 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-05-27 15:04
In another post I suggested that you should patronize your local store, especially when they supplied you with needed parts for your horn at reasonable prices.
I had a different experience yesterday. Since our local store shut down I have been going about 65 miles to the "big city" to the best "local" store. Yesterday I had an errand for the city so I decided to drop in to the music store for a box of reeds for my daughter and to try out an A clarinet as she may take orchestra next semester in college. Being difficult to get down there I planned to buy a horn if a good one was available.
I left early so as to have the time for the music store. When I got there (2:50 pm) I discovered a roughly lettered notebook paper sign on the door saying that due to the holiday weekend they would close early,at 3:00 pm. I immediatly revised my plan to just getting my daughter's reeds and leting them leave on vacation. Unfortunately the clock in the store (visible from the street) read 3:15 (I double checked my watch, beeper and the radio had the same time...2:50) and the staff was congregated at the front counter with the door locked. I tapped on the door and one employee yells "we're closed". I shout into the mail slot "I just drove 65 miles to get here and want one box of reeds". She shouts "closed". I shout "it's not 3 yet"...."we're closed". Not one employee could walk the ten feet to have a decent conversation. I was a return customer who has bought music, instrument stands, cases, CD's, mouthpices, swabs, pad savers, reeds and instrument repairs there.
If they can't walk ten feet, I surely am not going to go 65 miles in the future. Do y'all have any favorite on-line or mailorder music stores I can frequent? I have seen a few catalogues, but have liked the personal touch in the past. Which ones are your favorites, which ones advertise here, which ones have folks who really know clarinets and saxes? I guess if you can get lower prices, and better service for the same quality goods why help some schmo pay his rent?
P.S. I still think you should frequent your local store if you want it to remain in business, but that goes two ways. The local store had better act like it wants your business.
Terry
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Author: Brian
Date: 2001-05-27 15:14
Dorn Publications (www.dornpub.com), Luyben Music (www.luybenmusic.com) and Jeanne Inc (www.jeanne-inc.com) all have tons of music and other things and are all very reliable. I have ordered things from all of them, including having them shipped overseas and have never had any problems
SSG Brian Jungen
399th Army Band
Ft. Leonard Wood, MO.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-05-27 15:14
I am very pleased with the WoodWinds and BrassWinds.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-05-27 15:27
First. of course, I'd check with all the Sneezy Sponsors to see if they carried what I wanted ( there are specialized product dealers and general product mail order dealers - look at http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Resources/Retail.html and check for the entries that have a <IMG SRC=http://www.sneezy.org/Images/notes.gif ALT='Sponsor of www.sneezy.org'> in front of them) and I'd buy from them (I <b>do</b> buy from them).
If none of them can help out, then I'd check with International Musical Suppliers (http://www.intlmusicalsuppliers.com/) because Lisa Argeris, the owner, has always treated me well - even way before my name was known anywhere, and I've never had any real troubles with them (I've had one or two minor "blips" but they've been put right immediately).
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Author: Graham Golden
Date: 2001-05-27 16:29
Hi,
well im sorry to say that music stores here are not worth the 5 minute drive. Always out of reeds, and unless you are interested in a cheep beginning electric guitar you are out of luck!!!
I would say muncywinds, I believe it is www.muncywinds.com They feel like a home town music store, but have everything you want at good prices. The ww and bw is to impersonal for me.
Graham
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-05-27 17:01
I have to admit that I've never tried muncywinds, but I may be doing so soon. This is because Clark Fobes suggested I get one of his mpcs from them, since he new they had it in stock. Their minus for me is the lack of an on-line catalog.
I have found wwandbw to be far from impersonal. Just before the Xmas holidays, I ordered a professional clarinet for trial. The phone rep recommended that I have them play test it before shipping, but said that it would delay delivery by about two weeks since they had so may holiday orders. I told him to send it without the play test. He said that he would stop at the warehouse on his way to work the next day, and test it himself. I mentioned the snow storm, and he said no problem since his vehicle had 4-wheel drive. They also extended the trial period so I could get some other horns to compare. I have several other examples, but I'll save them for another time.
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Author: Leanne
Date: 2001-05-27 17:52
There's a store not too far away, and I really like it. The manager is as nice as can be, he let me play test all of the mouthpieces and horns I wanted without charging me (probably because he knew that I wouldn't walk out of the store without one). They've always been willing to order me anything.
Of course, it's impossible for a little hole in the wall store like that to carry as much as an online store. When I can't get something there, I always go to woodwind and brasswind. I know there are lots of other great stores out there, but I haven't had a problem that they haven't fixed immediately, so why even try another?
