Amati Model 351 C Clarinet

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7 found helpful, 1 found unhelpful.
Excellent rapport qualité - prix

Customer Rating

by Philippe Nadal 11/2/2007 9:02:03 AM

Musical Experience: Amateur confirmé
Style of music: Classic, Folk
Hometown France

Une clarinette d'étude assez soignée. (A quite well-made student clarinet.) Les mécaniques sont très souples. (The key movement), is very flexible / supple.) Les ressorts sont en acier bleu, les tampons sont de type classique, le clétage argenté. (The springs are in blue steel, the pads are of the classical type, the keys are nickel-silver.) Le son est très agréable dans les registres grave à aigue mais en sur aigue, à partir du do, les notes sont un peu basses, il vous faudra un bec adapté et une anche pas trop faible. (The sound is very agreeable in the low to high registers, but concerning the high registers, starting with C, the notes are a little flat, you will need to adapt your embouchure, and use a stronger reed.) Ne pas a avoir à transposer, puisqu'en tonalité de Do, à vue est un vrai plaisir, je vous l'assure. (Not having to transpose, since it is pitched in C, makes it a true pleasure, that I assure you.) Le fait que la clarinette soit plus petite apporte un confort de jeu notable. (The fact that the clarinet is smaller gives it a notable ease and comfort of playing.) Pour résumer c'est un très bon instrument pour un débutant ou amateur. (To sum up, it is a very good instrument for a beginner or an amateur.)

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5 found helpful, 0 found unhelpful.
Great value clarinet!

Customer Rating

by Harold Willhite 7/11/2007 6:18:30 PM

Musical Experience: Bass clarinet & Bb in community band, church orchestra & clarinet chamber group
Style of music: Big band, Clssical ,Scred & Chamber Music
Hometown So. California

For some time I've thought it desirable to be able to play with a piano without having to play by ear or transpose. Behold! There is an affordable solution. This little clarinet sounds terrific (especially in the lower register) and is very free blowing. I have had no problems at all and this appears to be a very good quality instrument. Don't tell any one, but I think it could sell for a lot more.

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27 found helpful, 0 found unhelpful.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth

Customer Rating

by Shawn Buck 5/17/2007 5:53:47 PM

Musical Experience: retired E-flat clarinet, USAF Band, Washington DC
Style of music: classical
Hometown Hagerstown, MD

I was called very recently to do Donizetti's "Don Pasquale." By the time I got the music, I had only two days to prepare an 82 page opera--more than 50% of which is in C. I'm not particularly proud to admit this, but my transposing chops are probably not what they should be. Forgive me Iggy. (God rest his soul.) Fortunately, I found a respected colleague who was willing to rent me his beautiful 105xxx series Buffet C clarinet. In the meantime I had been hearing some buzz about these Amati C clarinets--mostly about their affordability. Determined not to be again caught off-guard in the future, I decided to give it a try. Frankly, I never thought a horn this affordable--OK, let's not mince words--CHEAP could ever play very well. Man, I could not have been more wrong. I did a side-by-side comparison, and for me the Amati plays better than the Buffet. With the stock barrel, I checked it against a tuner at A441. The throat tones are beautifully in tune, and even though the notes above high A are a bit sharp, there's nothing that's unworkable. For me however, it was the way the horn blew--much more like my R-13 B-flat than even the Buffet C. Go figure. Also notable was the unexpected level of craftsmanship. By all appearances the clarinet is made of high grade wood: tight, even grain (can't say if it's granadilla or not). The excellent keywork felt comfortable under my fingers too. Finally, a special thanks to the person/s who put the clarinet in such outstanding mechanical condition. It arrived over night in absolutely perfect working condition, with well regulated keys and airtight pads. I used it that very night. I keep asking myself how they can sell a horn like this for so little. Hence the one line summary...

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9 found helpful, 0 found unhelpful.
An excellent performing instrument for those on a budget

Customer Rating

by John Holesha 5/11/2007 4:30:57 PM

Musical Experience: Advanced player
Style of music: Classical, orchestral and chamber groups
Hometown South Florida

Occasionally, I need to perform music written for a "C" clarinet in Church, orchestral, and chamber group s

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