 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Stacie
Date: 2001-08-28 02:21
I'm looking to buy an decent-quality Eb clarinet for occasional play. I'm a fairly accomplished player (undergrad degree in performance) whose career is in another field, but I do still play quite a bit in various community ensembles and chamber music groups. I'm keeping an open mind with regard to price, but what I'm wondering is if there's a slightly cheaper instrument that will still give me most of the performance of a top-level horn. Any and all comments are appreciated.
Stacie
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Author: drew
Date: 2001-08-28 03:44
The Buffet E-11 Eb soprano is a very nice horn for the money (approx $850~$900 from the major mail order houses). I purchased one in January 2000, it has served me very well in community band, clarinet choir and a few recitals.
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-08-28 07:27
I've never played the Eb, however, the Patricola Eb would really catch my eye. Especially with that Eb/Ab lever for a few hundred less than an R-13.
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2001-08-28 09:39
The Patricola Eb also comes standard with an articulated G# mechanism which allows for easy trilling between F# and G# in the middle register. Also there is an extra tone hole that opens up when playing throat Bb and I know from experience with my particola Eb that it makes the throat Bb very clear and in tune. The professional Buffets cost a considerable amount more and don't come with any of these luxuries.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-28 17:20
I have an older Bundy Resonite/Plastic Eefer. It has a repad by an accomplished repair person just before I bought it. Good materials & great repairwork. I changed the Barrel to a Robert Scott barrel for $40 & added a Hite HR Eefer mouthpiece for $65. I already had a Bay ligature. Setup works for me & the clarinet plays easily. It would be up to the standard of a community orchestra or music group. I also have a YCL-681 Eefer & a Selmer 9. Both pro quality horns. I can't say that they present a huge difference in sound for me. A Bundy won't set you back a lot. You'll never have a problem getting you money out of it, if you have to move on to a pro wood Eefer. best, mw
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Author: Stacie
Date: 2001-08-28 17:27
Thanks for all the input. I think I've narrowed it down to either the Buffet E11 or the Patricola. The Patricola sounds like a really nice horn; I've just got to decide whether it's worth the extra bucks over the intermediate-level Buffet. Does anyone have any comments on the intonation of these two instruments?
I played a Buffet Prestige Eb in college, and since then I've played an old, barely functional Bundy resonite eefer. I've been at both ends of the spectrum as you can see, and I don't have a lot of experience with the middle.
Mouthpiece recommendations would also be great. I'm willing to spend up to $100 for a good one, but obviously the less pricey the better. Any suggestions?
Stacie
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Author: GBK
Date: 2001-08-28 17:41
I agree with mw, as I too have 2 Eb's. The Buffet (R-13) is used during the year for indoor orchestral work, and the Bundy Eb for outdoors (during threatening weather/high humidity/ etc...) This summer in NY there was frequent rain during our annual outdoor series of orchestral concerts, so the Bundy Eb was the instrument of choice. With the same basic set up on both horns (Vandoren crystal/ Rovner ED/ V-12 Eb or Bb(cut down) the difference in sound between the 2 horns was imperceptable. As a former high school music teacher, I've always noticed how those Bundy horns(with a proper set up) keep going and going!
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Author: drew
Date: 2001-08-28 19:41
MP Recommendations:
Hite
Vandoren B44 or 5RV
Non-recommendations:
stock Buffet mp
Liggy recommendations:
Rovner
Buffet two screw metal
Reed recommendations:
cut down Bb reeds (I use Zonda 3.5)
Enjoy
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Author: Phil Smallwood
Date: 2001-08-28 22:53
Check with Peter Spriggs, a Sneezy sponsor, about the Patricola Eb. I bought a Patricola Rosewood Eb from him recently and could not be happier. The intonation is wonderful and the extra keys are a nice feature. Also, the rosewood has a sweet sound. I played it last night in the community band I belong to, and I received nothing but compliments on how it sounded and blended.
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