 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-10-01 22:05
Hi
In the last few days I've tried many clarinets and some mouthpieces and I thought I should write my opinions on all of them. I think this is going to be long...
First I'll compare both Buffet and Selmer bass clarinets.
Selmer bass clarinet pros:
- The (usualy) problematic notes that most bass clarinets have were simply not problematic. The notes from F to Ab were just as easy to play a good staccato than any other notes.
- Feels smaller on your hands. I'm not sure but I think the keys were actually smaller.
Selmer bass clarinet cons:
- Slightly stuffy low notes (mostly C and C#).
- Slightly uncomfortable keywork. I'm used to the Buffet so some keys felt like they weren't there, then I looked and saw I have to strech my finger to reach them.
Buffet bass clarinet pros:
- Very woody clarinety and amazing sound. Both on high and low notes. Considering only the sound there is no contest, the Buffet is much nicer.
- Excellent keywork, very easy to play.
- Clear throat notes and very full low notes.
Buffet bass clarinet cons:
- I'm not sure if it's the wood or the key design (forgot to check) but it feels wider than the Selmer. I'm used to it so it didn't bother me at all.
- Slightly more problematic F to Ab notes. Takes a bit more effort to get them right than on the Selmer.
Moving on to Bb and A clarinets.
I've played Buffet, Leblanc, Eaton, and Patricola.
Buffet R13 A/Bb - Very consistent, almost like perfect duplicates. Excellent intonation and keywork, good throat notes, and lovely sound. The best A clarinet of these (and the best overall A clarinet of all brands) was a nickel plated R13. When I try a clarinet, I'd like to be amazed by its sound first, then check for everything else. I wasn't amazed by the sound of any of the R13s but that is a matter of taste.
Leblanc Concerto Bb/A - Very consistant. Slightly different sound than the Buffets. Very good keywork and nice sound. Comparing to the Buffets I liked these slightly less because their sound wasn't as full. Intonation was just as good as on the Buffets.
I prefered the Concerto over the Opus since I never use the extra Ab/Eb key.
Eaton Bb - I fell in love with this one as soon as I played the first note. The sound (no matter what you play) almost makes you cry from joy. I have no words to describe it really. The keywork is excellent. The only thing that will take a bit of getting used to is the register key. I think it can be adjusted but it's not hard to get used to it.
Patricola Bb/A Rosewood - What I liked very much on these was the sound. It is a bit thinner than the Buffets, but that makes it special. For an A clarinet I would even prefer the Patricola over the Buffet because of the difference in sound. I like the variety and the Patricola sound was fresh. Unfortunately the keywork was poor. For example when playing the C with your pinky, it is hard not to press the B key also. It looked like a poor imitation of Buffet keywork. The throat Bb was VERY stuffy but very much in tune. Closing and opening the extra hole didn't change the Bb at all. The side Bb had a very nice sound and wasn't stuffy at all.
Bass clarinet mouthpieces:
Selmer C* - Excellent mouthpiece. Very easy blowing. Played especially well on the Selmer bass clarinet.
Selmer C** - This one was too hard for me to play even with a 2.5 reed, so I didn't give it too much attention.
Ridenour - Very easy blowing (just slightly less than the Selmer C*) but a bit edgier sound. This was the best bass clarinet mouthpiece I tried.
Bay - Harsh sound but good control. This one had the best volume control but the sound was somewhat fuzzy and was a little too aggressive for me.
Grabner - As far as ease of playing this was the best mouthpiece. Slightly less aggressive than the Selmer C* but offers more control. the sound was a little less impressive and a bit lacking in overtones.
Vandoren B40 - The only mouthpiece with some resistance. Nice full sound but too resistant for me.
I also wasn't impressed with Selmer 120 C85 and Pyne, but I don't remember much about them.
Bb clarinet mouthpieces:
Selmer E - Very open and somewhat too reisitant. Didn't like it.
