 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-16 14:01
In your opinion, either through experience of ownership or play-testing, which brand currently has the best alto clarinet on the market? I've seen some good stuff about the Yamaha YCL631.
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Author: SCR
Date: 2002-01-16 14:56
Who cares!
Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I have had much luck with Selmer altos. The other companies probably offer very good altos, but I can only tell you about Selmer. I guess that you play alto enough to negate your buying one. If not, I would play a school's horn.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-01-16 15:38
Brenda -
I've been told that the Selmer altos from the 50s through 70s (Series 9 and just prior) are the best players. These come up on eBay fairly often, but you have to be careful since most altos come from schools. Make sure you get one with a low Eb, since otherwise the E/B is nearly unplayable. You also need one with a slide in the neck for tuning.
Leblancs also come up on Ebay a lot, but I thought the sound was wimpy on every one I've tried.
I played a new Buffet recently that was very responsive and comfortable, with a good sound, but the price was astronomical.
With a good mouthpiece, even a Bundy is playable.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-01-16 15:48
Brenda, so the "VIRUS" did catch you. I bought an older Buescher off eBay some time ago and have done nothing to it and it plays as well as I want(what does that say for me???)
Bob A
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-01-16 16:25
One thing to keep in mind is that many so-called pro-model altos (I know--it's an oxymoron) do not have the left hand Eb/Ab key. Without this key it's impossible to play low Eb then slur up a fourth to Ab. I would never buy an instrument with such a major design flaw. From what I've been able to find out neither Selmer nor Leblanc altos have the L.H. Eb/Ab key, even on their top line models that cost thoudands of dollars. I find this simply astonishing. Maybe this is one reason there's so little interest in altos. Someone at Selmer and Leblanc is asleep at the switch. Hello!
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-01-16 16:46
Ho, ho :]]]
Hi, Brenda !
I'm assuming this is a... well, never mind that. I hope I'm not being presumptuous here. I had no idea it would spread to this extent. But, if so, I can't say I'm sorry. Glad you're interested, yes, yes, yes  ) The more I read here about altos, the more convinced I'm becoming that they have been long overlooked and woefully underrated. They deserve better.
I didn't mention the brand I'm planning to use for our little combo venture. I acquired the instrument, A Bundy in surprisingly good shape, from an eBay source. All I had to do was put a reed on the thing. Mpc is okay, for now anyway. The first time around a couple of days ago it played very well, although I'm planning to go completely through it and repad it just for fun. It's a nice enough instrument, well suited to my purpose. My primary instrument being a Bb Albert system, the Beastly Boehm Bundy will take a little getting used to on my part but I expect no serious problems. I'm not going out for the Clarinet Olympics. I am, after all, doing this just for the fun of doing it.
If it doesn't work out I'll sell the horn.
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-01-16 16:46
On the other hand, I believe Yamaha and Buffet top line altos have the L.H. Eb/Ab key. But I'm not certain of this. But I would begin my search with these two companies. A greenline alto might be nice but I'm sure there not available yet. I had a Leblanc alto (the top line at the time) a while back to try out (from WW/BW). It had the aforementioned design flaw of no L.H. Eb/Ab key. As far as the sound was concerned, the chalumeau was fairly strong. Easy blowing with a nice lush tone. Similarly the throat tones played well. Even the "pinch" Bb was pretty strong. But the clarion was very disappointing. Very weak and stuffy. The altissimo was likewise pretty unresponsive. My low C Selmer bass has a pretty good clarion and altissimo so I would think it possible for an alto to play well in these registers too. An alto with all the necessary keywork and a decent clarion and altissimo would be a joy to play. I will be watching with interest to see if Brenda or anyone else checks out the Yamaha. If I see good reviews of this instrument I will probably have to have one myself. Meanwhile, it's back to the funny farm where life is happy all the time.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-01-16 19:32
Speaking of alto clarinets getting no respect.....At my last wind ensemble rehearsal (a group in which I've been playing mostly EEb contra-alto clarinet), I frequently find myself playing alto clarinet parts, an octave up as much as possible, because the group doesn't have any alto clarinet players. In one piece we're doing, the alto clarinet part goes pretty high and is supposed to be in tight harmony with the Bb clarinets, so I suggested to the director that I could bring in my alto clarinet and play the part on the instrument the part was written for. The director's first remark was, "You have an alto clarinet?". Most of the other band members started cracking up and making alto clarinet jokes, except for the bass clarinetist (a band director herself) who bravely came to my defense. The next remark from the director was, "Does it play in tune?". I told him that every note was perfect. He appeared skeptical................
