 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-11-06 04:15
There's an interesting statement in the Item Description of http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=919143220. The seller writes: "Today you can buy these instruments new for $7995. But the older, Made in GDR clarinets are much better than the new models you can buy today."
Is this some kind of puffery, or what? We have discussed here the remarkable improvement in Amati Clarinets since the demise of the old government in Czechoslovakia, and now the Czech Republic. Have Uebel Clarinets actually gone downhill since German reunification? Did their best workers head west? 'Twould be nice to hear comments, if anyone who cares has them.
Regards,
John
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2002-11-06 11:14
Wrong link, John, the link you require is:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=919454100
Perhaps the Uebel workers have all gone to Amati!
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-11-06 14:41
Nice looking instruments, with lots of extra mechanism. The venting of the right hand notes should be excellent, with a plate for the right middle finger and the hole on the side, and an auxiliary vent for the right ring finger. They also have duplicate keys for the left little finger for Ab/Eb and Bb/F. Finally, there's a right-hand thumb key for low E/B. These should make it possible to avoid most of the slides the German system usually requires.
However, note not one but two pads between the right index and middle fingers. That stretch is what has kept me from seriously trying the German system. Also, the left ring finger hole is not offset, which will make for an awkward hand position.
And of course the owner is moving up to Wurlitzer instruments, so even if older Uebels are better than new ones, they're still not the very best.
Ken Shaw
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-11-06 15:51
Thanks, David, for your correction. It is, indeed, http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=919454100. Hope that wrong link didn't frighten anyone too badly. 
Ken, the separation between R1 and R2 is certainly greater than that on a Boehm. Reversal of the first two right joint holes (pad and finger hole, discounting the smaller intonation pad) is, of course, why R1 on a Boehm produces Bb/F, and on just about anything else it produces B/F#. The spread in itself is not uncomfortable to me, but it does put my right hand in a position such that it is more difficult than usual to use R4.
Side comment: as these instruments have the plateau on R2, it would appear that they are Oehler System Clarinets. And I do agree with you regarding Wurlitzer Clarinets. Of course, one could buy a small automobile for the price of a set of Wurlitzers, but so what. Play the best, and take a taxi.
Regards,
John
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Author: werner
Date: 2002-11-07 06:58
Uebel had the usual GDR-problem before reunion.
They couldn't afford sufficient high quality raw materials.
But the Uebel clarinet makers knew and know how to make excellent
clarinets. And here and there they made some of them.
After reunion they hadn't any chance.
Germanys professional clarinet market was and is in
Wurlitzers hands. Todays Uebel clarinets are aimed at
the amateur and semi-professional segment.
This
"Today you can buy .. blabla .. buy today."
is an useless generalization.
Just my opinion of course.
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Author: larryb
Date: 2002-11-07 14:45
werner:
your comment about useless generalizations is right on the mark (This
"Today you can buy .. blabla .. buy today."
is an useless generalization.)
I suppose it's just another example of the "banality of uebel."
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Author: d dow
Date: 2002-11-09 13:44
Uebel of Frankfurt are highly respected instruments and in their heyday of the 60s and 70s considered very fine clarinets. Not so sure about the work they do today. We all know that Wurlitzers are nice, but cost prohibitive to most players....if they are at a good price they could be a good baragain!
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