Today I review the Backun Alpha clarinet. An $1,100 clarinet, made by Morrie Backun that aims to be the best "bang for the buck" plastic clarinet on the market. Let's see if Backun hit the bullseye.
@@craterellus3577 Rice Clarinet Works sells a bolt-on left hand a-flat/e-flat key, but it is expensive (250 USD), and is only guaranteed to work on most Buffet clarinets (B-flat, A, and E-flat).
We're biased, but we think so, too. In several international countries, the LH Eb Lever is becoming standard, even on student instruments. We're certainly seeing more and more of this demand in North America... especially when ours are easily removable!
Just finished the video and wow!! I am so impressed! As somebody who really looks up to the R13, my jaw dropped when I got the listening test wrong. Crazy that this big of an innovation can be made in the student market after so long. Great video!
The Alpha is insane. I sold these for awhile now and literally just can't believe how good it is. Yep, if I was playing outside much I'd buy one. Holy Crap is right!
As someone that just bought one of these for playing outdoor concerts in Texas, this assessment is spot on. Does it feel as good to play as my R13? No, but it's >85% of the way there. Here are some of my thoughts: -I found the spring tension to be a bit heavy, but that's an easy fix if you know what you're doing (or for a tech). -The barrel socket/upper joint tenon is a proprietary size, so your nice wooden or fancy adjustable barrels will not fit. -The pads are Valentino (or at least not traditional felt) so they will do very well with moisture. (This also might explain the louder key clacks.) -The option for silver plated keys and a left Eb/Ab is outstanding. This makes the instrument feel almost premium under the fingers. Overall, it is most certainly the best "plastic" clarinet I've ever played and is an outstanding choice for outdoor gigs or marching bands.
I play on an Alpha and I've been waiting your review on it!! This clarinet has served me well when I traded in my old one looking for something nicer but still fairly affordable!
Because I watched _The Graduate_ and looked up 'Plastics" on Wikipedia, I learned: the adjective "plastic" literally means moldable, but in common usage has multiple meanings. Bakelite, an early 20th Century invention, is what's called a "thermoset" plastic, like melamine and Formica. When the material is _heated_ , it hardens. But you can't untoast that toast. Modern plastics (with an "s") refer to thermoplastics, materials that melt when heated and solidify when _cooled_ . They will melt again if reheated and can be re-formed, more or less.
My nephew has one that he played in high school and liked a lot. He's not playing anymore, so I've been dropping broad hint for him to let me buy it from him. Fingers crossed!
I play the Julian Bliss Leblanc/Backun designed before he had his own brand. I bought it because the wooden one was very light, I can't tell the difference between the wooden one and the plastic one. A few years later, I got the matching plastic one for teaching/playing outside, and it's very good too, and it's good to have the two clarinets with the same keywork and feel the same to blow through.
I got one of the plastic Bliss/Backun models (now discontinued) to play in cold weather. It sounds really good, though the intonational evenness leaves something to be desired, imo. However, I find the keys to be awful and cannot use the instrument for actually playing music or heavy duty practice, just for basic technical stuff like long tones and slow scales. Maybe if I had a technician set up the keys really well, but the expense seems overkill for that for student instrument.
I bought one Backun plastic for my student. As passing it to her, I said "if you're not happy with it, I can gladly buy it back!" - and I meant it! It would have been an excellent reserve and outside instrument. Thank you for this rewiev.
I guessed correctly on the blind listening (unlike at ClarinetFest lol). The give away was actually that the Alpha intonation felt better?!? And the connections were smoother on the R13. Great review as always!
hey michael! you should totally make a video talking about the TMEA all state etudes that a lot of high schoolers in texas have to learn to audition for state ensemble, (p.s. theyre literally just the 3rd, 4th, and 8th rose etudes)
My main horn is a cocobolo Backun Protoge that I miraculously managed to buy used. But I also bought an Alpha for a deserving relative. I too was amazed by the Alpha, comparing it to the Protege. Wow! Agree with you on the tone of wood, though, Mike. I would describe the Alpha keys as a little clunky, but definitely student-proof. Great review!
