Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2015-08-25 04:18
The Chinese are getting into the Ham Radio World. Looking at “dual-band” FM walkie-talkies, a Japanese Yaesu VX-6 is about $225 now, plus $50 for programming software and a cable. This gets you two bands, 1000 memories, weather and marine channels pre-programmed, in a water-proof and mil-spec radio. Or a Baufeng UV5R is as low as $30, plus $17 for a cable that uses free software. You get the the same two bands, 100 memories, and an antenna that will break if you look at it cross-eyed. If I want to play around, then the Baofeng is great. But if I want to work a public service event, I wouldn’t use anything but the Yaesu.
Where is this going, you wonder?
I asked the proprietor of my favorite music store if he ever sees any used Eb clarinets, and the rest of the staff rolled their eyes as if to say “we know where this is going.”
As it happens, someone had brought in a $130 plastic Chinese Eb for some minor adjusting, it was the first Chinese clarinet he saw that actually worked. So he ordered two, for about $300 including shipping from China.
Yes it did work, definitely better than the plastic Bundy I dumped 7 years ago. On borrowed mouthpieces and any reed, it actually played, with most of the usual fingerings. There was enough wiggle room in most notes to push them into tune. The top F# and G popped out, louder and brighter than the notes leading up, but at least they weren’t pinched or terribly flat like on the Bundy. The keywork felt solid, but uneven like the Bundy. “Been there, done that, don’t want to any more,” I thought.
I asked, “What are the other options?”
He brought out a wood Buffet E-11, $2400. This gets you better intonation with less wiggle room and less required. Silver keywork was much more even - it felt good.
So, my thinking is, if I needed something, anything, to get through a couple of pages in rehearsal or a pit, the $150 el-cheapo might just work. But if I wanted to make real music, and have it feel like music, then it would have to be the Buffet.
Post Edited (2015-08-25 04:20)
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The Clarinet BBoard
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