 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Katiebeatles
Date: 2012-12-06 12:09
I am currently looking for an upgrade from my plastic 1973 Buffet Evette Germany, and I am wondering if anyone can compare the Buffet E11 and the Yamaha 450. I hear that the E11 is tuned to 442 instead of 440, and that it is not natural finished African wood, it is laquered. Is any of this a bad thing?
Also, I read that the Yamaha is supposed to have impeccable tuning, and that some Yamahas have a problem with a sticky B key. Any comparrisons and info on both models is much appreciated.
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Author: Pastor Rob
Date: 2012-12-06 13:59
My Yamaha 52 is, IMO, a lot better than my E11. I can't speak for other horns or about a Yamaha 45. There are no sticky keys on any of my clarinets. If there were I'd go get it fixed.
Pastor Rob Oetman
Leblanc LL (today)
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Author: pewd
Date: 2012-12-06 14:33
FWIW, I've had a lot of students with maintenance issues on E11's in the last few years.
Yamaha's are excellent.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Maria P
Date: 2012-12-06 17:03
I was debating between the two as well at the beginning of the year. After talking to people at my music centre, I finished up getting the Yamaha 450 and tbh have had no problems at all with it, so would definitely recommend the Yamaha.
Maria
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-12-06 20:56
One minor area where Yamaha could improve things is the choice of silencing materials they use in specific places on their leywork.
On all their clarinets they use natural cork on the RH ring key foot, the lower end of the LH E/B lever, the crow's foot and the thumb ring foot which is noisy when the keys are released and make contact with the body.
Open standing keys need a softer material such as felt or a similar and suitable synthetic material that deadens the sound and doesn't compress over time.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-12-07 00:39
Considering the quality issues that have plagued the French-built E11, I'd get the Yamaha every time. For my hands, the Yamaha ergonomics are better as is the tuning.
Tony F.
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Author: pacherry
Date: 2012-12-08 18:23
Neither, get the new LB210N Bliss by Leblanc without the black nickel joints. Just bought one for my son, with a M15 mouthpiece, clarinet stand and a few other misc. things for under $1500. All of his teachers are blown away with it and believe that he could possibly use it into college.
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Author: Carl Maria von Weber
Date: 2012-12-09 21:01
The Yamaha brands are best for intermediate players. I would even recommend getting the Yamaha 650, which is a semi-professional model. The E11 has a very closed sound with questionable tuning, whereas the Yamaha 450 is at a consistently high level of sound and tuning. Get the Yamaha instruments made in Japan, though!
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Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2012-12-09 21:06
I have students with both, and for the money the Yamaha seems to be a better buy. I lean towards Buffet, generally, but mostly out of habit. The 450s seem equal to or better than the E11s so choose the one you like!
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
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Author: Garth Libre
Date: 2012-12-10 11:23
It does seem that Yamaha makes a very consistent, likeable, tuneful and dependable instrument in all their price points. The 450 is a winner for sure. Be aware that a lightly used Custom Yamaha clarinet will also come in for about the same price of a new E-11. Buy a new 450 or a used Custom. Personally, I'm still trying to get my R-13 to do all the things that a Yamaha Custom CSV does effortlessly. Count me as a very happy Yamaha customer and I've tried four or five of their models and found something to like about all of them.
Garth, 305-981-4705. garthlibre@yahoo.com
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