 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: KaraClar
Date: 2004-02-04 21:36
I am looking for users of, or, comments on Patricola Clarinets from informed users. So what do ya' think?
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-02-04 23:04
oooh. I've been waiting for this one . . .
As I was browsing the old posts I noticed a very long patricola thread. And I bookmarked it waiting for the opportunity. And now the time has come . . .
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=50509&t=50509 There may be other discussions but this one is rather long and hits many different areas.
Alexi
PS - HAHA GBK! BEAT YOU TO IT!![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
US Army Japan Band
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Author: kenabbott
Date: 2004-02-05 01:05
Kara, I have four Patricolas: a Bb, an A, an Eb, and a C. The key action is great. The extra throat Bb mechanism is so-so. Occasionally, they have been known to have intonation problems, but mine are OK. If you're in the NYC area and want to try mine, let me know.
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2004-02-05 04:38
That's an interesting thread, Alexi, but it doesn't shed much light on Patricolas. From what I've read, Kenabbott's note is a good summary. Patricolas are worth considering. A year ago, I tried some and liked them. I don't remember many comments here in the last year; I wonder if they are selling lately?
WT
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-02-05 05:10
I don't remember many people saying stuff recently other but I think the general consensus is like any other clarinet. There are good ones, and not so good ones so you should try them out before buying them. The prices is certainly attractive though!
US Army Japan Band
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Author: justwannaplay
Date: 2004-02-05 09:44
The rosewood clarinet that flashes up here occasionally is very pretty. I wonder if they look like that in real life. I was thinking of going to the Patricola factory in Italy and have a look at them (when I can afford it), but I would like to hear more reassurance from experienced players here.
Elizabeth
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-02-05 16:40
Elizabeth, I wanted to do that a few years ago, visit the factory and get a Clarinet while there. They wouldn't allow that, "because there are Patricola dealers in the US." Eventually, crotchety old fool that I am, I said to heck with it and didn't buy one at all. Instead, I bought an Amati, the very instrument the original poster of the thread linked above said was only good for firewood or a lamp. Mine is an excellent instrument. Funny, it seems that people either are very impressed with new Amatis or hate them.
I still like Patricolas. If ever I move to Italy, maybe I'll get one.
Regards,
John
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-02-05 16:48
JMcAulay wrote:
> They wouldn't allow that, "because there are Patricola dealers in the US."
If I were a dealer in the US, I'd be po'd if people bypassed me, too - oftentimes the agreement with the manufacturer precludes the manufacturer from bypassing the distribution chain. Not a good idea to make dinner out of your distribution chain if you want to have them happy ... or have them eat the warrantee customer service costs when there was no profit in it for them.
But ...
Most if not all manufacturers of just about anything will be happy to ship the selected instrument to a dealer where you can pick it up.
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2004-02-05 17:21
Unrelated, sort of, but I'll say it anyway. At NAMM, Amati had a gorgeous full boehm in some other wood, I think not rosewood. It is not on the Amati site, but Graham Golden has a picture of probably the same instrument on his site. (He sells Amatis.) There are pros and cons of woods other than grenadilla, and you can search here and read them, but I'd love one of the reddish wood clarinets just cuz they are so nice looking.
WT
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2004-02-05 22:15
Wayne Thompson wrote:
> Unrelated, sort of, but I'll say it anyway. At NAMM, Amati had
> a gorgeous full boehm in some other wood, I think not rosewood.
> It is not on the Amati site, but Graham Golden has a picture
> of probably the same instrument on his site. (He sells
> Amatis.) There are pros and cons of woods other than
> grenadilla, and you can search here and read them, but I'd love
> one of the reddish wood clarinets just cuz they are so nice
> looking.
>
> WT
I believe that the instrument you are referring to is the Amati Mopani clarinet.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2004-02-06 04:33
I have a Patricola eefer. Very nice little horn. Fast action. Good sound (for an eefer). Pretty good intonation. I found the intonation of the pinch Bb to be better with the booster key closed off.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-02-06 06:39
I playtested the Mopani clarinet (being lucky enough to be 45 minutes away from the US warehouse for amati instruments). I thought it to be a VERY nice clarinet. As far as I could tell with my KORG tuner, it was well in tune with itself (although overall a little flat). As for the sound, I did hear a definite difference between that one, my own, and an Amati grenadilla (each had a slightly different tone). I tried them all with my current barrel and mouthpiece to check the variance in tone and resistance and checked the tuning with its own supplied (very short) barrel.
TO be truthful, I was very close to buying it, however, although it had a nice tone, I found one 604 to have a different, but equally pleasant tone. But I liked the sound of the 604's tone to be better so that's the route I went. But it sure was a close one . . .
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-02-06 19:14
Mark C: For the sake of brevity, my post didn't contain the whole story.
The reason I eventually said to heck with it: All four US Patricola dealers were sent emails, and none returned all information requested. It had been my intent to deal through one of them and pick up the instrument at the factory.
My email basically said, "Please provide price and delivery information on the following items, only one of which will be purchased: (three models were listed)."
One dealer sent me a catalog, and no detailed information at all; one asked me to call a certain person at their shop who could respond to any questions (?); one provided a price (after about a month) on one instrument which was in stock; and the other told me I should not try to select a professional instrument based on price, and then offered a less expensive house brand.
My reason for wanting information on the three models related to type of wood and key configuration, so I could find out the cost differences. Had any one of those dealers treated me in a reasonable manner, I would have purchased a Patricola Clarinet through that dealer, planning to pick it up in Italy.
Never before had I been given the brush-off by an entire group of dealers of a specific maker's products. Frankly, this was to me an adverse reflection on Patricola itself, as well as the dealers. If no dealer would give straight answers on price and delivery to someone ready to buy, imagine the sort of response an owner might later get in the event of a problem. No, thanks.
If this is someone's idea of how to deal with casual enquiries, well, they'd better have that crystal ball polished and calibrated, so they can tell which are truly serious. Very important rule in retailing: Always treat every potential customer as a real customer.
YMMV. I hope it does.
Regards,
John
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2004-02-06 19:16
It normally goes the other way - you select a clarinet at the factory and pick it up at a dealer. I don't think it can legally be done the other way.
But that should have been explained.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-02-07 01:20
Mark,
I've been told that you CAN purchase and pick it up at the factory, however what the factory would have to do is first have you pay the dealer, then they charge the dealer for the instrument. Then you can pick it up at their factory. However it gets very 'hairy' if you're buying from an out of state/country dealer due to sales tax, or import/export taxes and the fact that it isn't being delivered to an out of state or country location.
Therefore, if you're buying from a dealer that would have delivered it to you, it's probably best just to wait the extra time and pay the small delivery charge instead of trying to figure out all that red tape.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-02-07 02:45
Mark C. wrote: "It normally goes the other way - you select a clarinet at the factory and pick it up at a dealer. I don't think it can legally be done the other way."
If necessary, that could have worked for me.
"But that should have been explained."
I would think so, along with a few other things.
But hey, as things turned out, I like my Amati and spent something like a thousand dollars less, Patricola? Maybe someday.
BTW, two emailers have asked me to identify which dealer was which, but I don't think that would serve any useful purpose.
Regards,
John
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