 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ron Jr.
Date: 2005-05-06 14:57
I've been thinking about a post I saw several weeks ago.
I think the post was about tone. (I did a search. I failed and ended up in the nether world of related topics.) Someone wrote that they have a Peter Eaton international clarinet. They love the clarinet but they were selling it because it's tone was too different from the ensemble that they were playing in. I may have mis-read or forgotten the exact details of the post. However, I find it very strange that someone would sell their beloved custom made horn inorder to blend with their peers.
Did anyone else see this thread?
Take care,
Ron Jr.
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Author: Usher
Date: 2005-05-06 18:49
Yikes!! I've been playing a set of Eaton Internationals for 4 years and I wouldn't sell them for anything!!(I played Buffet R13s for 20 years).
The Eatons have a wonderful sound but I wouldn't say it's too individualistic to blend with others. I will say that they don't play the typically sharp notes that other instruments can sometimes play. It was hard for me at first to remember NOT to add fingers to some of the throat tones. The "A" is terrific and the Bb for example is great with just the regular fingering.
Your clarinettist ensemble mates may have to work a little harder to play in tune (which is a GOOD thing) but other instrumentalists will love you for it.
-Jon Usher
Clarinet, W.W. Methods, Music Ed.
CSUSB
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-05-06 19:12
I've had instruments that didn't "play well with others" and have sold them for that reason--HOWEVER, I do believe another option with the Eaton clarinet would be in order. With some help from an impartial observer (like a clarinet teacher), perhaps some changes could be made in mouthpieces, etc. Maybe the problem was with the other players.
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Author: nickma
Date: 2005-05-06 19:57
Er...it was me!
I didn't say I was selling it because it didn't blend with other instruments. Quite the opposite, intonation is perfect, tone is heaven. It's just I have a wonderful R13 76XXX I've recently acquired that I absolutely adore, and a really nice Selmer 10G late x series with a slightly different colour palate, which is also seriously nice. My beautiful Eaton lies there, largely unplayed, because I find the fingering on the other 2 more comfortable, and that seems a shame.
[ Snipped - Please read the bulletin board rules regarding selling - GBK ]
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Author: nickma
Date: 2005-05-06 20:06
Here is the original post you were referring to Ron Jr. Am I worng to consider sellign do you think? Should I keep it for the future, do you think, even if I'm not playing it right now? There are lots of watchers but no bids so it's not too late to change my mind.
Post referred to:
I'd argue that there's a point of compromise between an instrument that tunes generally pretty well (within say circa 10-15 cents of most notes other than the bottom ones) and one with a tonal spectrum that your brain feels is harmonious.
If you feel that the tone across all registers is even and pleasing, I believe you are more inclined to play better, because your brain stops concentrating on basic quality of sound production issues which it now takes as a given, and allows you to relax and feel the space between notes more, and concentrate on all aspects of interpretation such as colour, phrasing, tension/ release etc...
By way of an illustration, I have a Selmer 9* that intones perfectly (that is, plays perfectly in tune: yes I know, remarkable) yet the altimssimo has a slightly raw edge that leads me to favour my Selmer 10G (which needs to be understood much better to play with good intonation) which has a purer altissimo and more complex sound. As a result, I wouldn't hesitate to play the 10G every time given the choice of the two instruments.
I can't help thinking that away from the little electronic tuner (which helps me to understand which notes need help in one direction or the other) it's interesting how your brain helps tunes you to the pitch of the piano or instruments you are playing with.
Second illustration: I have now fallen in love with an old (7X,XXX) Buffet R13, which I have grown to favour over my 10G because the altissimo is clearly sweeter, the overall character is a smidgen more resonant in a really nice way, and my brain tells me I like it more, because it fills me with a warmer feeling inside than the 10G when I play it! It's not more accurate, but like the 10G, it can be played decently to pitch as you learn to compensate for its imperfections.