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-01-16 19:48
Like I say: the Rodney Dangerfield of the clarinet family.
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Author: Josh
Date: 2002-01-16 19:58
Brenda, I have had great luck with the Buffet altos, which DO have the left hand Ab/Eb key. The ones I've played have had wonderful tone and response throughout all registers, and are reasonably well in tune (Hey, it's an alto!) :P Can't hurt to try one out!
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Author: Robert Small
Date: 2002-01-16 20:02
Sounds interesting. Wish they made it in Greenline but I might have to take a look at it myself.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2002-01-16 20:32
Brenda,
Unless you are looking for a brand new alto cl., try the repair shops in your area first, if any. You'd be surprised how many of them have old alto cls. in the back room, collecting dust, because they happened to have them during their decline and couldn't sell them.
Sometimes you even find top brands, very inexpensively, because they are just too thrilled to get them out the door. They generally give them to you in good playing condition and often do follow-up repairs or adjustment for free, or very little. Probably to intercept any thought of you trying to give it back to them. :-)
That's how I got my Conn grenadilla alto cl. with the original case in good condition. When I got it, I had the choice between four of them at three different shops and this was the best. With a good mouthpiece, it sounds great.
Not counting the mouthpiece, it was $100.00. The other three were: A plastic Vito for $250.00 in somewhat restorable condition, a hard rubber Khohler for $75.00 that looked like Jenny Jones played it for a week, and a Bundy plastic(?) for $150.00 in restorable condition that I opted to forego in favor of the Conn.
Right now I don't remember who made the Conns, but they were made in France by someone good, as I remember.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2002-01-16 20:43
Thanks Peter, Ron, Robert, David, Josh, et al. I have bought several altos from my local friend who owns the largest band instrument company in the area and ended up taking all of them back to him. When I went through my passion for selling stuff on eBay, I bought out all his old stock mouthpieces, old clarinets, etc. etc, and he doesn't have any old stock left in his back room. I was too good a salesperson, I guess. Oh well. But, I'm thinking of asking him to get me a new Yamaha pro alto to try out. He's sold out to Brook Mays and I noticed they carry them on their website. However, they are pricey!!! But, I can try it without obligation.And, since I sold all the stuff that had been laying in the back stock room (like trombone mouthpieces and bucket mutes) he does me a lot of favors and still sells stuff to me for an astronomical discount (like 45% off). So, I'll let you know how it goes.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-01-16 21:34
Peter,
The Conn alto and bass clarinets (as well as Lintons) were made in Paris by Robert Malerne, in both hard-rubber (ebonite) and wood versions.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2002-01-16 21:57
Hey Dave, this Robert Malerne guy got around, didn't he? He also made one heck of a good instrument!
Must have done quite a brisk business. I know there are lots of Malerne stencils around and with serious brand names on them, too, not "S. Teal Yublind's Good Junk Emporium" stamped on them!
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2002-01-16 23:01
Peter --
You've gotten too esoteric for me with your humor. Not "steal you blind" -- I got that one. It's the Jenny Jones reference. I think I know who she is: syndicated talk show hostess -- a cross between Oprah and Maury, maybe? But what would an alto clarinet played by her for a week look like and why?
Anxiously awaiting enlightenment,
Todd W.
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2002-01-16 23:12
Peter --
Never mind. I just got to "our" Jenny Jones' post about metal vs. plastic clarinets. Got it. Indeed, very good!
Todd W.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-01-16 23:12
Todd...Peter is referring to the "Jenny Jones" who posted on this bulletin board, about 4 topics ago. She had broken 5 different clarinets in a very brief time...GBK
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2002-01-17 14:24
From my acquaintance and playing with some 6 altos, my choice of the 1980's and olders is my Selmer-Paris B series, with some bore info, posted below the in "Alto cl and Sop Sax" thread , about to go into the archives. Except for a bit of playing in a church orch, the community band parts didn't have many low Eb s and I dont recall any Eb to Ab jumps, so havent missed the lever, which I do use on bass and sop cl's as needed. Would be nice to have more keys tho. Don
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-01-18 19:57
If this posts before the thread goes outta sight, outta mind, I forgot to mention that the Bundy alto I acquired has four open (chimney) holes. I don't know which, open or plateau, most people prefer but it seems a little more natural to me for them to be open. Throat tones seem a tad stuffy. It may be me being new to the instrument or it may need some tweaking. Need to allow some more playing time before making a call.
- ron b -
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