 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rtaylor
Date: 2020-09-23 18:22
Hello,
Those of you who are Ubel clarinet owners, specifically the upper end models, what has been your experience with maintenance issues with these instruments?
Have you had more issues with cracking than normal etc?
For overhauls, who have you found here in the US that works on these models and have you been happy with their work?
Cheers,
Robert
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-09-23 18:34
I bought a Superior that was a few years old and not really well taken care of. While the posts and tenon rings did show corrosion, the keys were perfect suggesting that the plating is indeed quite thick. The wood itself is quite dense and even though my clarinet had lots of gunk from a lack of maintenance the bore was still perfectly shiny. The Goretex pads were brown in color but still sealed perfectly, although I did end up changing them for other reasons. Finally one of the keys on my instrument was bent, but when I went to bend it back I was surprised to find that it took a considerable amount of force, suggesting the metal is quite stiff. Regarding the overall build quality, fit and finish is top notch.
Overall I'm very happy with the build quality. Given that my clarinet stood up to years of abuse and is still in excellent condition I would have no concerns.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE9bLUFAbIr/
-JDbassplayer
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Author: claralot
Date: 2020-09-23 18:55
Hi Robert,
I've had a Superior Bb for 3 years using it everyday. Aside from a slight regulation adjustment and hole cleaning, I haven't had any issues with the instrument and I'm very picky. Also no cracking or alignment/binding issues during temp/humidity changes.
I would imagine that any competent repair person would have no problem working on the Superior. I live in the Boston area and used Mike Leonard who also did a top notch job on my Buffet R13 A circa 1980 as well as a Yamaha Eb and a Ridenhour C clarinet.
...Mike
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Author: DG74
Date: 2020-09-23 19:34
I own a set of Superiors Bb/A and have owned a Preference in the past before these. No issues ever with cracking, and I play almost every day. I've found the key work to be much better than any Buffet I've ever owned, which is one of the many reasons I changed to Uebel (I got sick of running to the repair tech every couple of months for the Buffets). Actually there were a lot of reasons I preferred the Uebels, but that's not your question.
Any time I've taken them to a repair tech for a minor adjustment they're extremely impressed with the high quality of the workmanship.
I have had Andreas Moe of Moe-Bleichner distribution (the US distributor for Uebel) do some special customizations for me that I wanted. I will say his work is probably the best I have ever encountered. Yes, it involved shipping the instrument to/from PA but price was extremely reasonable, especially considering the quality of the work.
If you have any serious concerns and it's an Uebel, I would highly recommend reaching out to Andreas Moe for his input. He's also one of the nicest people you'll come across. He knows everything about these clarinets and is a whiz with them. You can contact him through their website.
Cheers!
Post Edited (2020-09-23 19:55)
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Author: claralot
Date: 2020-09-23 19:57
Hi,
What customizations did you have Andreas perform?
I have always had an issue with the left hand sliver key. It is closer to my ring finger than my buffets and I seem to bump it now and then.
...Mike
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Author: rtaylor
Date: 2020-09-23 20:07
All great responses guys. It never occurred to me the that Moe_Bleicher also has a repair shop.
Thanks for the quick turnaround!
Cheers,
Robert
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Author: DG74
Date: 2020-09-23 23:49
Mike,
I'm one of those people who has a very limited understanding of the technical aspects of repair work despite decades of playing, so I'm probably not the best at explaining the work Andreas did, but will try my best. Andreas did some work on my Preference back when I had it (prior to the Superior) as my middle B was about 10 cents flat (but otherwise it had great intonation). He did some adjustments to the bell such as adding a voicing groove and added the resonance hole in the bell like the Superior. It remedied the problem beautifully.
I bought the Superior A not long ago and it had the faintest undertone at the left hand clarion notes (common to A clarinets) but not nearly as bad as I've experienced on Buffet A's. Andreas did some bore modifications to the barrels, added a different pad on the register key (Clarissono pad), and did work on the register vent. Again, remedied the problem perfectly. He could give you the details that I don't grasp.
Robert - agreed, I didn't know about the repair shop either. I bought my original Preference from a third party and contacted Moe-Bleichner about the intonation issue and they were great about addressing it for me (Andreas' realization was that the vendor did some of their own work on the instrument, which probably caused some issues). Since then, I've been buying directly from Moe-Bleichner because they're so easy to work with and are the best customer service I've ever had.
