Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-06-01 18:27
Hank,
I don't know what Buffet is doing with their new French-made E11s but, for years, they deliberately manufactured the German E11s to play at A = 442. (This is probably why we sometimes see posters to this board complaining that they play sharp.) In their advertising, Buffet described the E11 (at least the German one) as a (wooden) student model, not an intermediate model. As I recall, (OK, I'm too lazy to do an extensive search) it was Francois Kloc who said their reason for pitching the E11 a little on the sharp side was that they found that kids beginning on clarinet tended to play flat relative to kids on other instruments -- because of undeveloped embouchures. Apparently their experience was different than yours. (Or maybe most of your kids played E11s and B12s and Buffet knew what they were doing. ) In any case, while I've never heard it from an official source, it wouldn't surprise me to learn that Leblanc was doing the same thing with the Bliss.
Two comments, Alleson... (1) IMO, if it's still available and truly in like-new condition from a local seller, I think the YCL-52 is probably your best option. Yamaha is the one "Big-4" company that is really willing to compete on price. At any given price point, the Yamaha will generally be 1/2 step to a whole step higher in the company's line than the competition. Ask the seller to run it through their shop to make sure it's in good playing condition. They'll probably be willing to do that to make the sale. If the YCL-52 isn't local, it may still be the best deal from a financial standpoint (after all, used YCL-52s in "like new" condition are bringing around $500 on eBay so even if your daughter doesn't stick with the clarinet, you'll be out less than you would be if you rented a lesser instrument). On the other hand, there's more risk involved -- perhaps more than a parent looking for his child's first instrument ought to take. (2) Never underestimate the importance of "shiny new looking" to most kids starting on an instrument . Of course, you know best how your child is on this issue.
Best regards,
jnk
Post Edited (2010-06-01 18:30)
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