 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Zaciscooll158
Date: 2010-08-26 16:53
Recently, I was accepted into the 2010-2011 season for Sr. MYWE, the top band at the New England Conservatory prep school. It's considered to be at or above allstate level. My Buffet E11 has given me a few years of good use, but i think it's time to upgrade. I also play in a local youth orchestra. My family doesn't have very much money (i need scholarships for EVERYTHING), but my teacher keeps telling me how much I need to upgrade. A pair of clarinets would be ideal, seeing as I need an A often for orchestra. Any ideas on where to get a decent clarinet without paying too too much for it? and should I go for an r13, or is there something else that would be cheaper that would be a better bet for me? Any help would be great.
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Author: EEBaum
Date: 2010-08-26 17:53
Given that you need an A, getting a pair may indeed be a reasonable course of action. You could, though, just get an A for the time being. I bought my current ones a few years apart.
I'm not terribly fond of the 5RVLyre. It's not a bad mouthpiece, but I've found it pretty limiting. I've tried playing my Hawkins B on my plastic Yamaha, and my 5RVLyre on my R13, and I prefer the Hawkins/Yamaha combo. So you may get more mileage shopping around for a different mouthpiece than a new clarinet.
What makes you think you need to upgrade? Any particular deficiency getting in the way?
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-08-26 18:43
As Alex mentioned, you should be upgrading to address specific issues with your equipment and what it does or does not do. Start making a list of the current issues you are experiencing, and try to find the least expensive remedy to each one, in order of importance.
For value, if you are searching for a matched set of horns,look at the Lyrique Bb and A clarinets. Lots of bang for the bucks.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: Zaciscooll158
Date: 2010-08-26 19:29
it's not a bad clarinet my any means. trust me, i love it. however, it tends to be stuffy. My teacher gave me a barrel that helps make it more free blowing, but it still isn't wonderfully responsive.
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2010-08-26 21:16
I also say get a new mouthpiece. I have a friend that can play circles around others in their studio with a set of E11s (Bb, A and Eb) against people with everything under the sun. If your parents are suffering from money issues, (which I know can be a problem), finding another good E11 A would be a good choice, at least for now. I was just looking through the classifieds here also, and saw someone had a Ridenour Lyrique set for sell. Look into that as well.
I play on a Genussa GE, but have also heard good things about Fobes, Hite, Hawkins and Portnoy and many others of course.
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: SantiandCo
Date: 2010-08-28 21:34
since it seems that are you are a knowledgeable clarinet player if you've received scholarships then i must assume you definetly dont play with the mouthpiece that came with your E-11. Personally I detest the E-11. it is horrible how Buffet can sell a $800-$1000 clarinet that suffers from so many intonation prblems simply because it has the label "Buffet-Crampon Made in France" tag. After buying a a new clarinet buying a new mouthpiece is the next best thing. That you can ask on the forum or your teacher. After that a new barrel can really help the e-11's intonation deficiencies. i recommend a buffet moennig barrel. but if you're really short on money a ridenour ivorolon barrel might work just as well for half the price. if you're set on a new clarinet i recommend buying the lyrique rcp 576-bc clarinet which goes for around the same price for an e-11 except its probably 1000 times better. it comes with two different barrels which work maginificently, and they're tuning barrels depending on you intonation quality. i'd also recommend buying it with the ridenour professional mouthpiece. the problem is that since you are in a "prestigious" school you might be persecuted and maybe made fun of because it is such an uknown company and mainly more than anything because its a rubber clarinet. my own teacher tried to make a mockery of me but after playing one piece for him with it he never said another word about afterwords. believe me it works like a charm but $1000 is $1000 so if its too much i'd recommend a mouthpiece and barrel upgrade for your E-11.
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