Upgrading to a better clarinet

[Noel Mac]

I have a Buffet E-11 which is pretty nice but I am looking for something with a deeper tone to it. I originally bought the E-11 when I just started playing clarinet seriously. I will have about $1600 in a month and a half. What should I look at?

[Roger Aldridge]

First, I'd suggest that you look into a number of options before you make a decision. If you shop wisely there's no reason why you can't end up with a pro-level clarinet that you'll really love playing.

I'm sure that you'll get a lot of suggestions from various folks. But, for the money that you're talking about I'll give 2 suggestions: a Buffet R-13 and a Patricola.

It should be possible to get a new R-13 for an amount close to your budget at International Music Suppliers, Woodwinds and Brasswinds, Muncie Winds, etc. It also might be worth your while to see what Roberto's in NYC can do for you. They have a web site. Buffet clarinets are comparable to Selmer saxophones.

Personally, I've become VERY IMPRESSED with Patricola. Very high level of quality and craftmanship! I purchased a Patricola C clarinet last year from International Music Suppliers and I've been entirely happy with it. It's one really sweet clarinet! I highly recommend checking out Particola along with Buffet, Leblanc, and some other possibilities.

[Fred]

I agree with Roger . . . you've got a lot of options. First of all, let me say that I'm a clarinet player living out my mid-life crisis by trying to learn my way around saxophones - and, by the way, I'm having a great time! So I'm frequenting this Doubling thread from a different perspective than most sax players.

To guide you, we really need to know what music you are going to play(orchestra, jazz, dixieland, etc.), and what mouthpiece you are currently using. The E-11 is capable of wonderful sounds. You could buy a new Buffet R13, play it with the same mouthpiece, and notice very little difference. On the other hand, the mouthpiece makes more difference than the clarinet on tone production. But selection of the mouthpiece might depend on what kind of music you want to play. The good news is . . . the most expensive new clarinet mouthpieces on the market cost maybe $200. That's considered outrageously expensive for clarinet players, but you sax guys probably wouldn't blink at that. I play a completely hand-made custom mouthpiece made by Greg Smith (Chicago Symphony) - and it cost $175 direct from Greg.

The second issue that affects tone is the barrel. Getting a matched Chadash barrel from Greg to go along with the mouthpiece will cost an additional ~$125. I guarantee a mouthpiece/barrel combo for $300 will affect your tone more than any new clarinet on the market.

Give that some consideration - repost if you have any questions.

[super20dan]

noel- there is a execellent buffet r-13 avaliable from the collection that your bass clarinet came from . this r-13 is even better than mine. its for sale at 1000$ and believe me its worth every penny. email me if interested.

[MM]

Fred, the Smith is primarily for hard-core orchestral playing, right? Or would it be flexible enough for shows, for example?

I tried a lot of clarinets recently--older R-13s, even older Buffet (but with the new bore), Buffet S-1, Buffet Festival, Leblanc and ended up going with a new R-13 selected for me my Lisa Arginis at International Music Suppliers. The new R13's if they're set up well are easy to sound good on with projection and are pretty well in tune. They are quite flexible, able to play legit and jazzy, solo and ensemble bits I encounter mainly in musicals, sometimes in concert band and jazz band.

[bcnsax]

Selmer are a good option, too.
Try to find a Centered Tone, Series 9 or series 10. I love selmers!!!!

[DezzaG]

Fred:
just a note, Gregs mouthpiece are not hand made but hand finished. He uses a Zinner blank and works on the bore baffle and lay, but he oes NOT make the mouthpiece from scatch-and if you want another option try either a Grabner(cheaper but he still uses Zinner blanks) or maybe for show work a Hite would be GREAT!

[Fred]

You're right of course about the Zinner blanks on Greg Smith mouthpieces. Poor choice of words on my part. But they are truly great mouthpieces. I've heard great things about the Grabner pieces as well, though I've never played one.

As for style of playing on a Smith, I'm sure there are more flexible mp's out there (I've got Vandoren 5JB, Brilhart, B45 Lyre), but I still find myself playing the Smith because it sounds so darn good - far better than anything else I've ever played. Plus, there is no nicer gentleman anywhere to work with than Greg Smith. He prefers to talk with you directly, and everyone gets his personal attention and courtesy. And let's face it, Greg's a heavyweight in the classical clarinet world. I don't know too many artists of his caliber that care about talking to amateur players like myself.

[Jeff D]

Personally I sway towards the Leblanc family of clarinets. Look into the new Pete Fountain "Big Easy" model.

Also, unless you are in the stix, do your own repairs, or have a personal problem with the local music store, I encourage you to patronize your local dealers. You may get a better price from a catalog, but you won't get the personal service or the unmentioned perks you do from a walk-in dealer. Every shop I have worked for has an unwritten policy of putting purchases from catalog competitors on the bottom of the repair pile. The extra $50-100 you pay in a store goes a long way.

We just had a customer with a new Buffet A clar with a crack. It was purchased from Woodwind & Brasswind. The procedure is to return the instrument to the dealer and then the dealer sends it into Buffet for repair/replacement--average turn around time is 6-8 weeks. If it were one of our customers we would give them a loaner (same model) to use while they wait. Try to get a loaner for free from WW/BW or any other catalog company.

So anyway, look into Leblanc.
I personally play on an old Selmer Centered Tone cuz I'm broke.

JD