 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: srattle
Date: 2011-12-11 18:53
I'm sure this has been written before, but somehow I can't find a thread.
Could you all please tell me your preferences for eb clarinets? Especially which instruments you have found to play the most in tune?
I understand that everyone is different etc. but I would like to buy an effer in the coming month and I am unsure where to start (I've only tried buffets and I've found them pretty wonky intonation-wise)
Thank you so much
Sacha
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Author: Trevor M
Date: 2011-12-11 19:11
In my limited experience, all the smaller clarinets are inescapably wonky by comparison with the Bb. A really good tech who's not afraid to enlarge or besmallen tone holes and make new barrels can go a long way to ameliorating this. I'd say 'shop around and try a lot of them', but that's really hard to do. (I play a Patricola, for what it's worth. My regular horns are Buffets.)
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Author: srattle
Date: 2011-12-12 16:13
I could really use some help here.
Does anyone know anything? I've heard good things about Patricola, but mainly about sound, not so much with intonation or mechanics. How is Selmer? or Leblanc? or Yamaha?
Thanks very much!!!!
Sacha
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Author: gwie
Date: 2011-12-12 16:30
I purchased a Yamaha Custom Eb (YCL-881) for a student last year. It had very good intonation, was comfortable to play, with a wonderful sound even up in the high register.
I've played several Buffet Prestige RC's years ago when I needed an Eb, and while they were all quite good they certainly were not as intonation-friendly as this Yamaha.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-12-12 16:43
I've heard good reports on the Yamaha YCL-681 from a reasonably local player (a Buffet player) who chose one over Buffet, Selmer and Leblanc Ebs.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2011-12-12 20:18
Hi!
I play a Buffet Prestige and LOVE it. It is not just my opinion as when Walter Grabner overhauled it for me he was equally impressed.
Saying that, adding the Fobes extension makes the whole horn play in better tune with itself and somehow sweetens the sound as well.
Presently I used a Greg Smith mouthpiece and a Chadash barrel, with VanDoren Optimum ligature and Gonzalez 3 1/2-4 FOF Bb clarinet reeds that have chopped down on the butt end to fit the mouthpiece. I have also used the Fobes and Grabner mouthpices succesfully and i go back to each for specific pieces (like Bolero).
It is such a cool instrument. ENJOY!
Eefer guy
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Author: Ralph
Date: 2011-12-13 10:44
I purchased (used) an early generation Selmer Recital Eb a few years ago and have been pleased with the instrument. It has a beautiful sound and overall the intonation is good. If I were in the market for a new instrument, I would definitely have this on my list.
Ralph
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2011-12-13 17:48
I have an R13 which is very good, but it has its fair share of tuning "wonkiness" as mentioned above. I personally like the E-flat extensions, but they are not for everybody.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: Trevor M
Date: 2011-12-13 18:39
Clark is really nice about giving you a trial period on the extension, if you're unsure. I ended up buying one from him, although I am a little on the fence about how much it actually helps (in the lowest notes, it does slightly change the character of the sound more toward that of a Bb, at least on my horn).
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2011-12-13 19:07
I like my Patricola. Well built, as in tune as any other eefer I've tried.
Jerry
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2011-12-13 20:00
Up until the last two years, I played most of the Eb parts in the Nashville Symphony since about 1999 or 2000. Just throwing that out there to let you know I have played it professionally. Anyway, here's my take. I've played an R13 and it was fine, but intonation was finicky. I had a rosewood Patricola for a while and really liked it. The tone/intonation was great and it was very flexible. My only complaint was a lack of power or, I might say, an ability to project in the big works of Strauss or Mahler. So, I tried the Buffet RC and the Prestige RC. The regular RC was great, but the prestige was quite a bit better. Also, I liked the spacing of the keys on the Prestige for my big fingers and in particular, the sliver keys are shorter and out of the way. Life with the Prestige was fine overall, but I missed the subtleties of the Patricola. Then I tried the Yamaha; I think it's the 881, the top of their line. For me the Yamaha does it all. Tuning is so easy and I really like the tone. The altissimo is right on; I can play high F#s all day long which is pretty helpful if you are ever facing Shosti 5. Finally, I'll say about the Yamaha that it does what I want it to do and I don't feel it plays me, something the Prestige did...
