 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2000-12-21 02:33
Hi all. I've wanted my own Eb clarinet for years. Everytime a band or orchestra director has asked for someone to volunteer to play the Eb parts, I've always been the first to jump at the opportunity. I haven't really played too many peices on Eb...just Mahler 1, Berlioz - Roman Carnival Orverture for band, and the Holst Suites for band. Anyway, getting on with it...I've always had to borrow Eb's from friends or from the youth orchestra organisations who I play for, but I've never had my own. The state youth orchestra has a Buffet R-13 Eb and a Noblet..but once when both of those were being used, I was forced to borrow a friends Vito Eb (YUK!) lol..
Anyway, now I've finally come to the point of getting my own, and the local music store has ordered me in an R-13 Eb to try and possibly buy. I've played the R-13 before and thought it was quite good, so I told the store that ordering an R-13 would be the best bet. But I was just wondering if anyone could tell me some other brands that are known for making quality Eb's. I've been the the Yamaha ones arent bad? is that true? Any comments would be appreciated. Cheers.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2000-12-21 02:36
Sorry, I made a typo. At the bottom, it should read "I've HEARD THAT the yamaha ones arent bad"
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lisa
Date: 2000-12-21 03:45
I played on a very nice Selmer model Eb in high school. Of course, it was the only one I've ever played besides a Noblet, so I'm sure it seemed extra nice. But I found that I was able to get it in tune and produce a nice tone on it after some practice. Good luck and have fun buying a Eefer. I wish I had the money to get one of my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2000-12-21 04:08
I play a Yamaha pro model Effer and like it a lot. FYI--I was told by a NYC pro clarinetist to stay away from Buffet Effers and play a Selmer or LeBlanc instead because "they sound less like Holloween." Most "pro" players also use customized mps that allow the use of cut down Bb reeds. Good luck.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Daniel
Date: 2000-12-21 05:02
I play on a nice old Selmer series 9, from 1965. Bought it for $500 about 3.5 years ago, and couldn't be happier. Well, i could if i had a Patricola or a custom made Efer from Stephen Fox.
I haven't played the new Selmers cuz i can never find one, they usually only have MAYBE one at their Selmer booth at conventions.
The Buffets are okay. Not great though. The best Buffets are the RC Eb's that i've played. The R-13's tend to have a whiny or pinched sound and tuning isn't great. And stay away from the Buffet models that come in two parts, the tuning is worse on those (from my experience).
The Patricola is the best i've ever played, as far as commercial market is concerned. Since they're all handmade, more of them play great. The good ones have great projection and a beautiful, clear tone. The tuning is fabulous (though not perfect, of course).
Stephen Fox (if i had $2000) would be who i would buy an Eb from. He makes them custom to your preferences with his acoustic ideas. You get great craftmanship and even better tuning for not much more money than a Patricola and less than a Buffet R-13, or Selmer.
Alot of good professional Eb players use R-13's and RC/RC Prestige models. So they aren't all bad, but only getting one to try is a bad idea. You should try about 5 or 6 before you dump that kind of money onto the table.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gregory Smith
Date: 2000-12-21 05:34
As having had much experience playing the Buffet R13Eb and a Buffet RC Eb in both the San Francisco and Chicago Symphonies, I can say that it certainly goes without saying that one should play what they sound best on.....PROVIDED that they already know enough about the Eb clarinet through experience or from professional one on one advisement to determine what "best" actually is.
In my experience, the overall quality of the Eb clarinet sound, intonation, response, etc. is much more dependent on the equipment (clar, mthpc, reed, barrel) than on the Bb/A.
Having said that, the Buffet Eb's have dominated the market amongst top professionals the same as their Bb/A instruments have (and now their new Bass) for decades.
Gregory Smith
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2000-12-21 12:55
Thanks everyone for the advice. I wont have access to alot of the brands you mentioned because my store specialises in Buffet. They also keep Patricolas.. whatever happens, if i wasn't satisfied with the "one" they get in for me to try, I won't be buying it. My teacher also wouldn't let me. He always likes to test the instrument himself before he allows his students to buy it. Mr Smith it was great to get a reply from you, because I will hopefully be meeting you in April next year. I just got a letter from the University about a clarinet weekend in April which you will be holding masterclasses at the Queelsland Conservatorium. Im looking foward to it. Thanks all.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