I now only play and own saxophones primarily and wanted a clarinet but can't afford to spend a lot if I do decide to get one and just found out about the Alpha recently and thought about it. I have never seen any reed instruments come with legere reeds so that was interesting to see and good for a beginner since they play immediately without any issues or affected by moisture. I play Legere European Cut clarinet reeds on my soprano saxophone and like them. I could tell a slight difference in the blind test, but not enough to know which was which
I've been playing on my Alpha for half a year now and I'm so happy with it! You mentioned the case being ugly and student level: when I got my Alpha clarinet it came in a beautiful backpack Backun case! So I maybe it depends on where you buy it? Anyways: good review! Liked watching it. Edit: I bought mine in Europe and I didn't spend a 1000 on it. It was more between 500 and 600 euro.
Indeed. Internationally, all Alpha Synthetics come in a ballistic nylon backpack case. In the US, specifically, Alpha Synthetics come in durable hardshell cases meant to protect the instruments as they are rented to students and beginners. Some dealers do choose to order the Alphas in backpack cases, but this is certainly not the norm.
Form follows function on that case, and that's fine by me. But that clarinet! I got one for my daughter for enduring Covid band and sticking with the horn, and man, it's so much better than the student Yamaha we rented for her starting out. It blows better, sounds better, the keys feel so much better. Although the logical upgrade from the student horn was to a wood clarinet later in high school, the *dramatically* better playing, but still weather-resistant Backun made a lot of sense for marching band + tendencies of kids to leave instruments in 120 or 0 degree cars, etc. even in concert season.
I play in community bands mostly outside. If I were in the market for a new clarinet I’d buy this, but for now my Ridenour Lyrique is holding up quite nicely.
I know a number of pro clarinet players who have bought one of these Alphas as a back-up and outdoor clarinet. I personally do not consider this clarinet a student level clarinet, but a low level pro clarinet. I think the pads are what are causing the noise you mention, but Backun knows clarinets and this clarinet is a monster for the price. Like I said, I know many pro clarinetists who have preached one of these clarinets as a back-up/outdoor clarinet to save their LeBlanc, Buffets, and higher level Backun clarinets from the outdoor summer gigs and to use when their "main" clarinets are in the shop. I notice a little distortion at the start of some of the notes on the blind test that is so common with R-13. That was a dead give-away for me on the blind test. The Alpha does not have that. Listen again. You will hear what I am talking about. This blip/pop/distortion starts some of the pitches. Any way, thanks for the great video of a great clarinet.
I've thought about getting an alpha for a while now. I used to play in a military band and we always used R13s but I can't justify paying that much for an instrument right now
Wow, I got the blind comparison wrong, too. Glad I snatched up my Alpha a couple of years ago when it was roughly half the current price. Still worth it at $1,100, but you have to question if you can still call it a student clarinet when that price is out of reach for most students. At this price, the target customer has to be professionals and hobbyists looking for a decent instrument to play in environments less friendly to expensive wood instruments.
A wonderful clarinet that plays well. My biggest complaint is the left hand pinky keys which are placed too far away from the C/G tone hole. I have big hands and the stretch was uncomfortable for me. It would be much worse for a 6th grader learning to pass over the break.
He does. CG takes his Alpha Clarinets on vacation with him, especially when he's travelling to hot and humid locations that might not favour a wooden clarinet. And yes, he's played his Alpha with MoBa Barrel and Bell in the orchestra on a number of occasions. Ciaoooooo!
I have only one clarinet on my "mantle." My first clarinet was a Vito LeBlanc 7214 Millennium Edition. It really is just a basic student instrument except for the Millennium logo on the clarinet and case, so nothing special. But at 14, it was stolen from me. It's taken me 20 years to find another of the same year and model. It sits on it's pretty stand, in it's own place of honor, to remind me to never give up on my dream.
