 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JonTheReeds
Date: 2013-04-04 16:04
I am looking for an A clarinet for occasional use in orchestras. It doesn't have to be top of the range but just needs to be playable (I normally play a Yamaha 650 Bb)
I have seen a pair of French System 811 F Arthur Uebel clarinets for sale. I'll try them out before I buy but would like to know if it's worth the trip and wondered if anyone could advise me
The Bb's serial number is 74946 and the A's serial number is 75648
The mouthpiece has a serial number of 9921
So a few of questions
Are these adequate for occasional use? Do these have Boehm keywork? What sort of price should I be looking to pay?
Many thanks for any advice
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The older I get, the better I was
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-04-04 16:32
I own and regularly play an F. Arthur Uebel full-Boehm "A" clarinet. I don't know how old it is and would have to check the serial number later (I'm writing this from work and the clarinet is at home).
Got it a few years ago on That Auction Site for something less than $300 US, if I remember correctly. It needed very little work to get it into perfect playing condition,
I really like it. Although I've never been able to figure out the logic behind having a low-Eb on an A clarinet........
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Author: MichaelW
Date: 2013-04-04 17:35
The serial numbers indicate (19)74 resp. 75 as years of production. The FAUe brand then was used by the GDR state owned “Sinfonia” firm. In the forum of Musikinstrumentenmuseum Markneukirchen I find, under March 12, 2012, the following opinion: the model 811 is said to be “reform Boehm”, i.e. French key system and German bore, but not pro level, somewhat erratic in quality. The original mouthpiece the author found unplayable.
Through the German auction site these days a FAUe 632 (Oehler, not Boehm type), also from later GDR years, was sold for 357 Euros, in my opinion a rather high price.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-04-04 17:37
The low Eb on an A clarinet gives the same pitch Concert C as a viola's lowest note, so that's one use for it. I suppose if you regularly use it as a middle Bb on your full Boehm Bb, then that's always at your disposal on full Boehm As.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2013-04-04 18:19)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-04-04 17:58
Thanks, Chris --- but why would I want to match the lowest note of a viola? Good point about using the extra key as an alternate middle Bb, it is reasonably effective that way.
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Author: Paula S
Date: 2013-04-04 19:30
Hi John,
I have a pair of Uebel 811's which I have had from new in 1980. They are professional level clarinets and in my opinion are very well made and have a very nice tone. I find the scale very even and the intonation is very good.
My teacher was very impressed with them and helped me choose them as the keys were very ergonomic for my small hands. They are a little more confining than my current wide bore clarinets but they are very flattering to the player.
Mine are French system Boehm but not full Boehm. I will check my serial numbers tomorrow to compare to the ones you are looking at.
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Author: Paula S
Date: 2013-04-04 19:52
This is an interesting thread
http://test.woodwind.org/oboe/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=168390&t=168390
There does seem to be a variety of opinion and sounds like quite a variation in quality. Mine certainly seem to be very good.
If you have a chance to try them then you have nothing to lose. If I recall correctly mine cost around £700 for the pair back in 1980. A pair of B and H 1010s at that time was about £1000 and I think Buffet RCs were a simialr price to the 1010s.
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