 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Halo1115
Date: 2015-03-19 07:18
Hi,
I'm looking to buy an Eb clarinet. It really needs to be fairly cheap, but decent. (Yes, I know that I'm contradicting myself with what I want. I haven't tried one yet, so if I like it, then I will buy a better one)
Any help is great. Even if a place will let me do a payment plan on a better one, that would be great. (Music and Arts doesn't do this for Eb clarinets.)
Thank you!
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2015-03-19 17:43
If you must have a new instrument, your least expensive option for a reputable-maker E-flat is the Vito 7212Eb. Apparently these are out of production, but a few online retailers still have them. Weiner Music lists them for $899.
Failing that, you'll have to move up to a Buffet E-11, at around $2200--and, most often, these are special-order instruments.
For an introductory E-flat, though, you might want to just buy a good used Bundy, a good mouthpiece, and perhaps a Fobes or Backun barrel. These are usually available on Internet auctions for $200-$350.
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Author: feadog79
Date: 2015-03-19 18:17
I don't like playing Eb (my hands are on the larger side...), but I have an older Bundy that serves me well when I play in pit orchestras. I also once borrowed an older Normandy that played nicely. A good mouthpiece is, of course, necessary (I use a Vandoren 5RV on mine). I don't play it enough to justify the expense of a Fobes or Backun barrel, but I'm sure it would make a difference.
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Author: Roxann
Date: 2015-03-19 18:27
At a suggestion from a fellow BBoard member, I was able to buy a plastic Bundy off that on-line auction site for $250. It was a good way for me to find out that I loved playing Eb. I bought a much nicer one and was able to resell the less expensive one for what I paid for it. Just keep your eyes open on the on-line auction sites. I hope you don't mind waiting a bit until the right one comes up for auction.
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Author: TomS
Date: 2015-03-19 19:09
I owned a a Bundy and had terrible tuning issues with it ... I ended up finding a different barrel, modifying tone holes and even coated part of he upper part of the bore with a plastic approved paint ... it was so bad, I had nothing to lose. Finally I got it usable ... and sold it when I found a Selmer Series 9.
I even sent my Bundys to a highly competent repairman (name withheld, but you would recognize him ...) and he didn't have a clue. Thought that might be a production problem. That's when I just bit the bullet and experimented on my own ...
Later, I tried a Leblanc LL, Buffet R13 and several plastic student instruments and the results varied. None were better than the Selmer.
I'd like to try the Vito!
Wish Backun would make an Alpha E-flat for under a grand!
Tom
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Author: straykat
Date: 2015-03-19 19:22
Don't forget that most of the big music dealers (wwbw, weinermusic, etc...) offer trial periods for the instruments...so instead of wasting about 1/2 of what you would pay for a cheaper Eb, put forth a little more for one that you would play long term, and if at the end of your trial period you don't like it, you can always return it.
I'd like to offer my opinion on an excellent alternative to the Buffet is the Patricola CL1. It's a professional model, with 2 barrels of slightly different sizes, a LH Eb key, and roughly the same cost as the E-11 (but I found mine for much cheaper on e-Bay). I've had no intonation issues with this eefer as I've had with others, AND without the need to purchase a separate barrel. I'm also using a Vandoren 5VR mouthpiece, which is pretty solid for it's price, and chopped Bb Vandoren reeds. I loved this eefer so much, I bought the Bb version as well!
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Author: efsf081
Date: 2015-03-20 03:36
If you just want to try a Eb clarinet, why don't you borrow one from your friend or hire from a music shop?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2015-03-20 23:39
The Martin Freres instrument looks just like yet another rebadged Chinese CSO, why not just go out onto That Auction Site and order the same thing directly from China for less?
I'm getting fed up with American distributors buying generic Chinese instruments, putting their names on them and marketing them as something special. I'd suggest you contact "Martin Freres" and ask them where their instruments are made and what (if anything) "Martin Freres" does to improve them. Ridenour and Kessler do the same thing, but at least they do a few things to improve the instruments (so I've read).
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Author: cyclopathic
Date: 2015-03-21 00:52
David Spiegelthal wrote:
> The Martin Freres instrument looks just like yet another
> rebadged Chinese CSO, why not just go out onto That Auction
> Site and order the same thing directly from China for less?
>
they are less Chinese CSO then Ridenour. MF are buying parts from Asia and India and assembling them in Florida, including drilling out toneholes to correct intonation.
Here is what Phil Pedler had to say about it:
--------------------------------------------------------------
NEW Martin Freres Eb clarinet A winner!
Hey, gang!
DanCiarcia is a member here, and somehow connected to the new Martin Freres company. He has kept remarkably quiet about their products here!
He sent me their new E-34 student model Eb sopranino clarinet to review. This little beauty is a game-changer! At the reasonable price it sells for, anyone wanting to complete their clarinet arsenal should snap up the E-34!
My review with more pictures is here: https://sites.google.com/a/clarinetpages...res-eb-new
I wonder, who wants to try this?! If you write a Private Message to me, I will see if Dan will let me ship it to you.
-----------------------------------
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Author: gkern
Date: 2015-03-21 01:36
Phil's closing remarks in his review:
"Key work quality: Excellent!
This clarinet is most appropriate for: Anyone needing an Eb. This is a GREAT DEAL!
Condition issues noted: None. Played like a charm right out of the box. A ring on the hard rubber barrel came off."
Not your typical Chinese CSO by any means.
Gary K
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Author: 2cekce ★2017
Date: 2015-03-23 02:56
Both my Bb and Eb are Amati's and I love them both, my Bb being the full Boehm Pro model and my Eb is intermediate level since I don't play it as often. I don't know off hand what the student model cost but its worth a looking into. I also have two Vito's for outdoor playing. I use my Bb but not
the Eb since my marching band doesn't carry music for the Eb. With my
amati Eb I use a vandoren b44 with vandoren reeds and Rovner versa lig and this set up works well for me. Amati"s stock mouthpieces are a bit resistant for me so I use vandoren mpcs currently M13 profile 88 & B45 for my Bb's
Mitchell Lurie reeds and of course vandoren reeds.
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