 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-18 03:32
Yeah, it's a matter of opinion, but this top 10 list is way off the mark! Naturally you'd expect big names like Buffet, Selmer, Yamaha and others, but somehow they don't have what it takes to make the list which was compiled by a certain David Mahon https://singersroom.com/content/author/davidmahon/
Digest the following list in your own time:
https://singersroom.com/best-clarinets/
And I give you a summary of the three of the Top 10 clarinet brands (according to this list) you'll never hear of again in a few months, that's only if you haven't heard of them to begin with:
Eastrock: Eastrock is a brand that has been in the market for a while and known for producing high-quality instruments at an affordable price point. Eastrock clarinets are made with the highest quality materials and are designed to meet the needs of students and beginner musicians. They are easy to play, durable and offer a great value for the money.
Vangoa: Vangoa is a brand that focuses on producing high-quality clarinets at an affordable price. Vangoa clarinets are made of durable ABS resin and are equipped with nickel-plated 17 keys for smooth playing. They offer a full range of accessories, such as gloves, a screwdriver, cleaning cloth, shoulder strap, cork joint lubricant, leather wooden case, and a clarinet stand.
Hisonic: Hisonic is a brand that offers a wide range of clarinets for all skill levels. Hisonic Signature Series 2610 Bb Orchestra Clarinet is a popular choice among professionals and advanced players. The clarinet is made of ebonite and is equipped with nickel-silver keys. It also includes a protective plush lined case, mouthpiece with reed protector, cork grease, and a clarinet swab.
Goodnight.
Don't have nightmares.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: JohnP
Date: 2025-06-18 11:44
The photo of one of the best oboes says it all about this person’s knowledge. https://singersroom.com/best-oboes/
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2025-06-18 15:20
Maybe if Buffet offered “Italian felt double sheep casings” they’d make it into the top 10…
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Author: Ed
Date: 2025-06-18 18:09
You see this kind of thing a lot. A site that pretends to do reviews and is really just a bunch of Amazon links so that they get whatever $ percentage for directing buyers there. It is utter nonsense, but unfortunately, I imagine many people who don't know better will view it and think "well I saw a really good review online."
Over the years I found more and more students whose parents buy these awful instruments because to them it looks just like a clarinet. A few years ago I recall seeing a clarinet with one of these nonsense brand names that was selling for $26. Huh? A halfway decent case would cost far more than that.
Of course, many of these come with lots of extras, including the obligatory white cotton gloves, so they must be good.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-18 19:05
That's what's disappointing with the summaries as they fail to mention the white cotton gloves which is the most important aspect of any cheapo Chinese I(nstrument)S(haped)O(bject) and the one that seals the deal.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Michael E. Shultz
Date: 2025-06-19 15:15
That reminds me of marching band. The clarinet players had to snip the fingers off on their gloves. I wonder if anyone makes cotton gloves for clarinet that have the fingertips dipped in flexible plastic? I also wore white cotton gloves when working with the stainless steel balance calibration weights at the Water & Sewage plants. In fact, I'm so old I worked with lacquered brass calibration weights. With time, the lacquer starts to flake off and the weights develop a patina where the brass is exposed to the atmosphere. Stainless steel is much better.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
Groucho Marx
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2025-06-19 15:49
You could use the white cotton gloves to remove dust from the instrument. Or maybe you could tie a string to one and use it for a swab. Or maybe add a rubber band and use one for a covid bell cover - that'd make people pay attention.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2025-06-19 20:46
Hi All,
I remember a post about a man's son "making good music" on a Legacy brand clarinet. It was good enough for a beginner. The father was not getting the answers he sought from members of this community supporting his justification for spending only $80 on this instrument.
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=433324&t=433112
By the end of the thread, the father, in frustration, said that if we (me. Tony, Chris, and Ken) played hockey against his son, we would lose. I was in my mid70s at the time so the father was correct. I am still chuckling though about the father's giant leap for a Legacy clarinet to playing hockey.
You can't make this stuff up!
Hank
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-19 22:01
Did anyone ever take up hockey after all that?
I certainly didn't - not even air hockey.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Larry S
Date: 2025-06-23 22:39
Basically the whole site is a promotion for Amazon! Now my clarinet was cheap, though not from Amazon. Its made by Windsor and I've had it since 2017 and it still plays fine
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Author: bradfordlloyd
Date: 2025-06-25 16:46
Well, I just bought an upright freezer and dehumidifier from Hisonic, so it's not ALL bad.
(I wouldn't recommend them for clarinets, however their appliances are well priced and pretty good quality)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-25 16:59
Is Hisonic a merger of Hisense and Panasonic?
It reminds me of those eBay special Chinese clarinets branded Yama[add one or two more syllables of your choice here].
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Larry S
Date: 2025-06-25 21:52
Our last washer was a Hisense. It didn't last very long at all
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Author: kurth83
Date: 2025-06-26 06:36
I actually bought a $100 "Mendini by Cecilio" clarinet off Amazon as my very first clarinet a few years back. They are about $120 these days.
Amazingly, it played fine out-of-the-box and notably was very easy to get a sound on. It had no major flaws for what it was. It was obvious they tried to create a playable instrument for $100. It was a very well thought-through package aimed at a rank beginner given it's price.
I was pretty surprised as I was expecting total junk.
I only played it for a week, to discover if clarinet was at all "for me". I fell in love with the clarinet within 15 minutes of playing that thing. My Yamaha student model came in a few days later and I never touched that CSO again. I had no expectation that it would last under any kind of heavy usage either.
I bought a closed hole flute of the same brand to see if flute was for me. Flute was a hyperventilation machine, "not for me". I saw a video of a pro playing advanced flute literature on it. Amazing they were able to produce a playable instrument for $100, and were clearly trying to create the best instrument they could for the price. Not something I would have believed possible if I didn't see it and play on it myself.
18 months later I was told that flute didn't work right any more as it needed key/pad work, but it was fine when it was new. I was able to play two octave scales easily and get a decent sound out of it (for a rank beginner anyway).
I lasted 6 months on the student Yamaha before I decided I hated plastic, bought a CSVR, and a Buffet E12F, and now (2 yrs later), I have an R13 on order.
I think that's a decent progression if you can afford it. I avoided the high expense instruments until I had some commitment and had developed a bit as a player.
So while I am also in the camp of buying your budding student the best instrument you can afford (as I did for myself), the cheap CSO I bought wasn't anywhere near as terrible as I would have expected.
That said, the ad copy posted above is pretty bad, downright fraudulent IMHO. Very mockable too. :-)
Aging classical trumpet player learning clarinet as a second.
Post Edited (2025-06-26 06:53)
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