 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DanielR
Date: 2011-11-27 19:42
Hi, I am currently studying clarinet in university, and I'm in the market for buying an eb. About a year ago, I just bought a new Bb clarinet, so my funds aren't out there for a 5k+ clarinet.
Right now, I have been using the schools eb, but it is quite an atrocious instrument and I would like to be able to play on a better horn.
I have looked around, and I've found that Patricola instruments have gotten pretty good reviews based on it's price. I'm just wondering if you guys have any input on the subject and could lead me in the right direction.
Also, the Fobes products seem to be really nice and I feel like the mouthpiece, barrel, extension combo could be very nice if it would work on the Patricola.
I would of course try out the products before committing to them, but I just want to see if I can get a general idea before progressing on.
Thanks alot!
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2011-11-27 21:02
In my experience the Patricola Eb is a worthy and cost-effective alternative to (say) a Buffet R13/RC, with good build quality and finish, and decent intonation - always a key issue on an Eb. With regard to the accessories, as you say it's a case of "try before you buy". I use a Fobes mouthpiece on my Leblanc Concerto, but for me a Backun barrel offered a fuller sound than the Fobes - although for a permanent solution, I had to have one custom made, as the instrument's top tenon is a non-standard (or at least non-Buffet!) diameter. The Fobes extension made no meaningful difference to resonance or intonation. Conversely, I also have a Buffet RC Prestige, for which my standard setup includes a Grabner mouthpiece and the Fobes extension, but with the original barrel. Find an instrument you like first, then have fun experimenting with the accessories, and hopefully you will find you don't need to buy them all!
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Author: Joseph Tomasso
Date: 2011-11-27 23:44
I just purchased a Rosewood Patricola Eb clarinet. It is outstanding! I think you must absolutely try one at the very least. I was hoping to compare it with a yamaha 681 or 881, but I could not get my hands on them.
I play a set of yamaha CSG clarinets (with backun traditional mouthpiece, ringless barrels in grenadilla, and bells in cocobolo). I previously played buffet. This is my first patricola instrument, and while I have no intention of replacing any of my horns at the moment, I will always be sure to try patricola from now on (Even for my next oboe/ehorn) I cannot speak higher about my instrument. Simply great!
In my masters program I used an R13 Eb owned by the school. It was nice. I thought it had good projection, good tone, and a decent scale. Comparing that now to the Patricola, i'd say that the projection and tone were acceptable, but I much prefer the intonation tendency and tone quality of the patricola. I had to fight altissimo notes like crazy on the R13 (Which is normal, and perhaps i'm just a better player 4 years later) and every alternate fingering I could think of just never cut it on the F/F#. With the patricola, i'm spot on when I use the alternate fingerings suggested in the Hadcock book.
I use a vandoren 5RV, optimum ligature, and a mix of Eb 3.5 V12 reeds, and chopped down Bb reeds (Rico Reserve Classic 3.5, Rue Lepic 56 3.5). Because I also play the saxophone family and the oboe family, I haven't had the time or money to experiment much with any new toys for the Eb right now. When I have some time (and money) i'm planning to try the Backun mouthpieces and possibly a barrel or bell (but I have to say, i'm so incredibly pleased with the patricola sound right now I'm in no hurry to modify the instrument).
I did not compare the rosewood to the grenadilla so that might be something to consider. After trying the rosewood models I didn't feel I needed to have any grenadilla shipped for comparison. The rosewood projects very well for what it is worth. All those myths about rosewoods not being able to project don't seem to apply for me.
Try before you buy, but certainly try!
Bachelor of Music, Sax/Clarinet Performance (2005, 06)
Master of Music, Multiple Woodwind Performance (2008)
Master of Music, Oboe Performance (2013)
Gainesville Chamber Orchestra (Clarinet)
University of Florida 2010-2011(Visiting Lecturer in Woodwi
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2011-11-28 00:28
They are quite nice.
The bores seem similar in dimension to Buffet (I have made several barrels for them, so I was able to measure them).
Of course, intonation is paramount when selecting an Eefer.
As I have mentioned before, I like the Fobes extension, so that is an option IF you need one...or like one.
