Backun Alpha Overview

[@EricBailey-mi5jg]

I purchased one of the first Alpha clarinets as soon as they were released for sale. I have used it extensively as a teacher and professional musician. I have replaced the stock barrel with a grenadilla New Traditional barrel. Other than that, it is stock. I take it annually to be checked by my repair tech and it has stayed in adjustment. The things that brought me to the Alpha were: State-of-the-Art scale design. Dimensional stability. Comfortable ergonomics. Although I have other more expensive clarinets, the Alpha is my go-to Bb clarinet.

[@JonOlejnik]

It's an amazing instrument for the price point!

[@richardc8738]

The difference in richness with the barrel and bell is pretty profound.

[@MARKLINMAN1]

This is exactly what i have been wanting to see it being played with a different Bell and Barrel, may order this with the Grenadilla MOBA BELL and Grenadilla FATBOY Barrel. Thank you.

[@nathan_caldwell_clarinetist]

Excellent demo with this clarinet, thank you!

[@MrDjay46]

Amazing upgrades you made. 👍🏻

[@Isaiahstetson]

What’s that jazz song you played? Sounded good

[@JonOlejnik]

@@Isaiahstetson Donna Lee

[@colevano]

Just the bell costs more than my clarinet. wow.

[@kaiserthegreat]

My read from the Internet is that the Yamaha seems to be the most advised student model on the various forums that do such things. Backun also seems to have a hit or miss reputation, one of those "well if you get a good one, sure..." kinda models, whereas Yamaha's rep is consistency. Of course I'm only reading about all this because I'm thinking about picking up the instrument, which means I haven't compared either myself, because I can't play. And it does sound pretty good to me in this video (as much as you can tell 'sound' on a KZbin video), especially after the barrel upgrade. Also, I'd be lying if I said the overall vibe of Backun isn't attractive, coming across as these knowledgeable clarinet manufacturing artisans. That's sexier than Yamaha's mass production of every kind of instrument you can think of. But, I dunno...most recommendations I'm finding seem to be to get a Yamaha. "Plasticky" doesn't sound good, though, hurm...

[@comionpewrio]

And it's not a good idea to invest a ton in a student model instrument because it will need to be replaced soon

[@diabolictom]

@@comionpewrio After cracking 2 separate 3K+ clarinets, the Alpha has nearly the same feel as my Q and is my goto for playing outdoors in unpleasant weather. It's not indestructible, but my alpha recently took a fall that shattered the mouthpiece and left my coco barrel in 2 pieces with no damage.

[@mladyhazel]

what is the music you start off with, donna lee??

[@JonOlejnik]

The music at the very beginning is a track off of my duo album, it’s a song I wrote called “You Boggle Me”

[@danielcajo795]

Cuanto cuesta

[@LeilaniLight11709]

The intonation beats both of my professional models from the 70's, Buffet R13 and LeBlanc.

[@JonOlejnik]

It’s such a solid instrument for its price point!

[@jimmyyellow1355]

Where did you buy the barrel and bell I need it

[@BluesTeardrop]

Were there any problems fitting the upgraded barrel and Bell?

[@JonOlejnik]

Negative! Backun does a good job with keeping their sizes in line among their horns!

[@eichlerphoto]

Bought one to try. Overall, the sound is better than any other plastic student clarinet I have tried. The C#/G# seems particularly stuffy. Rings come set too high for my taste. Don't know why they set up with rings this high. The pad on the mechanism linking the two joints was too thick and could only play the clarinet by twisting the joints slightly out of alignment. Intonation seems acceptable.

[@JonOlejnik]

Huh, mine didn't have this issue. Morrie would have fixed those issues for free.

[@davideichler5105]

@@JonOlejnik I guess, but the dealer I bought it from claimed he checked out the instruments before shipping, and is a clarinetist himself. According to Backun, I would have had to deal with the dealer to get these things addressed, but didn't have any confidence in that happening based on the dealer's claim about evaluating the instruments. And, yes, I know it is a student instrument and didn't expect it to play like a pro one, but what I found was just too much.

[@JonOlejnik]

@@davideichler5105 I mean if the dealer is a player and checked it before shipping it to you, then it sounds like it was an issue from how the package was handled by the carrier....right?

[@davideichler5105]

@@JonOlejnik , there is no way anything I described above was the result of shipping. The stuffy note and the ring height might just be written of to an inexpensive instrument, but the bad pad on the linkage mechanism was just inexcusable under the circumstances, and it was glaring, not just a subtle thing.

[@JonOlejnik]

@@davideichler5105 ah, so the dealer made the mistake of signing off on it before sending it? By just thinking it was some cheapo student instrument?

[@lyndafoster9437]

What do you play on now.

[@pcolmenaresg]

hi Jon, would you mind telling the length of the MoBa barrel you got? did you get it in 65mm as the stock composite alpha barrel or did you have to go for a different length to improve intonation? thank you, and you got a nice sound right there, keep up the good work!

[@JonOlejnik]

Pio Colmenares I got 66mm Fatboy barrel out of personal preference, the stock barrel felt a little high to me out of the box

[@AlvinsThoughts]

What mouthpiece did u use in video

[@edimanediman7618]

En que precio esta ese clarinete campana y barril

[@JonOlejnik]

Barril : $219 USD Campana : $599 USD

[@edimanediman7618]

@@JonOlejnik Muchas Gracias !!

[@JonOlejnik]

EdiMan EdiMan De nada!

[@DavidErato]

What mouthpiece are you playing?

[@JonOlejnik]

My mouthpiece is a Morgan Mouthpieces RM10

[@jenniferharker7768]

What mouthpiece are you using? The standard one it came with? It sounds fantastic if this is the case. Looking for an upgrade and appears a great contender. Thanks Jon

[@JonOlejnik]

The mouthpiece I use is a Ralph Morgan RM10

[@HelloooThere]

BACKOOOOON

[@justabaritone845]

I really want this clarinet but I don’t have $1.3k 😂

[@ShaneMcFerran_]

It's £450 or $750

[@JohnSmith-bx6zk]

IDK, youd have to do a side by side, that clarinet still sounds VERY barky and airy. I didn't care for it

[@gennarodelduca1657]

Sui 400 €

[@Jaujau933]

It sounds woody because it's played with a reed 🙄 keep working on that Donna Lee 🙄😱

[@davivify]

It's fine to have some background music as an intro that quickly fades, but having it play continuously as you talk over it serves as nothing but a distraction. If you want us to watch more of your videos, and especially if you'd like some 'likes', I hope you'll take care of this !

[@marstacinchurski]

Bruh, ease the fack up and enjoy.

[@sherrybirchall8677]

It's pretty unobtrusive music.