As an Uebel partisan I need to point out that the brand has been around since the early 1900s when F.G. Übel, F.A.‘s father, worked with Oscar Öhler on the Öhler system improvements. I have two very nice F.G. Instruments from before WWI. F.A. Übel took over sometime during the Nazi era, so I don’t have any clarinets from that period but they have a very good reputation. After the war however, contrary to your narrative, the Übel instruments reached a peak of excellence and were exported in great numbers to Western Germany because they were at least as good and cheaper than what we had then in the West. Musical instruments from Saxony were in fact an important export industry during the GDR era. Apart from Öhler and simple system instruments they made fantastic reform Böhm (large bore) horns. In the 1960s F.A. Übel and the iconic Mr. Schnabel who tuned the instruments died. The production declined from then on. The current brand as bought by Stölzel has nothing to do with the legendary instruments formerly made by the Übel family. Until rather recently the quality was dismal. Glad to hear the production is better now, undoubtedly due to the marvellous Saxonian craftspeople who excel at top of the line soloist instruments, when allowed to spend sufficient time on them. Or are they now made in China (were they also have excellent, highly motivated craftspeople who just need to be left alone until they are done with an instrument)?

If only flying were anything like your video!! Lovely juxtaposition. WCU is loving the new Emperior bass we purchased from you a few months ago. It sounds wonderful, everyone who plays it is happy and all the ensemble directors are raving about how good it sounds! Thank you!!

Thanks Michael! I was waiting for this! Best regards from Brasil

Great thorough review as always

Wonderful and informative content as always, Mike.

It's brighter than the Buffet but darker than the Kessler, and I think I preferred it over either of them, but that could well change depending on the other instruments in the ensemble. It didn't sound like you were having to fight with any of them. I think the first time I sent it out for service, I'd ask them to add adjustment screws to the two links that lack them, because that's not particularly difficult. There's really no point in doing it while it's still in good regulation.

Wow! Amazing articulation and can’t believe it stayed in tune so well! I have a Selmer 1430 LP (what I played in high school), but if I had to get another one, I would definitely look into this brand.

Yes! Agreed Uebel clarinets are fantastic! I own two sets of Zenits, and recently a Bassett Horn.

Great sound with great playing. I been following along on woodwinds, for I am learning B foot concert flute. I got inspired by seeing 2018 Rose Parade and Kyoto Tachibana Senior High School Marching Band Play. A instrument trend has been started in Japan Elementary and High School Marching Bands. Now Kyoto Tachibana has Two Alto Clarinets on the March. Now the sister band Izumo Business High School is marching with alto clarinets and oboe oh two Bassoon’s. So hearing you play this magnificent instrument, I do wonder if Japanese marching bands will give it a try.

Always wanted to try one of these, maybe when I have the money to burn. I really appreciate these reviews and enjoy them. I bought the Royal Global Max bass after watching your review and as a doubler who mainly plays bassoon, it's been great. Thank you!

You and the sound convinced me to buy this model. One week of ownership and still very happy. The bridge keys have adjustment screws. I'm just starting out moving from soprano to bass clarinet for a small local amateur band. Thank you for the review.

I have an uebel b flat and I ❤❤❤ it so much!

I'm not an expert on bass clarinets, but, in the blindfold test, the 3rd instrument had the mellowest sound. Particularly smooth and pleasing, more ready for various articulations compared to other two which sounded .. less refined. And voila, it was Uebel Emperior.

Very flexible and colorful sounding bass clarinet I must say.

Always informative. I first played the Uebel at a NAMM show 7 or 8 years ago. I was impressed and recommended it to some colleagues at the time. They ended up getting Buffets as they were not comfortable going with a company that had little or no reputation here in the US at the time. I am glad to see it here and agree that it is a fine value. See you in Glendale next month.

Jeez, this horn sounds fabulous. I must give one a try in Nevada!

Instrument number 2 sounded more diffuse than the others. Very anxious to hear what the mopane version sounds like!

I bought my Buffet Tosca from Mike. Awesome experience. Awesome instrument.

