligature to hold the reed on. I can't get
a note out of the Vandorens that I have tried.

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