Peter Eaton clarinets have featured on hundreds of CDs, film and TV soundtracks. In the hands of illustrious soloists, orchestral principals and session musicians they are some of the most recorded clarinets in the world. Please see the players' page to read what these world-class musicians have to say about them.
Each clarinet is hand made in England by our small team of highly skilled craftsmen led by Peter Eaton and Graham Pinder. Production methods include the use of computer-controlled equipment alongside the best of traditional handcrafting techniques.
Every clarinet is meticulously hand finished and fine tuned by Peter Eaton, with assistance from his wife Joanna, who is also a professional clarinettist.
Design improvements include the re-positioning of some tone holes to gain vital acoustical advantages. All tone holes are hand-undercut to the appropriate degree to give best possible intonation, response and evenness of sound. The comparatively heavy bell and barrel on Peter Eaton clarinets give greater sonority throughout the full range of the instrument.
The nickel silver keywork is of outstanding quality and is heavily silver plated. Our key layouts minimise the difference in feel between Bb and A clarinets.
Following extensive tests, a unique type of clarinet pad has been developed, which is exclusive to Peter Eaton clarinets. The outer rim is of synthetic material, which gives a perfect seal on the tone hole. In the centre is a hard, highly reflective resonator, unlike that used in commercially-available reflector pads. This resonator has a truly remarkable impact on the resonance and musical qualities of the whole instrument. Made in our own workshops, this is the ideal type of pad for the lower joint. The type of pad used in the upper joint is of less significance, all possible options having advantages and disadvantages.
A measure of the success of our clarinets is to be seen in the ever-increasing number of leading musicians, both in Britain and abroad, playing Peter Eaton clarinets.
Extensive research has led to the development of two unique and innovative designs, the Elite and the International.
Quality speaks for itself.
The International
The International, our small bore clarinet, provides greater flexibility of sound and improved intonation compared with other small bore instruments. The tone quality is markedly more warm and rich with greater potential volume, without any loss of quality at lower dynamic levels. In combining the best qualities of the English and French traditions, we believe we have created a truly international instrument.
Although supplied with a top quality Peter Eaton mouthpiece, excellent intonation will also be achieved with most small bore mouthpieces. Two barrels of different length are supplied with each instrument.
The Elite
Our large bore clarinet, the Elite, preserves the best qualities of the traditional English instruments, their incomparable flexibility of tone and capacity to reflect the personality of the player. Added to these are the superb intonation and evenness of sound quality required by the professional player of today.
The Elite must be played with a special large bore mouthpiece, such as the one provided, though most other mouthpieces can readily be adapted. As with the International, two barrels are provided with each clarinet.
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