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- Matched Pair of Eaton Elite Clarinets
Matched Pair of Eaton Elite Clarinets
Clarinets Direct is fortunate to count many of the world's finest players amongst our clientele, one such is the eminent Prudence Whittaker, who came from a family of famous British wind instrumentalists. This matched pair of Eaton Elite clarinets are in very good condition, and are a commission sale for Clarinets Direct. It was this pair that Pru Whittaker ordered from Peter Eaton, and which she used in the final years of a long and successful career, which culminated as Principal Clarinet of The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. This pair are early examples, and can be heard on many of the finest RPO recordings from the mid 1980s onwards. Clarinets Direct will be listing further clarinets from the Whittaker collection in the next few days.
The Bb has serial no. E201 and has Silver plate in good condition. The wood is also without mark or blemish. All pads are tan leather in good condition. Pru was careful in the maintenance of her instruments, and despite much use, the condition reflects this fact. She did have a cork strip added to the throat A key of the Bb to enable a smaller movement to open the touch piece.
The A has serial no. E176. The Silver plate and wood are good, and, like the Bb, the pads are used tan leather in fine condition. There are 4 barrels of 59.0mm, 60.0mm, 61.0mm, and 62.0mm. The m'piece is an Eaton, used, & also relayed to moderately open and long; Pru's preferred lay. The case is a well used Orly, which is functional but with interior and exterior marks.