Grabner - Like the bass clarinet mouthpiece it was very easy blowing and had nice control but lacked in overtones.
Pyne - Somewhat stuffy sound and too hard to play even with soft reeds.
Gigliotti 4 - On most Bb and A clarinets (especially the Buffets and Leblancs) this one was the best. Fairly easy blowing (it's quite open) and very full sound with excellent volume control.
Pomarico Crystal Sapphire - Somewhat resistant like a lot of Crystal mouthpieces, but better than avarage. On the Patricola this mouthpiece was the best for sound, but the resistance was a bit annoying.
Pomarico wood 1 and 2 - Very unique sound. Model 1 is more easy blowing than model 2 (because it's much less open) but both are very similar in sound. The sound is very different than the Crystal Pomaricos of course.
Eaton - My favorite sound was when using the Eaton mouthpiece with the Eaton clarinet. It gave a very unique sound which I've never heard before. Surprisingly, this mouthpiece was not so good on the Buffets, Leblancs and Patricolas, and the Eaton clarinet was not as good with any other mouthpiece.
I hope someone finds whis information helpful or interesting.
Post Edited (2004-10-02 17:28)
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Author: fargus
Date: 2011-02-10 20:24
I'm wondering what bass mouthpiece/reed/ligature might darken the bright tone of my Selmer a little. I mean, the tone is beautiful but a little darkness would be nice. I'm currently using a Walter Grabner LB mouthpiece with a Vandoren 2.5 reed and a bog standard metal ligature.
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Author: CEC
Date: 2011-02-10 23:19
Much thanks!
Did you try the Eaton Elite or the International?
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-02-11 14:37
I've found, and Everett Matson and Kal Opperman confirmed, that Selmer bass mouthpieces are made of excellent rubber but are very inconsistent. The manufacturing machines are badly worn and out of adjustment, and they don't sell enough bass (or contra) mouthpieces to recover the cost of retooling. The C* is what almost every refacer starts with.
I played an early Eaton soprano mouthpiece for a couple of years. It has a great, "clarinetty" tone, but, for me, it makes only that one tone, and I want to make many tones. I liked his bass mouthpiece very much.
Pyne uses an asymmetrical design, and reeds need to be specially adjusted to work on them. You can't evaluate them without matching the reed to the mouthpiece.
Ken Shaw
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Author: srattle
Date: 2011-02-11 14:50
clarnibass:
Thanks so much for these little comparisons/reviews.
Can I request a little more depth in your descriptions of the sound and feel of each clarinet?
Could you say what you liked especially about playing the eaton? why you say you don't like the sound of the R13s, but then go on to say that although the Leblanc has a good sound, you like it less than the buffets?
I would also be interested what you find interesting in the sound of the patricola.
I'm on a search at the moment for new instruments, and have also some comments to make, maybe later, but Eaton and Patricola, I've never thought about trying.
Thanks so much
Sacha
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Author: davetrow
Date: 2011-02-11 19:25
It sounds to me like the combo of the Grabner MPC with the Buffet BC would be ideal for me.
I just started playing a 20-year old Buffet 1193 that belongs to the local community college, and have fallen deeply in love with it, for precisely the reasons you mentioned above. (I was using a worse-for-wear Selmer 9 to Eb from the local high school.)
I'm using a Fobes Nova MPC with the Buffet, which is good enough for now, although I'm going to try out the Vandoren B44 that came with it to see if it raises the pitch, as it's impossible to play the horn in tune until it's well warmed up--there's no place to go as far as "pushing in."
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
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Author: fargus
Date: 2011-02-13 17:22
I found the Hite Bb clarinet mouthpiece gives a nice dark sound. Wondering if the Bass Clarinet version would give a similarly dark sound. Anyone have any experience with it?
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Author: fargus
Date: 2011-02-13 17:37
Sorry, I just found a couple of threads re the Hite bass mouthpiece....
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