Klarinet Archive - Posting 000869.txt from 1998/08

From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: [kl] major decision
Date: Sat, 29 Aug 1998 12:14:22 -0400

Hi Ben,

Welcome to the list. I've been following with interest the responses to your
question about which instrument to purchase and, with flame-retardant armor
firmly in place, I'm going to disagree with some points made by some of the
posters (even a couple I usually agree with ;^) ) and raise a couple of
(admittedly) cynical questions.

Point one. I completely disagree with the argument that you should buy a new
pro model because, even if you quit in 3 years, you will be able to sell it and
get most of your money back. In my experience, this is a myth. The general
rule of thumb that I see in the market and that local professional musicians
tell me they follow is that (in a private sale), a used instrument IN MINT
CONDITION should sell for about half the street (discount store) price of a new
instrument. A new R13 will run around $1,700 from a discounter, probably more
if you buy it from a local store. Around here (St. Louis), used professional
clarinets tend to bring $600 - $900 in private sales. Clarinets are like
autos. Once you take them out of the showroom, their market value takes a
serious hit. It is true that music stores (check out Woodwind and Brasswind or
Wichita Band Instruments online) sell used pro clarinets for $1100 - $1200 but
they can charge more because they have a reputation for standing behind the
instruments they sell (and putting them in playing condition before they sell
them). Purchasing from such stores involves less risk than buying through a
newspaper ad.

Point two. Your new music teacher has been quite specific in his/her
recommendations of the instrument you should buy -- the Yamaha intermediate vs.
the Buffet pro. Now, as a number of other posters have pointed out, Buffet,
Yamaha, Selmer and Leblanc (in no particular order) all make comparable high
quality pro and intermediate instruments at comparable prices. The cynic in me
has to ask, "Why the restricted options?" I certainly hope it is not because
your teacher is connected with a music store that happens to carry these
instruments. It unfortunate but a fact that some store owners/managers
pressure their teachers to sell supplies and equipment to their students. I
certainly hope this is not the case here, but if the shoe fits ...

Point three. In your message, you mention that "When I play the audition
piece, it sounds terrible because my clarinet is SO out of tune, and altissimo
is incredibly bright, not to mention difficult to play." Has it occurred to
you that the problem might not be the clarinet? Are you still using a stock
mouthpiece that came with your instrument? Possibly, the problem is the
mouthpiece and/or reed or something else. I know many clarinetists who, with
the right mouthpiece and reed, can get (almost?) as good tone quality,
intonation, range, etc. from a Bundy or plastic Evette, or Vito or Yamaha as
they get from their professional instrument. Maybe the problem IS the clarinet
but doesn't it make sense to consider other possibilities. (I don't know why
this doesn't appear to have occurred to anyone else on the list so maybe I'm
full of (Anheuser-Busch) hops here.) I might not bring this up if I were
convinced you are ready to move up to a pro horn but I"m not because of:

Point four. In your message you mention that you are a sophomore in high
school at an intermediate level of skill with about 4 years of private
lessons. If this means that you sit somewhere back in the middle of the second
clarinets, I'm not sure the time is yet right to fork over $1700 or so for a
new pro clarinet. Sure, a new pro model is sexier and has more status but it
may not be worth the money. It will not automatically solve all your problems
and make you a better player. It MAY speed your development if your current
instrument is a dog but after the "new horn" smell goes away, you may be
disappointed. On the other hand, if you are seated in the first section and
are advanced beyond your years, then you may be ready for a pro instrument.

If I were you, I would check my instrument over carefully to make sure it isn't
leaking or doesn't have some other mechanical problem that is affecting its
performance. (Though the problems you describe in your note don't sound like
mechanical ones.) Then, if you are still using the stock mouthpiece that came
with your clarinet, ask your teacher to let you try it on his/her clarinet or
go to a local store and try out some new intermediate and pro instruments to
see if they really do give an improvement. I would also try some different
mouthpiece/reed combinations on my clarinet to see if the intonation and
altissimo problems go away. If the clarinet makes a difference and the
mouthpiece doesn't, then consider buying a clarinet.

What I expect you may find if you do some trials is that a new clarinet is an
improvement. I also expect, however, that you may not find much difference
between the intermediate and pro models. The differences tend to be subtle.
If you don't find much difference between pro and intermediate models, this is
what I would recommend:

1. Look for a good USED intermediate clarinet. Particularly this time of
year, wooden Evettes, Noblets, and Selmer Signets abound. If you look around,
you can probably find one for $200 - $300 in decent condition. (A new set of
pads will cost around $100.) If you decide you want to quit or upgrade in a
few years, you will likely be able to sell the instrument for $200-$300 so you
will have had the use of the instrument for 2 or three years at little cost or
risk. Or, if you become really serious, you can keep the intermediate horn as
a backup. Alot of people, other than clarinet majors, have made it through
college quit nicely thank you playing in school bands and orchestras on
intermediate level clarinets. Many of them have played for years after college
in community bands as well. At the risk of heresy in the company of
clarinetists, I would suggest that except for a professional clarinetist, a new
professional clarinet is a luxury. If you want it and can afford it, great --
but if you don't have it, life as a clarinetist doesn't have to end.

2. If you decide you are ready for a pro instrument, seriously consider
looking for a used one. (If you may have come to the conclusion that I am in
favor of "used" "things," you are right. In my experience, they often provide
more value for the dollar if you can live with or find ways to minimize the
risk.)

I have rambled on long enough. I with you the best of luck with your decision
and I hope that it leads to many happy years of making music.

Warm regards,
Jack Kissinger
St. Louis

> Ben Stutzman wrote:
> >
> > My name is Ben Stutzman, I'm new to the list. I'm a sophmore in HS and
> > have been taking private lessons for 4 years. (I think) I just switched
> > teachers (wasn't easy) and got a *wonderful* new teacher. This fall I'm
> > trying out for district band - I was encouraged too. The only problem
> > is I grew out of my piece of junk Bundy a while ago. When I play the
> > audition piece, it sounds terrible because my clarinet is SO out of
> > tune, and altissimo is incredibly bright, not to mention difficult to
> > play. It's not good for a whole lot. Oh yeah, marching band. My
> > teacher suggested either buy a NEW intermediate Yamaha YCL52 or pro
> > R-13. I would love to get the pro instrument; but I am really at an
> > intermediate level. My parents will contribute enough for the Yamaha,
> > me chipping in the rest for the R-13. Is it good for me to get a
> > professional horn? I will play through HS for sure, I'm not sure about
> > college. If I get a intermediate instrument and play in college, then I
> > will want a professional clarinet. Is it better to get the R-13 while I
> > have the money? Even if I stop in 3 years, which I don't plan to, is
> > the R-13 worth it? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
> > Thanks.
> >
> > __________
> > Ben Stutzman
> > benstutzman@-----.net
> >
> > -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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