Backun Alpha vs. Alpha Plus vs. Buffet Tradition - How do they compare?

Side-by-side comparison to hear how I sound on the Backun Alpha and Alpha Plus, next to my Buffet Tradition. Let me know what you think!
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[@gsaugust]

I love your comparison videos and thoughts on the clarinets. Please do more. Thank you for all of your content.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! Unfortunately, I can only do as many as I can get the equipment for, but they are always a lot of fun!

[@philpasteris8973]

This was my Joliet West High School senior year recital piece in 1969. The Polacca is when the fun begins and the horn better be ready to go!! The Alpha and Alpha Plus are just fine for starting performers or outdoor events. I have a 1966 R13 and it has a superbly warm and centered tone. I also play with a Dassrios L mouthpiece, a Legere 3.25 Euro Cut reed, Vandoren Optimum ligature, and a 67mm Pereira 3D Philadelphia wood barrel. The setup works for me and I need to practice more. I find I can start a note in the upper register by just thinking it!!! The horn is far better than the performer! Keep up the good work!!! You might mention what setup you were using.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

I agree, and they are designed for students and priced appropriately for student models, so I think the Alphas are achieving their goal quite well. That sounds like a nice setup and that ease of playing is exactly what we want from our equipment! I forgot to mention it in this video. I am playing on a Ramon Wadkowski Model 1 mouthpiece, gold plated Bonade inverted ligature, and D'addario Reserve Evolution size 4 reeds. My barrel is the stainless steel ring adjustable barrel by Brad Behn.

[@denverschooloftheartsorche9702]

Great job! I have to mention that the excellent Behn barrel makes a huge difference in sound. I’m curious to know what the Alpha + would sound like with this resonant and in-tune barrel!

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Yes. I love my Behn barrel!

[@sirfog8604]

Thanks for the video sir! Really liked the second mash up video - Overall, I am in agreement with your assessment. Going from the Alpha to the traditional, it felt like looking at a picture that offered more depth and color. All of them are nice, but I believe equipment should offer the clarinetist as much natural sound options before having to eventually swap out a different line up for a particular performance etc. - thanks again for the content, I have subscribed. - 😊

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Thanks for subscribing! I really like that analogy with the picture! It's like the composition and quality of the image itself is determined by the player and the equipment is almost just the color correction and filters that are on the picture.

[@rocketscience6784]

Interesting video. Although the Alpha (polymer body) and the Alpha Plus (Grenadilla) body sounded pretty good, I though the Buffet Tradition was more focused and generally sounded better in both resonance (lower notes in particular) and the big leaps. Of course there are always variations in playing and the Buffet is your home clarinet. Bottom line: a great player like you can make anything sound good and a more precise instrument can add color and focus to the sound. Cost isn't necessarily proportional to sound; people have different needs and different budgets. I will point out that I had major problems with the plating becoming discolored after a couple of weeks on an Alpha I had; after 2 fixes, they sent me a new one which I promptly sold. Sometimes you get what you pay for.

[@QuickStartClarinet]

Absolutely, and I suspect with more time getting used to the Alpha Plus it could probably sound nearly identical to the Buffet Tradition, but I don't think it would ever feel as comfortable and easy to get what I want out of it. Which should be expected from an instrument that is around a third of the price!

[@rainbowcloud-wm5oh]

Traditional sound much better and I can identify instantly without looking to the screen. Alpha and Alpha plus sound similar, with the plus slightly warmer and less edgy, which is the common problem of plastic clarinet. But I would expect the alpha plus to have more resonance given with its wood. Only Tradition gives me the resonance and tone concept of a wood clarinet, but that is what you get most used to, so should sound the best also in this point. After this, it makes me wonder if the material really matter that much, or if the bore design have more influence of its tone colour. I would also like to know how much difference do you feel between Alpha and Alpha plus in terms of resistance and response. Though I think it is not a worth upgrade between the two Backun and can probably go further milage just with Alpha while working on the voicing ect. I have recently just switched from yamaha 250 to Uebel Advantage, so something from beginner to professional entry model. And I can instantly feel the lack of resonance and edgy sound of yamaha especially from upper clarion to altissimal improve instantly on the Uebel. And I am able to get the sound similar to your Tradition with ease and even up to the higher end of altissimal range, which I have worked hard on the Yamaha for years to get that sound but unsuccessful. PS I still get through ABRSM grade 8 with 3 repitore 29-30/30 with the ABS yamaha back in the days

[@QuickStartClarinet]

I agree with what you noticed, and we should definitely expect the Tradition to be obviously better than the Alphas because it is comparing a professional level instrument to a student instrument. The Alpha Plus does have a smaller bore, and is intended to be a wooden option for beginners that is still easy to play. I did still find that the Alpha was easier to play overall, but the Alpha Plus did have that bit warmer and more flexible tone. That's great that you were able to notice such a difference with the upgrade to the Uebel! The feel and ease of playing can definitely change significantly from clarinet to clarinet.

[@1cleandude]

I’m confused is the alpha plus synthetic or wood? Thanks great video!🙏

[@QuickStartClarinet]

The Alpha Plus is wood. The idea from Backun is to have a good, approachable student instrument that is made of wood to satisfy schools and teachers that are picky about students having wooden clarinets. Though, I find it to be a solid intermediate level option!

[@user-nd6rm2ej8i]

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