 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clari-hack
Date: 2009-02-04 23:39
Hi..
I am looking for an e flat clarinet. I have played some shows recently (Crazy for You, West Side Story, How to Succeed) with e flat in the part, and for some reason, the contractors who have hired me actually like the way I have played the borrowed bundy eefer. I figure it's time to pony up and get one of my own, but want to step up to something better.
I have been looking at 70's Selmers, Buffets and Noblets. My budget is around $1000 maybe a little more.
Any recommendations? How about mouthpieces? How are the Fobes? Any sources where I might shop for a used eefer?
Thanks in advance,
Steve
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2009-02-05 00:16
I've got a used Noblet that works pretty well for what I need. The altissimo is a bit flat, but it works if you finger a semitone higher than what you need. I got it a few years ago for about $700.
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2009-02-05 00:25
The Buffet E11 Eb clarinet is an amazing value and an excellent instrument. I know of one major symphony Eb clarinetist who has made it his instrument of choice! One of my students purchased one a few years ago; when she brought it to the Northwestern University Summer Music Institute they were taken aback with how good it was.
I like the Vandoren B44 mouthpiece for Eb clarinet, along with a Bonade ligature and cut-down Bb clarinet reeds.
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Author: clari-hack
Date: 2009-02-05 00:28
Hmmm.. cool. I was going to ask about the E 11. Thanks!LarryBocaner wrote:
> The Buffet E11 Eb clarinet is an amazing value and an excellent
> instrument. I know of one major symphony Eb clarinetist who has
> made it his instrument of choice! One of my students purchased
> one a few years ago; when she brought it to the Northwestern
> University Summer Music Institute they were taken aback with
> how good it was.
>
> I like the Vandoren B44 mouthpiece for Eb clarinet, along with
> a Bonade ligature and cut-down Bb clarinet reeds.
>
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2009-02-05 00:42
In that price range, the Noblet is aboout as good as you can get, perhaps a Buffet E11 new. Ithas a few bad notes (the high E is bad on all of this model that I've played) but it's a good horn overall. It is fairly LOUD too which might be good for your pit orchestra gigs. One of the players in the symphony here uses that Eefer in the symphony but I play a Buffet Prestige. He doesn't use any trick fingerings other than the E, adding the sliver key. I used this horn in high school and college myself.
If you get this horn definitely go with a better mouthpiece (Fobes, Grabner, Smith). I'm not sure if the Fobes Eb extension will fit on the Noblet but it is DEFINITELY worth it. Makes the Eefer much more in tune with itself and mellows out the tune. I'm fluctuating between between a Fobes and a Smith at the moment. The Fobes is a bit mellower, the Smith projects better.
Have fun with it and good luck in your search!
Eefer guy
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Author: DixieSax
Date: 2009-02-05 02:04
I found a Noblet Eb on the auction site last fall that seemed to be in decent shape, and got it for 300. Turns out it was in fantastic condition, but did need a repad. I gave it to my tech for a month and he repadded, polished the keywork and cleaned it up into like new condition for 175.
I added a mouthpiece of choice, and worked up my Eb chops, and it's a really nice horn for the price. I echo that the high Eb is a bit off, but overall, excellent value/money.
Of course your mileage may vary on price/technician costs to find something similar, but if you can find one and steal the deal, very well worth it.
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Author: Merlin_Williams
Date: 2009-02-05 03:43
Quote:
The Buffet E11 Eb clarinet is an amazing value and an excellent instrument. I know of one major symphony Eb clarinetist who has made it his instrument of choice! One of my students purchased one a few years ago; when she brought it to the Northwestern University Summer Music Institute they were taken aback with how good it was.
I'll second that recommendation. I play an E-11 eefer, and quite like it. It's even better with the Clark Fobes extension I got last year.
Jupiter Canada Artist/Clinician
Stratford Shakespeare Festival musician
Woodwind Doubling Channel Creator on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WoodwindDoubling
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Author: MBrad
Date: 2009-02-05 06:57
When I bought mine, I first tried Yamahas and Buffets. The Yamahas had *excellent* tuning compared to the Buffets, though in the end I went for one of the Buffets (it was considerably more even throughout and changing between registers, and didn't choke when playing high--though the throat tones are a bit sharper than I'd like). The E-11s that I have tried were also excellent.
