Hi everyone,

I've just been told that I need to have an A clarinet for some pieces that we are doing in orchestra. The County Council are perfectly willing to let me loan one of theirs for up to 2 years. The only problem is that I won't leve school for another 3.5 years and so at some point I would need to get my own A, and my teacher says it owuld be better to get one sooner rather than later. I have a spare Bb case here. Would an A fit it? I know that they sell double cases, but my parents won't let me get one as they spent so much money on my last case. I also know that Buffet sell A clarinet cases, but I was wondering is there actaully any need for it? Or do I really need to get a case for an A clarinet seeing as its bigger?

Thanks,

Lizzie

If memory serves Liz, I believe it's only the barrel that is bigger? :S thus making a B flat case acceptable. But...if I'm wrong and it's the whole clarinet...you'll need a new case

Well I seem to remember that my firend just switches her mouthpiece and barrel over to the A clarinet when she palys it, so it must be the whole clarinet. It woulds be a shame if I had to buy a new case as well, I've got a perfectly decent one sitting without a clarinet to look after, and I don't really want to sell it.

No, every piece is bigger, except the mouthpiece.

I have a double case for Bb and A, and the parts for the A are slightly larger.

That's a pain. Never mind. I'll see what this county clarinet is like and go from there I think.

Actually, it's really just the middle joints that are noticeably bigger. Still wouldn't go in a Bb case though.

In my double Clari case, the A clarinet slots are quite abit bigger than the Bb ones - i think the barrel & bell are the same length in each - it just the 2 middle bits which are longer.

Have you got an A clarinet yet lizzie??? What are you/will you get?

Just to point out this *has* already been established

Jonathan - I havn't got an A yet. I'm getting my county one in 3 weeks time, but I don't know what make/model it will be. When I get my own I will probably get another E11, because I really like my E11 Bb, and don't want to give it up, and I don't really want to have clarinets of differet makes if I can avoid it when I have my own set.

Sorry if I've completely mis-read the question, but I'm a bit confused.

A clarinet always comes with a case. So why are you asking about one? I've bought lots of clarinets and every one came in a case.

Am I missing something here?

Steve

Would it fit? Depends on the case design. If you've already got a spare case, and the county A comes without one, try the instrument in there first. If you buy one yourself, most new instruments come complete with a case.

Cheapest double case I've seen is £50 from Myatts (I think their website is www.myatt.co.uk).

The county cclarinet will come with a case, theres no problem with that. What I'm talking about it when I get my own, as John Myatt sell their cases separately (well that's what their website says). All I was wondering was whether I could put my own A, when I get it, into a Bb case. I'd like to get a double case but my parents won't let me as they're worried that I'd lose both clarinets at the same time if I left it somewhere, and so that I don't have to lug both around on the bus everyday when I don't need both.

I still have a seperate Bb case, so on the rare occassions I only want to take the Bb, I can put it in there, and leave the double case with the A. It's very rare to need the A and not Bb from my experience, unless of course you're performing the Mozart Clarinet Concerto or something like that.

Double cases are expensive though, mine is a BAM, was about £150.

Yeah, that's why I'm not allowed to get a double case, especially since it was only about 6 months ago that my parents spent almost £100 on my leather case. I'll wait and see.

Looks like it is mostly a Buffet thing. Dawkes also list the case as not included for all of the Buffet A clarinets, the other manufacturers realise that the case is essential and include it. Most even supply it in a double case at that. I suppose it is a way of making the instrument look cheaper.

Personally I think having matching Bb and A clarinets isn't really as important as people suggest. Try others as well as the E11 in case there is something else that suits you better.

Regarding your parents worry about loosing both instruments at once....well yes it is a concern that strikes me whenever I have 3 instruments in my bass case. However, I think you are more likely to leave a single case behind due to having too many bags to carry than leave your precious pair of instruments behind.