Very nice instrument for a student or for a pro for backup. If you are using this instrument sometimes, are you using other barrels with it? I find it sounds even better with some different barrels. And, have you made adjustments to the spring tensions and some of the key positions if you are using one of these yourself occasionally? I find the spring tension too heavy and some of the key positions are a little awkward for me, relative to what I am used to on a professional instrument that has been very well set up. However, maybe all that is overkill for a student instrument?
Hi, thank you for the presentation. I found a sale offer, unfortunately without details about the mouthpiece. Waiting for a reply from the seller. Could you tell me - what mouthpiece was in the kit that you received for testing. Thank you in advance for your reply. Greetings
Recently purchased a Backun Alpha for outdoor playing. Very nice instrument. Do you have any experience with the Leblanc /Backun Cadenza compared to the R13?
Do they make a similarly good bass clarinet? Or is there a plastic bass clarinet you would recommend? (I'm a tenor saxophonist who is bass clarinet curious.)
I spent about 300 euros to restore my old wooden high-school clarinet. Only thing is.. I did everything myself. And I messed up somewhere so it squeaks in the lower range. Overall I did a good job but I'd have to spend a couple hundred extra to sort out the squeaking problem (something with the sealing of the pads and bent keys) I didn't do it... I just bought myself a student clarinet instead.. And it plays sooo smooth. I went for a plastic buffet, but if money wasn't an issue I would've gone with a backun alpha. So if anyone out there is wondering... should I renovate or buy new? Renovating is a semi-expensive and fun DIY but don't expect a functioning clarinet afterwards.
The uneven problem could maybe be addressed by a proper tech setting the instrument up better than the factory setup. Or maybe the factory setup was disturbed under transit.
I got it without really knowing the hype and boy… I even played some serious music with it including a concert and a studio recording and while you notice a difference to my tosca… the difference isn‘t really that big
Really? No love for the old Vito bass clarinets (LOL). I still have mine, which I keep as a spare. It plays and sounds pretty good. I just have problems with the clarion register--I guess because of the single octave key.
You’re telling me a 1,100 dollar clarinet comes with a Eb LEVER?! And the rest us are spending over 5x the amount on Buffet clarinets for that key, and maybe the F correction key as well.
Did you know that every single Backun Clarinet model comes with an optional (or standard) removable Left Hand Eb Lever. From the Alpha, all the way up to the CG Carbon, all of our clarinets can be ordered with this additional key, which was once only a rarity. We're pretty sure we're the only clarinet manufacturer that offers this on every single Bb and A model in the entire range.
Not better... just different! In the US, Backun Alpha Synthetic Clarinets come in hardshell cases, as they are preferred by school music dealers that rent instruments to students and beginners! Backun Alpha Clarinets that are sold internationally come with a ballistic nylon backpack case that is both stylish and comfortable. As always, we love ClarinetTrucos!!!
I am learning clarinet to be able to double on it. My Bach 6 professional, which was professionally set up and played better than new from Bach, got kicked off a four foot riser onto concrete after a gig backing up Wichita Opera singers. The horn was in ab ABS student case. Neither sustained any damage. Most of my clarinet gigs will be outside. I will consider the Alpha for that use, and retain the ABS plastic case. Thanks for the good review.
That's an interesting and unusually general statement that we don't feel applies to this clarinet. The Alpha Clarinet has drop-forged and hardened keyword that has been proven to stand the test of time. They have been available through school music dealers in the US and elsewhere for fourteen years and thus far, we haven't heard complaints of the keyword being soft!
One can get a hard rubber Lyrique 576 for less money which is in every way as good, except for the branding. In my opinion, everything Backun is overpriced.
@@allanjmcpherson We're biased, but we think Morrie's a pretty exceptional person. Have you ever reached-out to have a conversation with him? If not, give him a try!
