Klarinet Archive - Posting 000557.txt from 2004/09
From: CBA <clarinet10001@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Eb Clarinet
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 2004 14:58:26 -0400
For anyone looking for an Eb, I have a suggestion...
I have a Rosewood Patricola Eb that I *love* for SO many
reasons. Here is a link to the Woodwind/Brasswind page for them.
http://www.wwbw.com/Patricola-Model-CLE-Eb-Clarinet-i43549.music
I got mine back in 2001 and it is exceptional. Others on this
list have lauded the praises of this company, but in use, I
can't think of an Eb i would rather use. I have used Selmers,
Leblancs, Buffets (even the Prestige RC Eb) and the Patricola is
a much better beast, for sure.
The Patricola Eb has things that are options on most other
instruments (or are the items you buy the Prestige for...)
1. metal tenon rings
2. alternate Ab/Eb key on left hand
3. throat Bb vent key
4. undercut tone holes
5. articulated G#/C# (that CAN be turned off by the turn of a
screw if you don't want it)
I would say if you live in a very moist climate, I would stay
with the Grenadilla wood, but I love my Rosewood, even being
back in the South again with the humidity.
I know 4 professional clarinet players who use a Patricola Eb
exclusively, and are very happy with the results, and not just
because of the price.
And did I mention price? The Buffet Prestige RC Eb Clarinet is
$4196 (ON SALE) and the Patricola Grenadilla Eb is $1875 and the
Rosewood Eb is $2075...that's HALF the cost of the Buffet! Buy
two! LOL!
I purchased an Eb and C from Patricola in Rosewood, and use them
almost as much as I use the Bb/A instruments I have now. If you
are going to spend that much on an Eb clarinet, I believe you
should consider getting a custom instrument.
If you are willing to pay more (even though the Patricola PLAYS
like a $4000 instrument, and not a $2000 one) I suggest checking
out Steve Fox in Toronto.
http://www.sfoxclarinets.com/
He has an Eb clarinet, and I can vouch after trying it in
Washington DC at ClarinetFest that it is AMAZING! If I can
manage to pull up the money for it, I will be getting a D
clarinet from him in the future. The CANADIAN price is
$3,800.00, which USED to be a LOT less than Buffet, but the
conversion (with our wonderful economy in the US now) is
$3,012.84. This is a CUSTOM Eb and is a WONDERFUL instrument! It
is also $1000 less than Buffet's Prestige for a CUSTOM
instrument.
So, just to reiterate...I don't think ANYONE should pay $4000
for an Eb clarinet...FOR ANY REASON. There are enough Eb
instruments out there that are FAR better than the one you are
talking about, and at half the price. You owe it to yourself to
try out both of these instruments before taking the Buffet
plunge.
Oh, and while we are at it...Clark Fobes and Walter Grabner
(both on the list) make a mean Eb clarinet mouthpiece...these
mouthpieces can tame the biggest or smallest of the Eb beasties!
Kelly Abraham
Woodwinds - Computer Geek
Hattiesburg, MS (doing Masters degree)
--- Elgenubi@-----.com wrote:
> Pascal Archer wrote:
>
> "I would like to purchase a Buffet RC "Prestige" E-flat
> clarinet and was wondering if anyone on this list was
> selling such an instrument.=A0 I have called many music
> stores in America and there's none available at this
> time."
>
> Try this: call The Music Group, the Buffet owners, at their
> United States
> office in Sun Valley, California, at 818-252-6305. (This was
> their number two
> years ago when they were Boosey and Hawkes; I assume it is the
> same now.) They
> may have some in stock, which you can then arrange to buy
> through whichever US
> music store you wish to work with. Or maybe they can tell you
> where they
> have shipped such a clarinet recently. Good Luck!
>
> Wayne Thompson
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