Also consider a used Selmer....the 9 series eefers are good (while the Bbs are not as highly touted), and sometimes you can get one nicely priced. The Recital series ones are awesome (I lucked onto one), but harder to find, and costly.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: DanielR
Date: 2011-11-28 03:39
Thanks for the reply's guys. I play on a Backun made clarinet, and I really do love his products, so I am happy to see that I can try out his products on an eb.
So I'm definitely going to try to get a few patricola's, I am also curious about the rosewood vs grenadilla wood. I know that rosewood produces a more bright or you could say "in your face" sound, which is good for an eb in an orchestral setting. But I play the eefer in a wind ensemble and clarinet choir also, so I'm not sure how well rosewood would do with blending in those settings.
Thanks again for the great help!
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2011-11-28 03:49
I haven't tried Patricola clarinets yet, but I have tried their oboes, in both Rosewood and Grenadilla.
The Rosewood when compared to the Grenadilla didn't project as much. It was a great chamber instrument, but even pushing my loudest, it seemed like it pushed back on me (the 3 of us that tried them out had the same response). It could have been just that instrument, but who knows. BUT, for the case of an Eb clarinet, how much more do you really need to project? I honestly would think that the softer sound of the Eb would be perfect for blending with an orchestra/wind ensemble/clarinet choir, but would still project when needed, basically because it IS an Eb clarinet.
I'm actually really interested in the Eb myself, and would love to get one when the time permits. But, I do think that the quality of their instruments is very high, and beautifully made. I will say that the person who was looking for an oboe is leaning heavily towards the Patricola Grenadilla over the other instruments. It plays great, as I would imagine the clarinets would.
Good luck!
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2011-11-28 10:53
Yeah, Ron...Rosewood is sort of a mixed bag.
From requests I have received, I get the impression that the Rossi players favor it, while Patricola devotees tend to the blackwood side of the tree.
And yes, the eefer has built-in projection, so I would opt for spot-on intonation before all else. (Sage advice from a professional friend who opted for sonority over intonation and regreted it).
Sounds like DanielR will be looking at the Patricolas (Patricoli??) and has his add-on extras preselected. If he does not opt for the Fobes extension, there is always a vented and non-vented bell in the offing (sorta like selecting a diffuser-compensator for your SR15....but sans the suppressor in this case)
Allan
Disclaimer....I make and sell barrels for clarinets, but not for AKs or SR15s
(you wouldnt believe how many hits my webpage gets from people doing searches for gun barrels....I even got there myself when I was looking for a vented shotgun barrel. So do I want Rosewood or mpingo on a 12 gauge??![[right]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie8.gif) )
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Trevor M
Date: 2011-11-28 19:11
I got a b-stock rosewood Partricola Eb at a very low price, but I had to get a new barrel made for it to correct some intonation issues.
I tried the Fobes extension- it does *something* – changes the sonority of the very bottom of the instrument a little, but didn't do much of anything to improve the intonation on the long E/B. I also got a Fobes mouthpiece, and loved the way it responded, but my tech very solemnly assured me that it would play in tune better with a different mouthpiece, so it's in trials for some alternatives. (Something about the size of the chamber on the Fobes? I don't know... I am suspicious about whether anybody really knows what they're talking about when it comes to mouthpieces.)
The Patricolas are nicely-made horns and the engineering seems good, although my tech did disable the extra side-vent thing. I think I might be wary of rosewood for a regular Bb or A clarinet, but with the Eb the different tone color actually sounds pretty nice. It's been in a couple concerts now and performed admirably.
Post Edited (2011-11-28 19:11)
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Author: CocoboloKid
Date: 2011-11-29 16:43
"Why not get a used R13? That's what I did, and I still use this horn till this day!"
Perhaps because not everybody wants to play a Buffet?
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2011-11-29 17:08
I like my little Patricola eefer just fine! Beatifully made horn, better keywork than on any Buffet I've seen. Plus the "true pinch Bb" key. The Patricola guys are great to work with; very responsive to questions and special requests. I'm keeping mine.
Jerry
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