My Superior Bb never needed any major work: it came pretty much perfect out of the box. The A has been my favorite A I've ever played on since it was adjusted, but was still better than my old R13 or Festival A's prior to the work Andreas did.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2020-09-24 00:53
Not much help from me, but I got a laugh out of the topic. I have maybe eight F. A. Uebel soprano clarinets (about equally split between Boehm and Oehler system), plus an Oehler-system bass, all of which date from the 1960s through very early 1980s (in other words, DDR-era). They're all holding up just fine, thanks!
You meant recently-manufactured Uebels? Surely there are more important things to worry about. As far as cracks, all cracks can be permanently fixed, and finished to be nearly invisible. This should not be a deal-breaker for any brand.
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Author: StanD
Date: 2020-09-24 04:37
Re Uebel Superior: I have the same issue with the left hand sliver key to the extent that I’ve put it away in favor of my R13. The sliver key posts are mounted “lower” than on Buffet (btw; the Buffet sliver fits the Uebel but the pad doesn’t line up because of the post positions) so that the sliver is perpendicular to the upper joint. On the Buffet the sliver slightly curves around the second finger ring. No wiggle room for the LH third finger and I don’t have large hands or wide fingers. I’ve thinned the key to no avail.
Also, has anyone experienced dullness of tone on G, G#, and A just above the staff top line? If so, anybody find the remedy? For me it’s as if the bottom falls out of the sound.
Re pads: Durable but “sticky” and noisy when lifting off tone holes. I’ve had a fair number replaced.
The instrument feels a bit smaller than my Buffet in my hands resulting in the LH alternate Ab/Eb being in the way. Took it off.
Have to admit, though, the build of the horn is SOLID!
If I can get these issues resolved I’ll be better able to determine if the horn is for me.
Stan
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Author: rtaylor
Date: 2020-09-30 20:45
So I bit the bullet and bought an Uebel Superior B-flat. Maybe an Uebel A is in my future given what DG74 said about them.
It arrived yesterday and yes it is everything players are saying. It's well built, the wood quality is to die for.
It's a little 'green" sounding right now as it is brand new....
Now the fun begins!
Thanks to everyone who responded to this thread.
Cheers,
Robert
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2020-09-30 21:57
Robert, you must have remarkable hearing to be able to hear 'green'. Please let is know when the green is gone and the clarinet starts sounding......what? All my clarinets are old so I wouldn't know what to listen for.
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Author: rtaylor
Date: 2020-09-30 22:40
Yeah probably a bad choice for an adjective. I guess I meant new and not broken in yet really. What is color that? Who knows?
Cheers,
Robert
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Author: mddds
Date: 2020-10-01 00:04
robert,
did you change to Boehm from Reform Boehm?
-CK
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Author: rtaylor
Date: 2020-10-01 00:45
Hi CK,
No, I still have my Leitner & Krause set. I wanted a little variety in my playing possibilities. The L&Ks are excellent instruments but I was looking for something in a traditional French type clarinet also. I tried Buffet, Yamaha and Selmer again after about 20 years on only Reform-Boehm instruments. I didn't find anything that really fit me. The Uebels seem to give me something from both the Reform-Boehm sound I like and the french clarinet sound I wanted to add to my playing.
Cheers,
Robert
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Author: mddds
Date: 2020-10-01 04:05
hi robert,
do you find the voicing (from RB to B) to be difficult?
(i'm STILL adjusting the voicing - going from B to O).
keep us updated!
-CK
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Author: crelias11
Date: 2021-08-24 02:29
I was just visiting with Andreas today. Because of covid my superior clarinet I bought in Dec of 2019 sat in the case for 16 months. I had a Buffet R13 made in 2013 and it was a piece of crap. I am 90 minutes or less from Andreas. He did some adjustments and I tried the ESM mouthpieces. I am a bassoonist so I am still trying to find my way through mouthpieces reeds and ligature combinations. I was making progress with lessons etc until all playing stopped. I find being a bassoonist I tend to to use too much air. I played clarinet when I was a kid so I'm trying to get back where I was. Tongueing is the issue after playing bassoon for 50 years.My daughter tried the Emperior bass clarinet. She fell in love with it. I would have loved to be able to buy it but she is an adult and her husband might not like it. Beautiful sounding, easy to play instrument.
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