I had an Fobes extension on my Prestige and there was a marked difference. I like my Yamaha without it.
For a mouthpiece I suggest a B40 paired with a cut off Vandoren White Master 3. Recently I switched to a Backun and I am pretty happy with it also. I use an old gold Harrison ligature.
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Author: Fishamble
Date: 2011-12-14 10:13
Sacha, I've a Patricola. I've not responded because I'm not very experienced with Eb, but here's what I can say:
I struggle with the intonation from ![[B5]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/b5.gif) up. I have a range of alternative fingerings that are accurate, but not really fluent for me. Can't say if it's typical Eb wonkiness or worse, but I certainly don't feel the security That Dave in the previous post describes with his Yamaha.
The key work is very comfortable for me, and I like the fact that there are a number of adjustable bumpers that make it easier to keep the keys tightly regulated.
The biggest factor in getting to grips with the instrument was choosing the mouthpiece. I visited Howarth's and got to try Gregory Smith, Moba, Fobes, Grabner, Zinner, and Lomax mouthpieces. I originally used a B44. They all played very differently for me, the Smith and Grabner being my favourites. None affected the intonation for better or worse. For what it's worth, I went with the Smith; it's sound is beautiful, and its response was just the most lively of the ones I tried. I've been complemented on the sound of the instrument.
I 'get' what people say about he Patricola's sound being less strident than other Eb's, my playing doesn't have the projection I've heard from others. But to be honest I haven't had the opportunity to play other Ebs for proper comparison, and I'm probably stupidly comparing myself to good players!
David.
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Author: William
Date: 2011-12-14 14:23
Eb clarinets that play in tune???? For me, Eb clarinets are PLAYED in tune and I have two effers on which intonation can be controlled: my old, trusty Bundy Resonite and my more sophisticated Yamaha 681 which I prefer for its sound. I do use a Forbes extension with the Yamaha, but it does not make that "big" a difference. It mostly smooths the transition over the "break", something the Yamaha is already quite even at. My mpc is an old stock Selmer HS** which I play with Forestone reeds and a Winslow Ligature.
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Author: Joseph Tomasso
Date: 2011-12-15 06:26
I purchased a rosewood Eb that I am absolutely in love with. I will be playing it in a few weeks in my next orchestra concert on Candide so it will get its first orchestral performance.... i'm not terribly worried about projection on it, especially for that, but so far at home it plays wonderfully in tune with minimal effort.
Bachelor of Music, Sax/Clarinet Performance (2005, 06)
Master of Music, Multiple Woodwind Performance (2008)
Master of Music, Oboe Performance (2013)
Gainesville Chamber Orchestra (Clarinet)
University of Florida 2010-2011(Visiting Lecturer in Woodwi
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Author: Benjamin
Date: 2011-12-16 20:58
I've played mostly Buffet (RC & Prestige) while subbing in the Houston Symphony and performing at the Lucerne Festival which I found to be very good. I also like the Yamaha 881 models I've tried which felt very even and easy to play, but with a bit less complexity in the sound than the best Buffets I've tried. However, the best Eb I've played hands down was a friend's Rossi. If you're willing to wait a year to get one and it's not out of your price range, that's the way to go!
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2011-12-19 16:38
I have a Bundy and am waiting not-so-patiently for a new (longer) barrel to come in the mail. A friend of mine recently bought a Buffet Tosca and loves it. She lives across the country in Oregon now, so I can't hear her play it.
(c'mon, I just want to see it, touch it, borrow it, run away far with it...)
----------
Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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