 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: studioline
Date: 2005-01-25 16:34
OK, this may sound stupid, but I am in search of a decent Eb clarinet and I'm not sure how high may expectations should be.
I've had a few on trial and also tried some in shops, and even though some of them have been nice, there have been annoyances with intonation. Is it normal for an Eefer to have a sharp A, B and C in the upper octave as well as the B,C, D just above the break.and then have a flat E and F in the altissimo? Is it normal that some of the notes seem stuffy, like the open G and the low G.
I just don't know if I'm expecting too much or if this is the norm.
(the A, B and C in the upper register are just about in tune if I play them without the register key)
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Author: graham
Date: 2005-01-25 16:39
My e flat ABC are sharp, but I don't have the other problems you mention.
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Author: William
Date: 2005-01-25 18:38
Eb clarinets are notorius for the intonation problems in the upper register as you have described. Often, the only answer is that they must be *played* in tune as they will not play "in tune" on their own. However, stuffy open G and G3 is not a normal problem. Perhaps there mght be a small leak that is causing the lower G to sound clearly or the F#4 pad may be adjusted too low, causing a "stuffy" G4 sound. Foreign tone hole "gunk" may also be the culpert.
The best Eb clarinet for the most reasonable cost is the Selmer Bundy Resonite model. Used is good and older is better.
Selmer pro models clarinets are used by many playing professionals as well as LeBlanc and Buffet pro models. They are expensive and will still have their own intonation joys to deal with. Again, there's nothing wrong with older used models--if you can find them.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2005-01-26 03:02
If I recall correctly, the A B and C were a bit flat on the first I auditioned. The Eb I ended up buying (R13) has quite good intonation, probably better than my Bb, and delightful tone through just about the whole range.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: mystery science dieter
Date: 2005-01-26 04:57
A perfect example of why it is worthwhile to pay a professional to select an eflat clarinet for you.
For a reasonable fee you can get an instrument that meets certain criteria. Mark Sloss, a regular here, can have Mark Nuccio (who plays the eflat clarinet with the New York Philharmonic) select an instrument for you. That will take the guesswork out of it. The price will still be very reasonable AND you won't be stuck mailing them back and forth.
As for eflat clarinets being 'notorious,' I suggest that should be applied to the player than to the instrument. Anyone who complains that his eflat clarinet is out of tune probably plays out of tune on bflat as well and isn't listening carefully enough.
Also, playing too loud on the eflat clarinet (another common disease) will make it much harder to play in tune OR to hear what you need to tune with.
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2005-01-26 10:52
I don't know anyone who doesn't have intonation issues when playing an e flat they have never used before.
Mystery Science Dieter...Studioline is a superb professional clarinettist with a long pedigree, and has more than enough talent to pick out an e flat without help. He can also play the B flat in tune very nicely.
You need longer trial periods with them Stu, you haven't played e flat in a good few years, and need some time to adjust. My e flat has intonation problems (as I'm sure you know) but you learn to correct them instinctively when you know an instrument.
Perhaps some lessons with a certain e flat teacher at your old college are in order? lol
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-01-26 14:14
Most Eb clarinets are designed to play with the barrel pulled out. Since doing this affects the notes played on a short length of the instrument more than the other notes, the one you tried is probably designed this way, too.
Many years ago, I played a Leblanc Eb in the University of Tennessee Band and the Knoxville Symphony that had to be pulled out almost until the cork showed at both the top and the bottom of the barrel. In addition to the physical instability, the large gaps between the tenons and the bottoms of the sockets threw off the intonation and response. I went to a hardware store and got a couple of washers that fit in a garden hose. I enlarged the inside to match the bore by wrapping sandpaper around a ball-point pen and rolling them back and forth, and I then took down the outside on sandpaper, until they fit in the sockets. The instrument played quite well, and in tune, with this adjustment.
Mouthpiece choice seems to affect Eb intonation more than on Bb. You might try several different makers.
Ken Shaw
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