Oh man this is real. You sound great by the way!

I might buy a bass from you soon, been looking at them for years now as i’ve had a normal Bb clarinet forever.

I guessed all three! BUT you sound amazing on all three!!!!

My Eb is a uebel! I love it very much.

Another new name - SCHAGERL - has appeared with a bass clarinet in some Australian shops. Their Low-C model sells for less than A$5000, the Low-Eb model costs less than A$3000. The only real competition would be from Ridenour, (bought online from a company with a "mixed" reputation). I tried the Low-C out for perhaps 40 minutes and found it played well and in tune with a good tone. Build quality is better than the generic Chinese instruments (one of which I am happy to play). Interestingly Schagerl's website shows no Schagerl branded clarinets and no bass clarinets at all.

That tuner looks real nice.

I think I actually prefer the sound of the Uebel to the others. I like the more mellow sound for solo chamber music playing. I understand why many would like the brighter sound of the Buffet for orchestral playing, jazz, or commercial playing.

Love the sound ! Did it need some adjustments or it played straight out of the box?

will you bring reviewing backun’s bass clarinet when it’s released?

Thank you for this review, Michael. Great playing, as always. I’m wondering how you would compare this Uebel, to your experience of playing the Polaris with the Firebird’s neck?

A great test! Anyone knows the tuning APP's name?

WOW that tuning is insane

bit surprised you didn't compare it to your Selmer.

Sounds better than Selmer actually! Im shocked im saying that but it just does~

*God*, that sounds nice. I'm a Selmer girl but... I'd really like to try this.

Great reviews, masterful playing. Question - on the low C, I noticed you were using your right pinky in addition to the thumb. Is this just something you do to insure pad closure or is the keywork a little softer than on the Buffet?

If you have to choose between Selmer privilege, buffet prestige and uebel superior, which one you’ll play ?

Do you have to break in these wooden bass clarinets? Only asking because when I bought me Bb clarinet I had to do a really annoying breaking in process because it was wooden

would you recommend upper lip or just teeth the embouchure? I prefer the teeth and the lip over but some people say that the lip of the teeth sounds better.

Will you be at the Midwest clinic?

F.A. Uebel clarinets (and also instruments by G.R. Uebel) were imported into the UK long before Reunification - companies like Bill Lewington and also B&H (under their Rudall Carte acquisition) imported their Boehm system basset horns which were very hit-and-miss instruments. Some played nicely when others were absolute dogshite, even after they were fully overhauled with all the leaks dealt with when others with their original porous white leather pads held in with the tiniest amount of shellac played much better. My main gripe with the Emperior bass is the lack of several adjusting screws which having the mechanism copied directly from the post 1999 Buffet, they ought to have copied that too. The one at the shift lever to operate the crook key isn't all that important, but it's a nice one to have if you're using different crooks and don't want to have to bend anything to get the required clearance.

Thanks for the video. Needed this video last week as I bought this myself only a few days ago. Such an upgrade from my “Kessler”. I agree it’s a shame about the lack of screws on the bridge keys. You’ve also mentioned in your website that the springs can be a bit unforgiving which for someone heavy handed like me isn’t such an issue for (although maybe the RH Ab/Eb key is a bit of a pinky workout). I might have to find a shim for my bam case since I didn’t get one with mine, saying that though, my previous bass also felt too small for the case too.

You should look up the English translation of Uebel...

If instead of calling it brilliant we called it resonant, we would be fairer. a resonant instrument has depth but it also has projection... whoever is afraid of resonance, must define that the dark is "what lacks light"...

The Buffet has a more "refined" tone than the two others, with the Uebel on a good second. The Uebel is a very easy playing instrument, but I found the tuning a bit flat, especially in the lower range. For some strange reason the body is 5-6 mm longer than the body on the Tosca, almost as if it is made for 440 and not 442. The Uebel keywork seems to be more or less based on the Buffet, there are more similarities than differences. Absolutely a great instrument, but not on par with the Buffet. Price in Norway is more or less identical to the Prestige. The Mopane version is at the level of the Selmer Privilege.