 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kristen
Date: 2002-02-02 15:52
I was thinking about purchasing a e-flat clarinet. Can anyone tell me anything that i should know about this instrument. Things like: how long is it and how many keys should it have, is the fingering the same and if not, where can i get a fingeringchart, and are the reeds the same as a reg. clarinet, and if not, where can i buys some reed. Tell me any info. you know about the e-flat clarinet.
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-02-02 16:25
I'm not sure about exact dimensions, but the key system and fingerings are the same as a regular B flat (just a bit smaller). I think Vandoren makes E-flat clarinet reeds- the reeds are smaller too. Have fun trying to make the thing play in tune!
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2002-02-02 18:56
The Eb-clar looks the same as a reg. cl. only a bit smaller. Be careful that you buy an instrument from one of the big makers or you will end up with an instrument terribly out of tune.
Good, not so expensive instruments are Buffet E11, Noblet Artist and Yamaha. Better and more expensive are Buffet R13 and Buffet RC and LeBlanc. (These are the ones you shuld stay with in my opinion).
Fingerings are basically the same except for some help fingerings for intonation in the altissimo register. The best book I've come across is the book by Peter Hadcock. It gives you the excerpts from the major symphonic repertoire as well as a long list of helpful fingerings together with generally good advices.
Mouthpiece is very important with Eb-clarinets since everybody have a temptation to bite up the notes in the altissimo register. This can be very harmful to your lips and can give you embouchure problems later on. I'm talking from a long experience. It's worth the money spent on a good MP whatever instrument you buy. Save money on the clarinet but not on the MP. Basta!
You want a MP that can take relatively hard reeds to help you in the altissimo register. The harder the reed, the easier to play up there (up to a certain point that is), so you want a MP that has a medium/close facing.
Vandoren has two models: B40 and B44. Of them you want B40. B44 is too open.
If Selmer C85 is still in production I'm sure you can find something there.
I have experience from Pyne and currently I play Mitchell Lurie. Both are fine but more expensive than the French.
Reeds: I prefere Vandoren White Master before the regular Eb reeds since they have a lot more wood. This helps you to get the top notes. The sound is also bigger, darker and more pleseant. You have to cut them by 1cm. to make them fit. Be careful so they don't split.
Don't practice for too long in the beginning and specially not sitting for hours trying to get the highest notes. It takes time to build up the embouchure for the high notes so have patience. And when you feel tired, STOP.
Best of luck,
Alphie
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2002-02-02 23:43
Correcting myself. B40 and B44 have both the same tip opening, 110.5. Both have a medium length facing. B44 is designed for slightly heavier reeds according to Vandoren. For some reason B40 do have more stability in the altissimo register but I don't know the reason for this.
Vandoren also have the classical 5RV, tip opening 106,5, that isn't bad at all. Maybe the sound is not as full as of the other ones.
Alphie
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Author: GBK
Date: 2002-02-03 00:00
Alphie...The B40 has a tip opening of approx. 119.5, and the B44 has a tip opening of approx. 110.5 (according the Vandoren Bb clarinet specs).
The B40 has a "wide tip rail" - wider than the B45 (Vandoren's words).
The B44 is a mouthpiece with a "short facing and small opening, ideal for softer reeds" (Vandoren's words) ...GBK
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-02-03 00:44
Alphie advises: "The Eb-clar looks the same as a reg. cl. only a bit smaller. Be careful that you buy an instrument from one of the big makers or you will end up with an instrument terribly out of tune."
I normally rale against sweeping generalizations like that, but in the case of the E-flat clarinet, I will not. Alphie is dead on. Poor intonation is the most grievous fault of many E-flat clarinets, and this problem is shared among almost all "no-name" or obscure brand instruments. For that matter, even with a big name brand instrument, do play the very one you intend to buy before putting money in the hands of the seller, so you can be certain the instrument will work well for you. It has a smaller mouthpiece, and despite what some may tell you, it does require a somewhat different technique and tighter embouchure. It can be a delight to play, though, and the sense of accomplishment you will achieve when stray cats quit responding to your every note will make you feel so good.
Regards,
John
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Author: Jason
Date: 2002-02-03 09:01
Which mouthpiece is generally reccomended for the E-flat? The B40 or B44?
And are Traditional 3.5 reeds good for B44?
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2002-02-03 09:40
GBK
We're talking Eb-cl. MP. Not Bb where you're right. Both B40 and B44 Eb-MPs have the same tip opening 110.5 and a medium length facing according to Vandoren. I would assume however that B44 is a liitle longer since they recommend a bit harder reeds.
Alphie
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Author: Alphie
Date: 2002-02-03 09:52
These are the Eb clarinet MPs from Vandoren in their own words:
B40
110,5
M
2/2,5/3 Designed to use soft reeds without sacrificing the sound quality of a stronger reed (centered and compact).
B44
110,5
M
2/5/3/3,5/4 Designed for symphonic music.
5RV
106,5
S
3/3,5/4 World famous 5RV is virtually a professional standard of comparison.
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Author: Blake
Date: 2002-02-04 15:09
I play on a Buffet RC Eb that i'm quite pleased with... however the stock barrel was only 41mm making the horn WAY too sharp and causing me to pull out way to far which messed up intonation. I used to use a Vandoren 5RV on it...but recently have switched to both a Clark Fobes mpc and 43mm barrel with dramatic results in the throat area and ease in the altissimo register without having to "bite". Blake
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-02-04 16:50
I must have been carried away, because I said: "Poor intonation is the most grievous fault of many E-flat clarinets, and this problem is shared among almost all "no-name" or obscure
brand instruments."
"Almost all"? How would I know. I haven't played "almost all" of them. I have played many, so lets just say that *many* nameless and off-brand E-flat clarinets have intonation problems.
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Author: Luanne
Date: 2002-02-06 13:59
Don't forget Selmer also makes a nice Eb! :o) Also, the Morgan 06 is a good mouthpiece as well. I know several professionals who are using the Morgan.
Luanne
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