The Royal Polaris is the Firebird's little sibling. It shares many of the features of that instrument, including gold posts (pretty much unheard of at this price point), a left-pinky Ab/Eb lever, an adjustable thumb rest—heck, it even has the exact same case.
I'm also a fan of the ergonomically designed register key. For those of us with bigger thumbs, it's nice to meet a nice, plump end of the key that doesn't force you to twist your thumb vertically to activate it. Big fan. Everyone else, please take notice. This is how you do a register key.
What's different? Well, it doesn't have Firebird's cool double-register mechanism, nor the D/G vent. Yet, it sounds quite similar, just with a little less...hugeness? Hard to describe; maybe I'd say it's less "soloistic"? Gosh, I dunno, I'm digging a hole here. You'll need to try it for yourself—I'm open to adjectives you've got after you do.
Resistance: 7/10, Medium-Heavy
The Polaris is quite a free-blowing instrument, as are most Selmer clarinets (notable exception: the Recital). This provides a wide range of color options, from brash, screaming new music or jazz to a refined Brahms sonata or Mozart symphony.
In general, added resistance in a clarinet design usually keeps the louder dynamic ranges from spreading; the clarinet "holds its core" and focus, but will provide a smaller dynamic range (on both ends, loud and soft) and smaller color palette. A less resistant clarinet typically provides a much wider tonal palette to choose from, but will require more control from the player to control pitch and sound consistency.
When listening for how a clarinet responds to added air pressure and embouchure control, listen to the Weber example (wide dynamic range and color range), then the Berlioz excerpt (wide dynamic range, but narrow color range), and finally the Gershwin excerpt (narrow dynamic range and narrow color range). You will hear how these clarinets respond — for better or worse! — to my input as a clarinet player.
Then compare this clarinet to more resistant clarinets like the Buffet Légende and Backun Q. You'll hear the difference, especially with the dynamic extremes in the Berlioz and Gershwin.
Here are the rest of the Polaris specs—at least the ones I think you'd care about:
- 64mm & 65mm Barrels
- Silver-plated keys with gold posts—everything that's drilled into the clarinet is gold plated. Some people think this makes a difference. Maybe it does, maybe not, but the Firebird sounds kick-ass, so I'm not complaining.
- Adjustable thumb rest.
- Single soft-sided case with handle and strap.
All earspasm instruments come with a 7-day trial. Please read my trial policy before pulling out that credit card.
FAQ:
Q: What if I'm in New York and want to try it in person?
A: Contact me to set up an appointment, and let's do it!
Q: Does the instrument come with a warranty?
A: Yes, it comes with the standard Royal Global warranty. If you ever have any problem with the instrument, I'm your quarterback. I'll take care of the whole process, just let me know you need help, and I'll take it from there.
Q: What happens if it's damaged during shipping?
A: Inspect the package before you sign off at delivery! If there are any issues resulting from shipping, we have taken out an insurance policy to cover damage (and loss). But we need you to document this damage or we can't do anything to help. Please read my trial policy for how to handle this issue, should it arise.
Q: If I decide to return it, do have to pay return shipping costs?
A: Not if you live in the Continental US! Because I want you to find the right instrument for you, and doing so online is harder than doing so in-person, I will cover the return shipping. Please read my trial policy for trial and return rules.
Q: Do you ship internationally?
A: Yes. You can add your shipping address when checking out to see what the shipping costs will be before taking the plunge. Note that VAT and Customs Duties are not included in this cost.
