 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TeaPea
Date: 1999-12-30 04:49
Hello all.
Well, I went into this music store looking for a Melodica and ended up being seduced by a cheap plastic clarinet. I haven't bought it yet. It's a "STAR CK-100" and selling for $200. A salesguy played it for me and it sounded pleasant enough(I'm the type of person who really digs the musical saw and cheasy synthisized stuff) . I noticed he had a little trouble but he said he wasn't a dedicated clarinet player (he didn't look like one, more of a stadium rock type).
I'm not interested in becoming a concert clarinetist( as much as I dig you folk), I just wanna be able to have something to play simple little melodies with, to be recorded on to a cheap 4-track perhaps - maybe earn some quarters on the street.
I'd like to know if anyone has heard of this "STAR" brand - I would like to know if $200 is too much or if these cheap plastics break/detune easily.
I'd appreciate any information.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-12-30 14:33
Call the mail order dealers listed under resources on this bulletin board. The Buffet B-12, Leblanc Vito, Selmer Bundy, and Yamaha plastic student instruments can all be purchsed new for around $360 from them and are known to be good quality instruments. Some of these dealers also will have used instruments of these models at good prices that will also have a short term warranty.
I cannot speak to the Star CK-100 but brands other than the four mentioned above are frequently of substantially lower quality. The exception are the custom makers but these makers only produce professional grade clarinets and don't have student instruments on the market.
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Author: TeaPea
Date: 1999-12-30 17:03
Thanks for the info Dee. I would gladly fork over a precious 100 bones if it meant the instrument would be a much better investment. But $350 would most likely be my limit as I have other priorities in music.
Maybe someone could further convince me not to buy this STAR by explaining to me what could be so poor about it, supposing it is a cheapo no-good piece of thing. Besides the sound/tone, which I actually think is pleasant, what could go wrong? How long do these cheapos last? Would investing in a finer mouthpiece make it better?
thank you.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-12-30 18:00
TeaPea wrote:
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.... Would investing in a finer mouthpiece make it better?
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A finer mouthpiece always helps. Since budget is a major consideration, look at the Hite Premier or Fobes Debut. I've never tried them but they are highly recommended by posters to this bulletin board and are quite economical.
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Author: Willie
Date: 1999-12-30 18:04
Most student grade Clarinets made will last a long time if made from good materials and properly cared for. I still use the clarinet my folks bought me back in '61. However there has been an absolute deluge of low grade instruments hitting the U.S. market from China. Some have turned out to be OK, like the Jupiters, but there are some that would make better wall hangers. Those have keys that bend too easily or worse, snap in half. Most repairmen won't touch them because they break so easily due to cheap metal and poor soldering. Check with a couple of tour local repairmen and get their opinion before you buy. They see the end results of these instruments more than the salesmen do and can tell you much more about it.
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Author: Ginny
Date: 1999-12-30 18:46
If you can take an experienced clarinetist with you,buy a used Vito, or other mentioned above.
I got my kid a used Vito for $160 (too much at that, but I got it in a store) last May and it is wonderful. Its responsive and has a lovely tone.
He does have a good mouthpiece (Vandoren M13) and uses Vandoren reeds. He can match tones with me on my Buffet Festival.
Ginny
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Author: Kontragirl
Date: 1999-12-30 21:16
Dee wrote:
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TeaPea wrote:
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.... Would investing in a finer mouthpiece make it better?
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I love my Hite Premier...great mouthpiece. You might want to look into one of those. As for horns, I couldn't tell you anything about the STAR horn, but I got my used plastic Yamaha for around that price. Unless you're dedicated to a new horn, used might be the way to go.
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-12-31 03:57
I agree. I think you should find a clarinet player and go hunting the local pawn shops. If you're lucky you can find one with decent pads and not in need of much adjustment like I did. I bought a used Evette for $125 during a trip to Albuquerque.
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Author: Kim
Date: 1999-12-31 04:27
I would get a Vito too, because it is one of the better beginning instruments out there. I wouldn't get a cheapo instrument because the guy could be making it look better than it is. $260 is a lot of money for an instrument that is not a name brand. I'd rather pay that for a Buffet or LeBlanc than a Star. Use your best judgement. The clarinet you're thinking of buying could be lousy.
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