I think your best bet is to focus on the instrument's tuning and ease in playing above the staff. Those are the most frequently problematic areas for me when sitting down with the eefer, and if the tuning is far enough out a different setup still might not save you enough trouble. After playing on a myriad of loaners--everything from old Buffets, Yamahas, and a gaggle of Leblancs--I found the tone quality was mostly dependent on my setup, much more so than on the larger clarinets.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2009-02-05 10:27
Hello,
Of all the e-flat mouthpieces I've tried, the Zinner blank is, hands down, the best, so any of the makers mentioned above (except VanDoren) will be good. Others make them too. Since everyone is using the same blank, go for the least expensive that you can find.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: redwine
Date: 2009-02-05 10:28
Hello Clari-hack,
Contact me off-line, if you wish. I may have a lead for you in finding a good used instrument.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: MartyMagnini
Date: 2009-02-05 11:17
I'll add my voice to the chorus praising the Buffet E-11. I bought one for a steal from a reputable dealer who was having a "blow-out" sale last year. I was expecting it to be an OK instrument, but it's actually quite nice. I wouldn't hesitate to use it in a professional setting. I had a Hawkins Eb mouthpiece from years ago - one he made for me when he was a student at Michigan - that helps tremendously. Next on my list: the Fobes extension.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2009-02-05 15:00
Hi Steve,
I have an old Series 9 Selmer that works really well. I have a Fobes barrel and mouthpiece and they are really a big help.
Ed
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Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2009-02-05 15:08
"Well a new E-11 Eb costs around 1900$ so it's a bit over the price tag mentioned."
Well, a local music emporium just quoted me $1395. Unfortunately they are currently on back-order.
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Author: NBeaty
Date: 2009-02-05 16:30
I hear the Lomax mouthpieces are quite good for Eb. I personally use a B44 Vandoren, and have heard many others having success with the B44 or 5RV vandoren mouthpieces.
The Fobes Extension would be worth investing in as well. The E11's seem to be hit and miss from instrument to instrument.
The Noblets can be good as well, and cost very little (relatively speaking). Try any of them out you can get your hands on with a tuner, keeping in mind that the Eb tends to take more "effort" to play in tune than Bb\A clarinets.
Good luck!
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Author: marshall
Date: 2009-02-05 21:26
I got a '77 R13 Eb (SN. 177,XXX) off of Ebay for a little over your budget price, and after a few pads and springs were replaced and tensions were adjusted, it was a fantastic Eb clarinet, especially since I put well under $2000 into it. Prowl around on ebay for a few weeks...you should be able to pick up a great instrument. Usually if it's from a shop (instead of an individual) you can get it on trial for a few days.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2009-02-05 23:31
I did try one of my student's school's Selmer Series 9 a few years back (it was probably from the mid-70s), and it was a PHENOMENAL instrument.
I wanted to try to put my Noblet in its case one day and keep the Selmer for myself! (I didn't, of course!)
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2009-02-06 13:49
For my purposes, I'm quite happy with my old Bundy. I got it on eBay, had my tech give it a once over, and am very pleased with it. I use a Vandoren B44 and a Buffet barrel which helped overall tuning and sound.
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Author: VirginiaClar26
Date: 2011-10-14 22:57
I have an E11 and I just purchased the Fobes extension and it does not fit my bell. I am assuming that I am going to have to buy a new bell made for the R13 model. Did your extension fit your E11 or did you have to buy a new bell?
Antoine Clark
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Author: puffball
Date: 2011-10-14 23:27
I also have an E11 that I purchased used about 7 years ago (it was a deal at $750). I'm very happy with it. It's not perfect, but it's very good. I find it relatively easy to play in tune in the altissimo register (as eefers go).
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Author: djphay
Date: 2011-10-14 23:28
If you have the chance to get a second hand Selmer wihtin your budget (assuming its not a total wreck) then, for what it is worth, I would urge you to go with that. Selmer seem to do eeffers very well, especially the intonation in the altissimo. I have a model from the 1980s, although it was a bit above your budget.
I use a Lomax Nick Carpenter mouthpiece which is really good, but it is a bit pricey. It was a close call between that mouthpiece and a standard Zinner (Lomax uses inner blanks) but the Lomax had the edge for me.
David
Rank amateur
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Author: VirginiaClar26
Date: 2011-10-14 23:33
My issue is that the Fobes extension is not fitting my E11 Eb Clarinet bell. I just ordered a new bell that is meant for a professional model to see if that will do the trick.
Dr. Antoine Clark
Kenyon College
Westerville Symphony/Auxiliary Clarinet
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Author: GBK
Date: 2011-10-15 01:47
[ To all: Please be aware that this thread was originally from 2009 - GBK ]
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2011-10-15 07:40
I have a no-name metal Eefer that I scored from a military band about 50 years ago. From the keywork I suspect it's a Buffet or a Buffet stencil. It plays and tunes well. I used a Noblet m/p for years, but recently tried it with a Yamaha C4 which plays much better.
Tony F.
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Author: William
Date: 2011-10-15 19:52
I like my Yamaha 681. Even scale ( with or without the Fobes extension) and pretty well in tune,even in that altissimo with normal fingerings. My mouthpiece of choice is a vintage Selmer HS** with Bb reeds.
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