Klarinet Archive - Posting 000582.txt from 2004/07

From: "Chuck Currie" <reedguy@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Can you offer guidance on Amati purchase ... (newbie)
Date: Thu, 15 Jul 2004 21:54:45 -0400

Dear Jon,

If your budget will stretch, Buffet makes a product in their German =
plant
from Grenadilla. It is their E 11 model, and is not a bad option. The =
wood
is pretty good, the tone holes are very accurately cut with Computer
Numerically Controlled mills. The key work is very hard metal and does =
not
adjust easily. Frequently the inner tone holes need a little =
cleaning-they
can be a little "rough around the edges." I have heard that this model =
is
quite popular in England for teaching young players who do not have =
large
enough hands for a Bb clarinet, but I have no evidence that is the case.

Some professionals use the E11 (but have it worked on and set up very =
well
indeed) instead of the only other option from Buffet, the Prestige, =
which is
about 5 times the money. At least, that was the case when I purchased =
mine.
One little glitch is that the A key is positioned quite far from the F# =
tone
hole and at quite an angle. If you were playing it a lot, you would get
used to it. Since I only use mine for Strauss and the odd Mozart and
Beethoven, I had the A key extended and re-angled to be more like my =
other
clarinets.

I brought three in here to Vancouver from International Music Suppliers =
in
Chicago. One was excellent ( I got that one), one was very good (a
Vancouver Symphony clarinetist purchase it), and the other was just OK =
(we
returned it.) IMS will send you several to choose from. I've done a =
fair
amount of business with them, and they have charged me for one horn when
sending three, and I just return the ones I do not choose. At the time, =
I
believe they cost about $900 American, but they may have gone up. =20

I believe you will find a C clarinet tone delightful. Just a little
brighter and sweeter than the Bb with a lovely ring. =20

Chuck Currie
Sax Noir Studio
www.saxnoir.com
reedguy@-----.net
604 254-9625
604 970-2694
2105 E 3rd Ave
Vancouver, BC
V5N 1H9
=20

-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Jacobowitz [mailto:fbjacobo@-----.net]=20
Sent: Thursday, July 15, 2004 9:35 PM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: Re: [kl] Can you offer guidance on Amati purchase ... (newbie)

Jon,
As a repairer of woodwinds and a teacher I have come across quite a=20
few Amatis. They are usually made sloppily but with good materials. If=20
the other guys like Bundy, etc. used their materials the results would=20
be significantly better than Amati. At $525 you are getting an=20
entry-level wooden instrumenet so don't expect much. It probably will=20
work but I wouldn't bet on tuning being useful for anything but jazz and =

folk. However, it would be noticeably out of tune in the hands of a=20
tyro. You get what you pay for.
You have two options for trying it out: 1) Pay your teacher or=20
another pro whom you trust to come out and try the horns for you 2)=20
bring a chromatic tuner and check each note against it. If using a=20
tuner, turn away from it and start playing the not (or do a few notes=20
and end on the note in question) and then, while holding it, turn and=20
look at the dial. That way, you aren't influenced by seeing the dial.=20
Frankly, I recommend the former option because with tuning, you have to=20
be able to consistently produce the same exact pitches, otherwise why=20
bother comparing instruments. Good Luck

Fred Jacobowitz
Ebony and Ivory Duo
Kol Haruach Klezmer Band

Jon Scott Higgs wrote:

>
> Can you please offer:
>
> 1- suggestions of things to look/listen for when examining and =
playing ?
>
> 2- suggestions of a systematic approach to assessment
>
> 3- or (wild hope !), is anyone interested in a short field trip to the =

> Amati distribution center -- you could explore the wide range of=20
> instruments of an interesting (and still inexpensive) Eastern European =

> brand and help an enthusiastic intermediate player avoid the=20
> teeth-gnashing and hair-tearing frustration of spending the next 5+=20
> years struggling with an instrument that is "off."
>
> My immediate plan is to go some day next week (7/19-23) -- I see that=20
> there is a big conference in Maryland, but it would cost $100+ travel=20
> to go see exhibits (I'm not a member, and not nearly skilled enough to =

> be a participant), and would probably not put an instrument in my =
hands.
>
> The month of August is my "prime time" to focus of practice -- I'd=20
> love to set aside my (eBay - $90) plastic Bb and start making progress =

> on a C instrument !
>
> Thanks in advance for suggestions and guidance of any sort !
>
> Jon Scott Higgs
>
> MSN Life Events gives you the tips and tools to handle the turning=20
> points in your life. http://lifeevents.msn.com
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
>
>

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