 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Cindy
Date: 2002-09-08 05:01
I discovered today that in the woodwind and brasswind catalog they have affordable student clarinets (129 I think is the cheapest) that would e good for those who are just starting and cannot afford a really nice clarinet. These are nice student clarinets, and will not drive the owner insane. Online there is a woodwind and brasswind site (I cannot remember the URL right now) where you can request the catalog for free. There are also affordable other instruments too. These are not in the section with the other instruments, they are on a page of their own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-09-08 05:11
Cindy wrote:
>
> I discovered today that in the woodwind and brasswind
> catalog they have affordable student clarinets (129 I think is
> the cheapest) that would e good for those who are just
> starting and cannot afford a really nice clarinet.
If they're the ones I'm thinking of they're pretty much junk. Unfortunately as far as I've seen a decent new student clarinet is about the same price as a decent new student guitar - about $350 or so. Pay less and you end up with more trouble than they're worth.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-09-08 07:08
You're far better off to get a reliable make second hand.
A cheap, 'affordable' clarinet may not be affordable to get playing appropriately for a beginner, nor be affordable to keep going.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brian
Date: 2002-09-08 12:16
Hi Cindy!
Good advice from Mark and Gordon. I have a friend who bought his son a clarinet from Sears (!!!) and it was total junk. Like most things in life you get what you pay for!
Have you thought about trying a rental program? It is more affordable if you can't come up with $300 or $400 up front plus you haven't spent all that money only to have your child give up the clarinet after a few weeks or months.
Best of luck to you!
Brian
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brian
Date: 2002-09-08 12:19
Hi Again Cindy!
I am sorry but I assumed you were a parent...was I wrong?
Sorry again!
Brian
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2002-09-08 13:40
Cindy, I don't know if you are in the market for a "new" instrument or if you are just passing along information for others. In any event, check out the "sneezy" classifieds. Several of our members refurbish, repair and rejuvinate older instruments for resale. Good values here and better than the cheap junk one finds other places.
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kirk
Date: 2002-09-08 15:06
Cindy,
As I was told when I was in the market for a new student class horn, "Buy the best you can afford with the amount you have." With VERY limited resources, I was able to get one of "those" clarinets, that most here think belongs in my cat's litter box. But since I was a late returnee to playing, I didn't want to spend a lot of cash on something that may remind me of why I quit playing in school. It is by no means a Leblanc Opus or Buffet R-13, but at least I can get pleasure out of playing indoors or out. If I choose to upgrade when I get better, I can.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-09-08 15:49
Kirk wrote:
>
> Cindy,
> With VERY limited resources, I was able to get one of
> "those" clarinets, that most here think belongs in my cat's
> litter box.
"Those" clarinets, if they're some of the imported junk I've seen, don't belong to a cat's litter box unless you to insult your cat. They're worse than a waste of money - you end up fighting with something that's in such a bad shape to begin with that all the pleasure is drained away before you start.
I have a page here on "What to get a beginner", and it lists some very nice student instruments, all under $400 USD new and half that if you look at used, reconditioned ones, that will satisfy someone for a long, long time - and they all have reasonable resale value.
Buying a cheap new clarinet is akin to buying cheap new furniture - it looks nice to begin with, but costs more in the long run.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler
Date: 2002-09-08 16:30
A fellow repair tech has the following sign posted in his shop:
"The sweetness of a low price has long faded when the bitterness of poor quality and service remain"
jbutler
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Willie
Date: 2002-09-08 23:47
I just scored an old Vito at a resale shop for $5. With a good repad it will be cheaper and far more reliable than some of those low dollar, "teacher approved" specimans you see on eBay and in some stores. PLUS, you can get parts for it. Most of the stuff being dumped on the market not only break easily but try and find parts. If they break, you toss it in the round file and get another.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-09-09 00:26
Cindy: You are writing of Clarinets which may indeed serve a student's needs, but the inferior reliability of many (most? all?) instruments selling for less than $200 new (or maybe a bit more) is of such terrible repute that those needs are unlikely to be served for very long. Perhaps it should be added that if any instrument receives extraordinary care, of course it may be expected to do better.
Likely nothing even close to the following has ever been seen on this Bulletin Board: "Wow, I am so pleased. I saved a bundle on my XXXX Clarinet. It was only $129, it plays just great, it has done a fine job for me throughout high school, and it has only cost me $35 in repairs. I'm going to buy a new one just like it right now before I head for College." Do not hold your breath waiting for such a post to appear.
However, posts such as the following are occasionally seen: "My XXXX Clarinet has a problem. One of the keys broke, and my local technician won't work on it. What's wrong with that guy, anyway?" The answer is left as an exercise for the reader.
I'm perfectly willing to mention my Vito V-40, a quite acceptable instrument (approx. $700 sticker price) which was bought used through eBay for less than $100. A reputable seller said it played well, and it does. If you want a lot more certainty in a "starter" purchase, follow Bob Arney's suggestion and look at the Sneezy Classifieds.
Regards,
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-09-09 03:27
I started out on my son's Vito 7414, a very servicable instrument. I sold it for about half of what we paid for it (I paid too much, like most parents without a clue as to what a good price was) after 6 years of use.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: msroboto
Date: 2002-09-09 04:43
I got a used Bundy to get back into playing. Paid about $120.00 for it on ebay that includes needing to put some corks on when it arrived. Still a good price for a servicable instrument that will get a child or returning adult started.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sandra F. H.
Date: 2002-09-09 20:33
Many of the new foreign instruments are very inferior to other name brand "oldies, but goodies". Many repair techs will not work on them, and the replacement parts are nearly impossible to find. The keys bend and break easily and the workmanship is terrible. In 1969 my parents purchased a new student instrument for me for about $125. That was many years ago, and $129 does NOT purchase the same quality now for a new instrument. In my opinion the clarinet cases of these instruments are worth more than the clarinets. I purchase used instruments, have them repaired, and then pass them on to students. The parents are grateful for the opportunity..and the education. Check with local clarinet teachers for advice. Sandra
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: D Dow
Date: 2002-09-10 03:25
The Vito student models are quite nice and play with a decent scale. You may find these quite good at 2cd hand stores for a low price.
I also don't mind the beginner Yamahas and think they sound quite good for plastic.
As for new student model composite instruments you'd be better off with buying in late spring --when music stores are getting ready to restock you can find some decent sales.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Denny G
Date: 2002-09-10 17:50
I actually bought a new no name clarinet on ebay for about $110 for my son to start out on. I figured I only had $110 to lose. As it turned out, it served him well his first year in sixth grade. In the seventh grade he switched to bass clarinet and now he's back to clarinet. The no name clarinet is no longer good enough for him in his third year because he has raised his standards after getting to play a little on my Buffet E-11. The only repairs it has needed is to straighten some things that were bent through accidental mishap (which I did myself).
But this no name, no serial number clarinet made by who knows where and by who knows who, is still a usable horn for a beginner to use for a couple of years, probably at most. However, on hindsight, knowing that the boy stuck with it and is doing quite will, I wish I would have got him a Vito V40 which can be had for around $400. But, had he quit during the first year (assuming there would be no further use for the horn), no name would have been the best choice, in my opinion.
I have since rented a Selmer 1400 that he is using, which is much better than the no name horn (the only significant difference [aside from specifications] is that the Selmer plays in tune better and the throat Bb is poor on the cheapie- could be better on the E-11 too). I may yet get him a V40.
This is my experience for what it is worth. Not pro or con.
Denny G
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
