 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Len Malow
Date: 2001-03-12 22:32
My daughter (13 years old) has been playing the Clarinet for about 3 years.The music shop we have rented her instrument from is going out of business. We need to make a decision on whether to purchase the instrument or not. It's a Vito (plastic body). Can someone recommend whether this is a good instrument to purchase or should we choose another one. She is in band and was told to stick with a plastic. I've been cruisng the web to find a buyers guide on what manufacture makes the best and can't find one. Can someone kind of point me in a direction?
Sincerely,
Len Malow
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Author: drew
Date: 2001-03-12 23:05
Your decision can be made easier if you have a quote from the music shop regarding how much it will cost to purchase the Vito outright. Since you have been renting it for 3 years, you probably have made a significant dent in the purchase price, asssuming you are on a "rent to own" program.
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Author: Eb
Date: 2001-03-12 23:05
first of all, I would consider if she was going to be playing outdoors any, or in a marching band. If she is, keep the plastic one. Most high-schoolers will want a wooden one though, it's up to you, and your daughter. The best brands are LeBlanc, Buffet, Selmer. There are also many posts on the archive about this subject, I believe.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-03-12 23:38
If the Vito is playing well, it should be a servicable decent horn.
If she takes off in skill level for concert performance in High School, check out the Yamaha line. Some of their intermediate horns have a high performance:price ratio.
A good mouthpiece, good reeds (or the Legere synthetic reed) and you'll be miles ahead of the game.
Don't even look at new horns, there too much money for kids to bang around.
One word of caution; stay away from the Chinese made horns, they're virtually unplayable. (Like the AMF-era Harleys.) Insist the seller tell you the country of origin. It won't tell you how good a horn plays, but the source can indicate the level of attention paid during assembly.
Congratulations on supporting your daughter's musical interest!
anji
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-03-12 23:47
As a point of reference, I just started playing (uuh, learning) the clarinet last Sep. and I bought a used Vito, in excellent condition (showing no wear at all on the nickle plated keys), for $250 including shipping. It was purchased from a dealer. So, If you have had yours for three years, it may show as much or more wear than the one I have. If it suites your daughter (and satisfies you), and the cost is no more than what I paid it may be that you consider the current Vito - it would at least be as good as it has been - while you consider an upgrade. Then it could be used for marching band.
As Eb says, search the archives here for plastic and/or wood horns for lots & lots of discussion on the subject.
GL
~ jerry
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-03-13 00:25
This topic has been hashed and thrashed many times over the past year (or two). Go to the top of the BB and select "search." Plug in your topic and you will find a ton of good, sound advice. I don't know his identity but I have always especially valued Anji's comments. Maybe that is because I agree with him.(0r her?)
Bob A
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-03-13 01:56
The four major makers are Leblanc, Buffet, Yamaha, and Selmer. All four produce quality products The Vito is Leblanc's student plastic line and would be fine to hang on to. The main thing is to keep it in good repair.
If the store is going out of business, you should be able to bargain them down on the whatever the remaining balance of the contract is. The major internet/mail order outfits sell brand new Vito clarinest for between $350 and $400. Check the retail section on sneezy and call Internation Music Suppliers or Woodwind and Brasswind to see what the going price is on them and have this information with you when you go to negotiate.
If she really gets into playing the clarinet, you could consider an upgrade later but for the average band student, the Vito should easily suit their needs all through school. You would still want to keep the Vito for marching band use as it would be unwise to put an intermediate or pro level horn at risk of being dropped on the pavement or being used outdoors in bad weather.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-03-13 02:56
One final service that you may be able to extract as part of the purchase agreement on the Vito is a final tune-up / adjustment including any pads that may need replacing. That would be worth something extra to you and may not cost the dealer much.
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Author: Willie
Date: 2001-03-13 03:44
Those little plastic Vitos are not a bad horn at all. If your daughter will be in the marching band during football season, I would try to keep it if its in good shape. When fitted with a good mouthpiece and ligature, they play and sound pretty good.
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Author: Lindsey
Date: 2001-03-13 22:45
Plastic Clarinets are a good idea for marching band, I will agree--the weather exposure can have extreme toll on a wooden one. However, the vito can present some problems if she is looking to play more along the lines of concert band music and along those lines. I had a Vito from 5th grade until this year (I'm a freshman in college) and I recently purchased a Buffet E-11. It was a pricey decision but I bought it for a cheaper price than my Vito actually cost my parents because of searching around and the helpfulness of Ebay and a private dealer. I did tend to have problems with the Vito in terms of it was always in need of repair when it came to the keys and I had to have parts of the body replaced twice due to them breaking. If you have been renting to own and have a considerable amount down on the clarinet--then by all means, purchase it outright if Marching is in the picture or money is tight. I do encourage you to look at the different types of intermediate wooden clarinets as time goes by, however, for improved intonation and easier playing.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-03-14 05:52
Vito plastic is OK but I prefer Yamaha plastic, at least the ones we get here in NZ.
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Author: Corey
Date: 2001-03-15 00:32
2 questions! what grade is your daughter in? why was she told to stick with plastic? i would go with a wooden intermidiate model if she has played for that long! a buffet e-11 for example (which i own) is a good model(with a better mouthpiece of course)
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