Thank you for a very thorough review of the Backun Alpha. I agree with you about the bridge key needing some lines to help students with proper alignment.
Hi I have a Backun Alpha and I’m able to interchange Backun Barrels and bells. Indeed it was advertised as upgradable with their barrels and bells so was interested when you said this wasn’t possible. May I suggest that it maybe wasn’t compatible with the new model Alpha Plus barrel. The alpha is a great student Clarinet and much improved with their wooden barrels and bells. Really enjoy your videos.
O interesting! If I am remembering correctly I tried a couple of barrels actually, but maybe Backun does have some that fit better. Thanks for sharing that, and I'm glad that you enjoy my videos!
Apologies but need to update on this. My Backun Alpha is an older model and their barrels were advertised to fit. Currently on their website there is a note which backs up your comment. Current model has wider tenons and therefore do not fit their own barrels and bells without customisation which they say is an easy fix.
I like synthetic clarinets so I can worry less when I play in poor conditions or need to store the instrument in a hot or cold area. I currently play on a hard rubber, Ridenour Libertas II. Would you care to venture an opinion as to how well the Backun Alpha compares to the Libertas II? "Ease of playing" is particularly important to me! So far, I can't quite justify buying the ultimate semi-synthetic clarinet---the $4000 Buffet R13 Greenline! :) But a second (affordable) horn would be nice to have. FYI, I am an intermediate, adult player.
I have never tried the Libertas, but the Ridenour clarinets have a great reputation, and I am sure it is a really solid instrument! The Alpha is also a pretty solid instrument, so if you are just looking for another instrument to try that is very durable then go for it. However, if you are looking for something that is going to make playing easier, you are probably better off looking for better reeds and doing more long tones 😀
Love how woodwind players are always like. I really recommend this $8,000,000 clarinet it is almost good! 😂😂😂 Way to advocate for your instrument dude!
Right! It is weird to see them on these more entry level instruments, but not on R13s. I do think the left Eb is becoming much more common, and some people support having them even on student models, which I think I generally agree with.
I'm currently renting a Yamaha ycl255 and not sure what the next logical upgrade should be. Arguably it should be the Yamaha YCL450, but would love any recommendations you night have. Thing from plastic to wood seems a logical step? I only play at home 😊
YCL450 is a solid choice, but it all depends on your budget. The best thing to do is go somewhere that has lots of clarinets and try as many as you can in your price range. Remember equipment doesn’t make nearly as much difference as how you play it does. Find something that feels as easy as possible to sound the way you want.
Hi, just a thought have you tried the Buffet Prodige? I'm sure I'm not the only one to wonder which would come out on top??? Thanks for posting these reviews & thanks for taking the time to reply to my previous comments. ( I have the Prodege & a B&H symphony 1010 )
I have not tried that before. It would be interesting to do a cross brand comparison of some of the more entry level and intermediate clarinets! Buffet is a great brand though, and I am sure the Prodige is really solid!
is it plastic? sounds like plastic.....I know because I played plastic for over a decade lol as long as the intonation is good, it's fine XD Also about alignment, my R13 is so much less forgiving, even a slight mis-alignment between the upper&lower tubes, my high Bb (index fingers fingering) won't play...it has to be perfectly aligned. I'm thinking about add a bit more layer of cork to that linkage to make it more forgiving
It is plastic (or at least some variety of synthetic resin). That is a common issue with alignment, but be careful of just adding more cork because that might make the top pad on your right hand not close completely, which is a much bigger problem.
Thank you for a very thorough review of the Backun Alpha. I agree with you about the bridge key needing some lines to help students with proper alignment.
You're welcome, and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Hi I have a Backun Alpha and I’m able to interchange Backun Barrels and bells. Indeed it was advertised as upgradable with their barrels and bells so was interested when you said this wasn’t possible. May I suggest that it maybe wasn’t compatible with the new model Alpha Plus barrel.
The alpha is a great student Clarinet and much improved with their wooden barrels and bells.
Really enjoy your videos.
O interesting! If I am remembering correctly I tried a couple of barrels actually, but maybe Backun does have some that fit better.
Thanks for sharing that, and I'm glad that you enjoy my videos!
Apologies but need to update on this. My Backun Alpha is an older model and their barrels were advertised to fit. Currently on their website there is a note which backs up your comment.
Current model has wider tenons and therefore do not fit their own barrels and bells without customisation which they say is an easy fix.
@@GrahamReid-rx5ur Thanks for following up about that! I didn't even think about earlier versions of it!
I like synthetic clarinets so I can worry less when I play in poor conditions or need to store the instrument in a hot or cold area. I currently play on a hard rubber, Ridenour Libertas II. Would you care to venture an opinion as to how well the Backun Alpha compares to the Libertas II? "Ease of playing" is particularly important to me!
So far, I can't quite justify buying the ultimate semi-synthetic clarinet---the $4000 Buffet R13 Greenline! :) But a second (affordable) horn would be nice to have.
FYI, I am an intermediate, adult player.
I have never tried the Libertas, but the Ridenour clarinets have a great reputation, and I am sure it is a really solid instrument!
The Alpha is also a pretty solid instrument, so if you are just looking for another instrument to try that is very durable then go for it. However, if you are looking for something that is going to make playing easier, you are probably better off looking for better reeds and doing more long tones 😀
Love how woodwind players are always like. I really recommend this $8,000,000 clarinet it is almost good! 😂😂😂 Way to advocate for your instrument dude!
To be fair the Alpha is a very affordable instrument.
Why R13 no Eb....I'm kinda pissed, I was playing that Orpheus in the Underwolrd overture, clarinet solo on Bb clarinet, and really needed that Eb!!!
Right! It is weird to see them on these more entry level instruments, but not on R13s. I do think the left Eb is becoming much more common, and some people support having them even on student models, which I think I generally agree with.
I'm currently renting a Yamaha ycl255 and not sure what the next logical upgrade should be. Arguably it should be the Yamaha YCL450, but would love any recommendations you night have. Thing from plastic to wood seems a logical step? I only play at home 😊
YCL450 is a solid choice, but it all depends on your budget. The best thing to do is go somewhere that has lots of clarinets and try as many as you can in your price range.
Remember equipment doesn’t make nearly as much difference as how you play it does. Find something that feels as easy as possible to sound the way you want.
R13
Hi, just a thought have you tried the Buffet Prodige? I'm sure I'm not the only one to wonder which would come out on top??? Thanks for posting these reviews & thanks for taking the time to reply to my previous comments. ( I have the Prodege & a B&H symphony 1010 )
I have not tried that before. It would be interesting to do a cross brand comparison of some of the more entry level and intermediate clarinets! Buffet is a great brand though, and I am sure the Prodige is really solid!
Literally me right now lol
is it plastic? sounds like plastic.....I know because I played plastic for over a decade lol
as long as the intonation is good, it's fine XD
Also about alignment, my R13 is so much less forgiving, even a slight mis-alignment between the upper&lower tubes, my high Bb (index fingers fingering) won't play...it has to be perfectly aligned. I'm thinking about add a bit more layer of cork to that linkage to make it more forgiving
It is plastic (or at least some variety of synthetic resin).
That is a common issue with alignment, but be careful of just adding more cork because that might make the top pad on your right hand not close completely, which is a much bigger problem.