 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-16 02:04
Hi everyone. I am new to clarinet, so sorry if my questions are obvious.
I just bought a buffet E11 C clarinet. I had a lot of trouble getting a sound. So I put a Bflat vandoren mouthpiece. Well, because it is a C clarinet, should I be putting an Eflat reed on the Bflat mouthpiece? Or should I put the reed to match the mouthpiece itself?
Thanks so much!
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-01-16 02:14
The E11 C clarinet will use a standard Bb clarinet mouthpiece and Bb reed.
If you are having trouble getting a sound I would strongly recommend having at least a few lessons from a good teacher or failing that at least get help from an experienced clarinet player.
Getting the basics correct at the outset is most important.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-01-16 02:28
Mouthpiece and reed ALWAYS match each other.
So when you play a written "C" on your music (ie third space), you get a concert C?
Just had to check.
................Paul Aviles
Post Edited (2016-01-16 02:29)
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-16 02:52
Thanks. The mouthpiece supplied with the C clarinet is exactly the same size as my vandoren B flat mouth piece. Strangely though, the reed supplied with the clarinet was the Eb sized reed? Which confused me since the mouth piece and opening etc is identical in mrasurements to my vandoren B45.
(yes the C clarinet is the one that plays at concert pitch).
And my teacher wasn't sure about C clarinets as she has no experience with them! Hence why I thought to ask here, as you all seem to know everything
Is there somewhere u can recommend that sells specific C clarinet mouth pieces? I haven't been able to locate any.
Thanks again!
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-16 03:17
Sorry. I realise now that the question is answered! Use Bb mouthpiece and reed on buffet c clarinet
Thanks! Off to keep practising then!
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-01-16 08:42
Is the horn new? Like new out of the box? Most, if not all Buffet clarinets leak air and need adjustments to the pads. Same thing if it's used. It may need to be checked out. C clarinets should play fairly easy.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-16 08:56
Yes brand new out of the box! I have no trouble with my cheap student armstrong b flat instrument, so I was surprised that I couldn't get a sound easily. Sadly I bought it by post, and it already had to be sent back once as the pieces didn't fit together at all. So they fixed that problem. Are key adjustments similar to flute ones? Maybe I can try and do it myself? But after saying that, it is much easier to play with my vandoren mouth piece than the one it came with.
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Author: donald
Date: 2016-01-16 09:57
Paul wrote...
"Mouthpiece and reed ALWAYS match each other."
Strictly speaking not true, but mostly true (many E flat clarinet players use B flat reeds on the E flat... also Bass clarinet/Tenor sax - Alto clarinet/alto sax reeds can/may be interchangeable).
However in this case... as stated above use a B flat mouthpiece and B flat reeds.
Advanced players may go to some effort to get a mouthpiece especially produced for C clarinet- essentially the same size but with a different bore dimensions that improve the intonation. This is not necessarry until you become an advanced player (and for many, not even then) so don't let that confuse you (if you do a search on this BB you will find this advice given in past threads).
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2016-01-16 10:24
I don't think the main issue would be key adjustments. I still think you are looking at pads that aren't sealed and leaking air. Is there a repairman near you? It's probably worth spending $100, maybe less and get this done so you can really enjoy the horn. Buffet has a warranty on their horns so you could call them and ask them where to send it. Perhaps it won't cast you a penny. I'm not sure where you live, but it's kind of Buffet's problem to make this right. They do pretty stinky work sometimes, but once the horns are set correctly they are great.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-01-16 14:35
I omitted the reference to smaller mouthpieces for "C" clarinets because Norman seemed to indicate that this particular one E11 in fact is meant to be played with a Bb mouthpiece. The only other one I know for sure is the Ridenour.
The mention of using Bb reeds on Eb clarinet is an interesting one. I have always preferred to go the "one to one" route. But I had run into a colleague who is an Eb guru no question, and part of his success was the Bb reed on his Eb. Another "trick of the trade" was that most of the time he didn't engage the register key for the clarion.
................Paul Aviles
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Author: donald
Date: 2016-01-16 15:28
It made it pretty clear that I was referring to the acuracy of your statement, but that my quibble wasn't really relevant to the question posed in the original post. I was trying to avoid complications for the OP in the future, when she may be faced with evidence contrary to your post.
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-16 15:50
Bob, when I was practising, I noticed if I pressed the keys harder, that it was easier to get them to sound immediately! So I think I will find a local service place. I don't want to send it interstate again! As it has a much nicer tone than my armstrong. And the whole transposing thing does my head in! An A should sound 440.
I may have only been playing clarinet since Dec 19.. But feel free to discuss reeds and other complications.. I am a musician, so I can handle it
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-01-16 23:51
You should always expect a new clarinet directly from a major maker to be less than perfect - they usually require a fair bit of setting up before being sold, but not all retailers have that facility in place.
I got a brand new Buffet E12F sent to me just before Christmas that needed lots of things done to it to make it far more playable than it currently was. It passed the factory's quality control, but their standards aren't the benchmark and there's a lot of room for improvement, but that will only impact on the price if it was set up to a high standard. The E11F it replaced had a lot to be desired as there were serious manufacturing problems that were impossible to rectify short of replacing the joints for ones with toneholes concentric with their countersinks.
Even Buffet Toscas and other top end Buffets (including harmony clarinets) aren't set up to the high standard that's to be expected considering their cost to the end buyer.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-20 23:54
I rang the shop i bought from online, asking if they could recommend a place local to me to adjust the keywork. Anyway, they told me to send it back, as they may have accidentally forgotten to set it up before sending it to me, and they are going to either set it up properly or replace it. I feel very relieved that the difficulties i was experiencing were more to do with the instrument than with me!
Being such an inexperienced clarinettist, I never know whether to blame myself or the instrument or the reed!
Thanks everyone for your help. I wouldn't have known to ring the shop if it wasn't for you all!
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Author: ClarinetRobt
Date: 2016-01-21 19:55
Sounds like a compelling case to return the Buffet and get a Ridenour C. Twice the horn in quality and intonation (and frankly reliability).
~Robt L Schwebel
Mthpc: Behn Vintage
Lig: Ishimori, Behn Delrin
Reed: Legere French Cut 3.75/4, Behn Brio 4
Horns: Uebel Superior (Bb,A), Ridenour Lyrique, Buffet R13 (Eb)
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-01-21 23:02
sadly i am out of that period. otherwise i would. i didn't find the comments about the ridenour until after i had already bought the buffet. and i can't really find anything negative about them online. so yes, that is one of my regrets.
I may replace my Bb clarinet with one of them, despite it not having the aux G# key.... just debating with myself how badly i want one of those keys! haha.
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