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E-flat clarinet quandry

Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2015-06-27 21:22

I have a high school student who was just accepted into a very good youth orchestra -- told that he will be playing E-flat clarinet on Shostakovich 5th next season. Kid doesn't presently own an e-flat and the price of a new -say- R13 is prohibitive. Currently has two instruments out on approval:

Perhaps 50-year-old Buffet R13, owned by a local doubler. Very well maintained.

Brand new Buffet E11 (can you say Schreiber?).

Both are roughly the same price, about 1/3 the cost of a new R13.

I played both at his lesson this morning. My observations: R13 has a warmer sound, but has intonation problems - particularly high C that strobe can't decide between C and C#. E11 feels "tighter" but has better scale; high C is also sharp, but not as egregious as the R13. Previous owner of the R13 has already lined appropriate tone holes with tape to try to tame the high C. Will the sound of the E11 open up once it is broken in?

I know that there is prejudice here on the BBoard about so-called student horns, but I know of at least one major US orchestra guy who played E11 e-flat.

I assume that if they decide to sell the horn after a few years, the R13 will probably bring about what they paid for it (assuming good condition) -- E11 will probably depreciate a bit, might be harder to resell.

I will share the wisdom of BBoard cognoscenti with my student.

Kind thanks for your advice,

Larry

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E-flat clarinet quandry new

LarryBocaner

2015-06-27 21:22