Klarinet Archive - Posting 000016.txt from 2000/03

From: "Dee D. Hays" <deehays@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] New Eb Clarinet?
Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 10:35:07 -0500

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jonathan Cohler" <cohler@-----.net>
Subject: [kl] New Eb Clarinet?

> To all the Eb experts out there,
>
> We are getting ready to purchase a new Eb clarinet at one of the colleges
> where I teach and I would like some advice on what would be the best
choice
> given that the primary concerns are:
>
> 1. Intonation
> 2. Quality
>
> Thanks in advance for your help!
>
> Best regards,
> Jonathan Cohler

I can't classify myself as an expert as I've only been playing Eb for a
short time but perhaps I can still be a little helpful.

Since it is for the college and, as one of the other posters said, won't be
replaced for a very long time, a professional grade instrument is probably
the wisest investment in this context. As with any other clarinet purchase,
try out several brands and models. If you could hold off until the
clarinet fest, it would give you an opportunity to try out some of the less
common ones (I've read good things about Patricola but of course haven't
tried one).

Try to arrange for an experienced Eb player to test them out for you. Some
one who has not played them much won't have developed the embouchure and
technique and may have problems checking the tuning since they will tend to
play sharp on the bottom and flat on the altissimo (similar to what
beginners experience on the Bb when they first enter the altissimo range).

Everything that affects tuning and tone on the Bb clarinet is magnified on
the Eb instrument. So when you have someone play this is the college
groups, give them plenty of time to get used to the instrument and develop
their technique. If the person just picks it up a few days ahead of time,
they will really be struggling. They need time to develop the additional
embouchure, breath support, and voicing to play the altissimo in tune.

A good mouthpiece is even more important on the Eb than the Bb. So plan to
work on that selection too.

The Eb must be played in tune. Even the height of your fingers above the
holes will affect the tuning to a noticeable degree.

What do I use? A plastic Selmer Bundy that I picked up at a pawn shop for
$85. At the time I couldn't justify spending more to buy something that I
just wanted to experiment with. Most of the pads were in good shape but
four needed replaced, which I did myself. I replaced the mouthpiece with a
Vandoren 5RV (at $55 it was almost as much as the instrument). With the
Bundy mouthpiece that came with it, tuning was impossible and it was
horridly sharp in the chalumeau and clarion ranges (couldn't pull the barrel
enough to get in tune). When I switched to the 5RV, the tuning in these
ranges came down to where it could be adjusted as required by pulling the
barrel a fraction. At this point, my altissimo was flat above the D.
However, I simply kept practicing and one day all of a sudden, as if someone
had flipped a switch, my altissimo from E to G snapped into tune. I had
"found" the voicing. But don't ask me exactly what I did, I don't know.

I have found that I really enjoy playing the Eb. It is so much more
responsive than the Bb. Of course this responsive is also the reason it is
harder to play. When I'm having a good day, it has such a sweet, cheerful
sound (but I won't mention the sound on a bad day). Someday, I hope to
invest in a better instrument. But for the moment, the Bundy works for me
and I can play it in tune with the band without undue strain. The piccolo
and I even had a two bar exposed solo at our last concert and we were in
tune with each other (hooray!).

Good luck,
Dee Hays
Canton, SD

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