Undoubtedly the best clarinet I have ever owned in terms of beautiful tone and tuning is my Peter Eaton International. Both are totally and effortlessly brilliant on this instrument. But I prefer the feel under my fingers of the Buffet and Selmer, and therefore feel more confident with them. Shame, but dexterity and confidence matter too.
[ Snipped - Please read the rules regarding selling on the bulletin board - GBK ]
And yes, to those who say I'm talking b_lls since every clarinet will have a similar character based on the acoustic character of the player, I completely agree. The basic character of a player will come through no matter what instrument is played. But to deny subtle yet subjectively really important differences from one instrument to another is plain wrong.
Nick
Nick
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Author: Ron Jr.
Date: 2005-05-06 20:44
Nick,
Within the context of the tread I couldn't understand your reason for selling because I had understood it as a tonal issue rather than an issue of preference.
You happen to have another clarinet that you prefer to play.
Thanks for clarifying,
Ron Jr.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-05-06 21:27
The Peter Eaton International model has a small, French-style bore and is designed to play, or or less, like a Buffet. His Elite model has a large "English" bore and is designed to play, more or less, like a B&H 1010. See http://www.eatonclarinets.freeserve.co.uk/.
He claims that the International plays better than the Buffet, and the Elite plays better than the 1010. He's an excellent player and maker and his instruments are well worth trying (though substantially more expensive than Buffets, due to hand finishing and the decline of the dollar against the pound).
Ken Shaw
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-05-07 05:53
Actually, the Eaton is less expensive than the Buffet Tosca. Also, the International model has a bigger bore (according to Peter Eaton) than Buffets and Selmers. The keywork has some differences from Buffets as well.
On my Eaton International the throat notes are sharp just like on most Buffets. It has a lot of small problems I imagine happened in shipping. Will take it to the repairman soon and see if it is fixable.
t's a little easier for me to play in tune with my Buffet, but I like the sound of the Eaton so much, that I'll stick with it.
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Author: chedmanus
Date: 2005-05-07 17:44
I use Peters clarinets and know him fairly well.
Many people think that the International is Peters rendition of a Buffet, but this is not so. Peter designed the International to have similar sound characteristics and voicing as the large bore Elite, which was based on a Boosey and Hawkes 1010. I think he suceeded in this effort, as it does have these characteristics. It is also a very flexible instrument and can in my opinion blend into whatever sound type the player might want.
I highly recommend them, in my opinion they are the best horns out there.
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Author: donald
Date: 2005-05-07 22:31
the mention of "throat tone tuning" (esp sharp A) brings up another issue....
the maker can tune the instrument in the shop with one mouthpiece and reed.... the bore of the mouthpiece played by the buyer will very often vary from that which the instrument is tuned on- and the short tube notes will reflect this more dramatically.....
... also the reed/facing relationship/setup will vary other aspects of the tone and tuning. Plus differences in tone production will have a more marked effect on throat tone tuning (ie- high airspeed/tongue position= sharper throat tones, broader less focussed sound= flatter throat tones..... relatively speaking).
so the maker can tune the instrument in the workshop, and sometimes do this well, other times badly.... but we can't always blame them if it doesn't work well at our end of the game.
donald
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-05-08 04:36
Well I actually use the Eaton mouthpiece that came with my clarinet, since it's the best mouthpiece I've ever played, but the throat notes are still sharp.
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Author: nickma
Date: 2005-05-08 13:02
I hated the mouthpiece that came with my Eaton. It was stuffy and inflexible. I find that a vintage Bay, equivalent to a large chamber H1, provides sufficient incision to provide an open vibrant sound with the Eaton. In fairness to Peter, the mouthpiece was made in the early 1990s, and he's changed his mouthpiece profile since then.
Nick
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Author: diz
Date: 2005-05-10 22:17
I know nothing about these clarinets, except to say they are in my "aware set". Are they used by professional orchestral clarinetists?
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
Post Edited (2005-05-10 22:17)
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2005-05-11 09:52
diz, if you look at the Eaton website http://www.eatonclarinets.freeserve.co.uk/, you will find a rather impressive list of players who use them.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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