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Thomann C clarinets?

Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-09-30 14:31

Hi everyone. I can't find any independent reviews.. so asking here.

Has anyone seen the thomann C clarinets? And how to they hold up intonation and quality wise.

I have started teaching my own boys as an experiment in teaching a suzuki style program. But as both boys have perfect pitch, i would prefer they use C clarinets! I have a buffet E-11, but at $2400 I am not willing to purchase them one each! haha. Also, because it is really an experiment. Both of them are quite advanced in their own instruments, and don't have an interest in pursuing clarinet except as helping me in my experiment.

So I guess my question is are these clarinets good enough? or are they so dodgy it will drive me and the boys crazy? (They have both got grade 8 in at least one instrument.. so they are already musicians of sorts)

thanks in advance

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Re: Thomann C clarinets?

Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2016-09-30 17:24

While I have never played a Thomann C clarinet I have repaired numerous Chinese clarinets.

The problem with Chinese clarinets is that many of them aren't tuned at the factories where they are made. Often the tone holes of these instruments are drilled out too much making some notes sharp. The good news about the recent crop of Chinese clarinets is that the keywork is often of good quality, so by filling in tone holes with epoxy one can end up with a decent clarinet. My favorite A clarinet is a no-name Chinese A clarinet that I completely rebuilt and re-tuned. While it does plays very well in tune, I had to put in about 30 hours of work into that instrument to get it that way. So while these clarinets have some potential they still need to be worked over before they play in tune.

-Jdbassplayer

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Re: Thomann C clarinets?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-09-30 17:44

It's most likely the same Chinese C clarinet offered by many companies - one example being the John Packer C clarinet:

https://www.johnpacker.co.uk/prod/jp124-clarinet-c-in-ebonite-with-nickelplated-keys

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Re: Thomann C clarinets?

Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-09-30 18:29

Chris, have you tried that particular clarinet? and is it a decent enough clarinet (intonation and tone wise), and up to about what level? My kids are used to taking care of instruments, so durability isn't such a huge issue as it is with some beginners

:)

(I notice JP also sells an affordable C trumpet! temptation looms)

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Re: Thomann C clarinets?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-09-30 18:38

Here are a couple of threads on the JP124 C clarinet - looks like they're good for the price:

http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=393601&t=393589

http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=438361&t=438312

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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