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2 reviews
Good Value for a Sopranino
This is a nice little Eb clarinet, especially for the price. It has an attractive wood grain finish that makes it look like grenadilla from a distance. It has a nice feel to it--not too heavy and not too light. I bought the version with the gold plating, mainly so it looks different from my Bb clarinet. The gold finish pops out in contrast to the black body. The mouthpiece included plays pretty well, and I don't notice any problems not experienced with other stock mouthpieces. The ligature, while an attractive gold, is a cheap metal clamp. I actually had to loosen it with a pair of pliers when it arrived, just to get it off. It comes with a single reed that is unmarked, but I figure is about a 2.0.
I replaced the ligature with a Rovner Dark and bought a Legere 2.5 synthetic reed, which improved the playability of the instrument quite a bit.
It has the same issues any sopranino clarinet will have. The fingerings are cramped, and it doesn't blow anywhere near as easy as a Bb soprano, though with the Rovner/Legere combination it did improve it.
The chalumeau register has terrific tone along the body. (Keep in mind it will sound a fifth higher in pitch than a Bb clarinet.) The throat tones seemed a bit stuffy, but the Rovner/Legere combination helped here, too. The clarion register takes some getting used to. It requires more breath support than you expect, and a tighter emboucher than you're used to for a Bb. The altissimo register is a battle, and will take a lot of practice to get under control. As with any Eb sopranino, the tone starts getting shrill above clarion G or A, and becomes piercing in the altissimo register. This is the nature of the beast.
A word of warning. Eb sopranino clarinets are often marketed as being for children. Playing this size instrument is more difficult than a playing Bb clarinet. I think it would be a disastrous choice to use for somebody's first instrument. You have to use what would be bad habits on a Bb to make this instrument respond, especially up high. For a clarinet player with several years experience and good tone with a Bb, this would be a great instrument to diversify your options. To me, it's main advantage is breaking in a different place than a Bb. Music with a lot of throat tones on a Bb would be kicked down into the chalumeau register on an Eb, making the piece easier to play cleanly.Read full review...
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: ceebails
Great value!
I got this for my high schooler over a year ago. Plays well and sounds great.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: ceebails