 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Musikat
Date: 2021-06-18 06:48
I am not actively in the market for an Eb, but I want to know what are the "good" Eefer brands and models to look for in a used instrument, should I see one that is in my price range. I probably can't afford a Buffet, so I want to know about others like Selmer, Noblet, Leblanc, etc. Those are the ones I most often see in my price range on the auction site.
I am currently borrowing an older Selmer but don't know the exact model. It has Depose and Paris stamped on the main body and and Selmer New York Elkhart on the bell. It has some tuning quirks (don't they all?), but is overall very nice sounding and not too difficult to play with practice. It is the only one I have ever played so I have nothing to compare to. I am having a lot of fun with it and would like to get one of my own at some point. My price range is under $2,000 (preferably under $1500 but willing to go higher for a really good deal).
I can handle a few tuning issues that can be easily lipped up or down, or a note that needs to be played a half step up or down if it is that far out. I am willing to learn the unique quirks and see what I can do to fix with a different mouthpiece or barrel or Fobes extension. But I don't want one that is so challenging to play or so out of tune that it is more trouble than it is worth.
I would be playing it potentially in a college community level band and possibly community orchestra, when called for.
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Author: LFabian
Date: 2021-06-18 10:38
I have been in your position before. On a chance I bought one from India but I returned it to a tech who saw it the day after I received it. I returned it because there were a lot of problems and I was able to return it. Six months later, I saw one in WWBW. Rather than make the same mistake, I called up and asked questions about it. I am a proud owner of an Amati ACL 261. I later added a tuning barrel from a closing music store. I bought it because it accepts regular Bb reeds. It did not fit but I found a way to get around it. A better ligature and a BD5 found online. Good price. Legere is used with the original.
I use V12 3.5 with the new barrel and BD5 for pieces in the altissimo. Added a thumb rest that alleviates pinching a small clarinet. The clarinet was $1700 and there were no overseas charges.
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Author: farabout
Date: 2021-06-18 15:38
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=491773&t=491773
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Author: Musikat
Date: 2021-06-18 17:42
I did see the Thomann and it is tempting, but I generally find that if something seems too good to be true it generally is. All wood and silver keys for under $1,000? And if I didn't like it I would have to pay for international shipping twice. I will wait for a few more reviews on it first.
I also don't see any new Amati's available on WWBW or other major U.S. based music shops (all are out of stock), so I would be in the same position on shipping.
I think my best bet is to find a nice used professional or very highly rated intermediate horn that I can soup up with a really good mouthpiece and/or barrel.
That said, anyone know anything about the Kessler & Sons Eb? It is $999 but says "not currently in production." Is something coming up or discontinued?
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Author: ACCA
Date: 2021-06-18 18:04
I also have an Amati ACL261 (grenadilla body with ebonite bell) which I bought used for a "song". After some work (swedging and pad juice, not a repad) it plays fine. Same use case as the OP. Still working out the best setup for me, right now I have the selmer C85-120 that came with it. I cut down Rico Bb orange box reeds which work adequately, as do the Eb legeres although I find them a stiffer blow. One day I'll hopefully have my Eefer chops in good enough shape -and be playing it enough in bands- to justify investing in some more bling for it, IE a Backun bell and extension and maybe some items at the pointy end too;) In my opinion the Amati is not a bad instrument and would work OK for the use case described but with your budget you should be able to do better with a used Noblet or Leblanc- right now I see a few on that auction site which would make the grade. Good luck!
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Author: farabout
Date: 2021-06-18 20:53
In my experience, the only used horn which has met my criteria was the one I purchased from www.brassandwinds.com (aka Quinn-the-Eskimo).
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Author: Zacharywest158
Date: 2021-06-18 22:08
Purely from an intonation standpoint, the best Eb clarinets I’ve played have been Yamahas. I do not play Yamaha Bb and A instruments, but if I had to go out and buy an Eb today it would be a Yamaha expressly for that reason. A YCL-681 retails ~$4,000 new, so a used one may show up in your price range on an auction site. Good luck!
Post Edited (2021-06-19 05:38)
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Author: farabout
Date: 2021-06-19 00:56
You may also budget few hundreds for the tune-up, adjustments & pad replacement.
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Author: gwie
Date: 2021-06-19 01:06
I bought a Yamaha 881 Eefer for a student some years ago...still one of the best Eb clarinets I've ever played, beating out several RC Prestiges that it went up against.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2021-06-19 01:35
and i have a lowly bundy from early 60,s as my preformance horn. neither my conn or very finely made A robert will get up to a440.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2021-06-19 02:35
It's hard to find a really good Eb. You need to test several because I don't think they play perfectly. intonation is often horrible! Since you can't afford a new one, check out an older Selmer Centertone. I used these for many years until it got stolen. Since I don't need an Eb at the moment I never replaced it. As for mouthpieces the older Selmer HS* was a good match as well as the Mitchell Lurie Eb's, but I'm not sure if these are available anymore. Best of luck!
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2021-06-19 05:30
the selmer hs* works great on the bundy. it actually plays pretty good for what it is. picked it up for 100$ at a pawn shop . they thought it was a reg clarinet
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2021-06-20 16:18
Attachment: series9eb.jpg (263k)
Attachment: r13eb.jpg (60k)
I've got a Series 9 Eb which I suspect isn't all that different compared to a CT Eb besides some minor keywork changes. I had an early '60s Buffet but that was your standard model without any extras.
Both were found on eBay - the Buffet for around $300 as it was in a sorry state and the Selmer was £840 as that was playable, but still got a full overhaul and I shortened the LH Ab/Eb lever as it was covering the LH F#/C# lever.
Noblet Ebs were popular with many players in the UK as were B&H Imperial Ebs which were later copied and made by Ward&Winterbourn (just as Imperial oboes and cors were copied and made by them).
I do know a couple of players who chose the Yamaha YCL-881 Eb over the Buffets (R13 and RC).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2021-06-20 16:21)
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