 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-08-27 15:48
Hi,
I searched and didn't find a lot of information. What stores in New York sell clarinets?
I could only find Weiner which sounded very nice on the phone.
I'd also like to know how much would you say is a decent amount of bass clarinets to choose from.
Anyone tried the Pomarico Jazz models? What do you think of them?
What do you think about Selmer bass clarinet mouthpieces?
I think I will probably have more questions but can't think of them right now. I will add them later.
Thank you.
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2004-08-28 02:59
As I mentioned in a previous post:
All these repairmen in NYC also sell clarinets (new & used), and all the equipment you'll need.
Jimmy Yan - JY Woodwinds
250 W 54th St. (between Broadway and 8th Ave.)
Room 801
New York, NY
212-581-9765
Perry Ritter - Ritter Woodwind Repair
853 7th Ave (but really on 55th around the corner from 7th, you'll see the sign)
New York, NY
212-956-6174
Roberto's Woodwind Repair Shop (between 6th and 7th Aves.)
New York, NY
146 West 46th St.
New York, NY
212-391-1315
Tomoji Hirakata
(now at Yamaha in NYC)
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-08-28 04:45
Ok thanks.
I'd like to hear some good/bad reviews on Woodwind & Brasswind if possible. I read some bad reviews about most stores regarding their mail orders. I'd like to know if anyone had problems when actually coming to the store.
Thanks.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-08-28 04:51
If you are referring to the Woodwind & Brasswind store in NYC, it is no longer there...GBK
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Author: John J. Moses
Date: 2004-08-28 14:15
As a matter if fact...I just visited their store in IN last week. I was traveling out to Door County, WI on Route 80, and their huge store practically sits on that major interstate highway.
They have an amazing facility, it is vast, well stocked, and worth the trip out there to select an instrument, or just get lots of stuff (which I did).
The manager's name is Sean, and he's very accommodating and gracious, even to us "rude" New Yorkers!
I highly recommend the trek out there to IN, if you're really interested in trying instruments and getting a decent selection. You still may not find the perfect horn, but you'll have fun at the "biggest music store in America."
JJM
Légère Artist
Clark W. Fobes Artist
Post Edited (2004-08-28 16:47)
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-08-29 14:00
The NYC stores tend to charge top dollar (near retail) for their selection.
They have high overhead (costs) to cover.
My experience with their second hand gear was appalling; heavily worn, cosmetically rough clarinets and saxophones at high prices.
I would strongly recommend Muncy Winds if you're buying new.
If you're buying second hand gear, figure in the cost of an overhaul.
Marsh woodwinds of Raleigh has good quality, well refurbished gear.
If you're willing to consider instruments that sound well, but you have never heard of, try John Butler and Dave Speigelthal, regulars of this BBS.
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2004-08-29 15:24
I've bought three horns from Woodwind and Brasswind over the the last twenty odd years. I didn't have a bit of trouble with any of the transactions, and was satisfied with the price in all cases.
For some instruments, getting five or six sent out on approval isn't a viable option. Baritones and bass clarinets more or less fall into this category, and for someone embarking on a career as a professional clarinetist should try to have a sizable field from which to select. If it means driving to the source to work through ten or twenty bass clarinets, then so be it. Mind you, I selected both my clarinets and the bass clarinet (but not the Eb) by going to the source. That was then, and this was more or less now, however.
Of the horns purchased from WWBW, two were (very slightly) used (a baritone sax and a German style soprano clarinet) and the third was new (a flute that I play when forced to do so). All were shipped in excellent playing condition, and the "damage" to the used horns was virtually non-existent. (To be extremely specific: two minor lacquer scratches on the baritone, one missing rubber foot from the bari's case, and a replaced mouthpiece (which was not German style and bore) on the clarinet (an understandable but regrettable substitution; lucky for me I already had one up to the task.)
On each of the horns, literally the only adjustments that were necessary were to customize them for my body (different thumb hook on the baritone, some key and ring height adjustments on the clarinet, and repeatedly hammering the flute on the floor to try and get some resistance to the air flow in the damn'd thing (well, I exaggerate somewhat there). But, they were ready to go "out of the box" as I received them, a good sign for a horn purchase.
In fact, I had more trouble at my end than with the seller. Back in the days of pre-computer tracking of shipments, the baritone was delivered to the one "safe" daytime address that we had where a parcel would be attended at all times. This was my wife's school, a local landmark in the small town in which we lived at the time and a destination that had always worked before.
However, after the horn was four days past the anticipated delivery date, I became a little concerned. A call to the shipper initiated the long, drawn out "shipment trace" process (this was in 1984 or so). I also took a day off and asked around the school, thinking that it might have been delivered and squirreled away somewhere by mistake. No results, but I did get to help my wife out with first grade stuff for the rest of the day.
Came the end of the day, we all filed off to the gym for physical education, which that day was to be doing the Hokey Pokey, mostly for my benefit. As I sat on the edge of the stage, watching the four first grade teachers making fools of themselves, I noticed a huge cardboard container on the other side of the gym, well battered by a considerable amount of mis-thrown dodge balls.
This was, of course, the missing baritone. Apparently it had been delivered to the district offices in error (they were on the same property, although in a different building and mailing address), then hauled the minimum distance possible by a irritated Central Office employee over to Lincoln School where (most likely) she dumped the dreadnought battleship-like box without ceremony. The packaging was sufficient onto the hazard, however, so no harm done.
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