I also have been known to take my woodwind cataloge to the music store with me and say, "Can you order this for me?" Most of the time they say, "Yes, but it will cost you a little more than ordering from them will." I would rather give the extra cash to the little guy, to keep a great, honest establishment running. Online stores are great and convient, but I am lucky to have a great music store in town, so I will not take it for granted.
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-05-27 18:09
Terry,
Seems to be a sign of the times (been a'hear'n that for years) since most businesses today are run by someone other than the owner (who is usually off somewhere counting his money or planning new ventures). My most recent experience was at Burger King when the kid behind the counter was about to come over the counter after me because I complained about the service (I was the only customer at the time - figure that one out.
I have dealt with Muncy Winds and had cooperative service (I too was recommended to go there by C. Fobes). I am getting ready to order some reeds and other incidentals and have found that WW&BW has better prices (wwbw on-line vs muncey paper catalog; perhaps I should phone muncey for comparison shopping!). Brook May's (here in Dallas) reed prices are too high (even with a so-called student discount - I take my lessons thru their store, & then there is tax).
I believe in supporting local business too but when it becomes more and more a "whatever" attitude then I'll save my hard earned bucks where I can.
Good luck, Terry.
~ jerry
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Author: Mandy
Date: 2001-05-27 21:05
I have used John Myatt Woodwind and Brass and also Reeds Direct Cambridge here in the U.K a great deal and have only ever received first rate service from them.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-05-27 21:09
I have to ditto the International Musical Suppliers that Mark mentioned. I've bought several instruments from Lisa and she always checks them out before sending them. I also rely on them for things I need "in a pinch." They have a huge inventory and prices are very reasonable.
I also use Woodwind and Brasswind from time to time. There's also Mars Music and Brook Mays Music.
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Author: Gene Wie
Date: 2001-05-27 22:34
The thing I can't stand about some of the "local stores" is the ridiculous prices they expect their customers to pay for their stuff. One place out here in particular (Orange County, CA) charges at and over list prices for reeds, accessories, and instruments.
All of this is targeted at the beginning students in the school district here, and the parents of these beginning students, who have no idea how much these things are available for.
I've seen everything form $32.00 boxes of Vandoren regular reeds to $500+ Vito plastic clarinets. Selmer saxophones selling at near list price ($3800 anyone?) when the exact same horn can be purchased online at a store in the UK for $1900 including shipping and import duty! And as fortheir laughable inventory for stringed instruments...($20 individual strings when better quality SETS of 4 are available for $35 with free shipping).
It's already bad enough that playing an instrument costs so much, especially for parents on a budget; music stores really don't need to excaberate the situation by gouging the uninformed. They're not going to get any support or good word from me as long as this is the case.
So, here's where I shop for stuff:
http://www.saxophones.co.uk
http://www.wwandbw.com
http://www.sharmusic.com
And support your Sneezy sponsors...The Doctor's cork grease and bore oil are superb, Walter Grabner's "ClarinetXpress" has great service (I bought five Legere's from him when he had them as part of his inventory), and Ben Armato's inventions are just amazing.
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Author: Sandee
Date: 2001-05-27 23:06
One problem I've had is with arrogance. I asked my local store if they ever got had any used "C" clarinets. The response was that no such thing existed, if it ever had existed, they were no longer made. There are 3 music stores within 10 or 12 miles of me. Each one has it's uses, but if I know exactly what I need, I usually are more likely to get it online....
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Author: Ginny
Date: 2001-05-28 04:50
I've had good service from Discount Reeds, my WW and BW experience was fine also.
My teacher uses Muncy and likes them a lot.
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Author: POPPY BOY
Date: 2001-05-28 04:56
I have had good luck ordering clarinet,reeds, mouthpieces from www.Music123.com and music from www.EncoreMusic.com.
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Author: Jim
Date: 2001-05-28 05:24
I've had excellent experience with Muncy (bought reeds, mouthpieces and a clarinet from them) as well as Music123 (bought a Korg digital piano from them.)
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-05-28 07:02
Hey Gene,
I know which store you're talking about! I actually worked for them for about 2 months. It's interesting that they'll sell you a Yamaha YCL-SEV for $3199.00 when you can go across town to Anaheim Band Instruments and get a Buffet Festival for $1850!
Although Jim's music does do a discount, it doesn't do much good when you can buy the same stuff from ww and bw for about 1/3 the cost - including shipping!
Dave Kinder
Irvine, CA
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Author: Anne-Marie
Date: 2001-05-28 18:08
Hello!
I order from The Peter Spriggs Clarinet Center in Canada (He is one of the sponsors of this site).
Peter Spriggs is an experienced clarinet specialist, a very good technician and can give very good advice.
Prices are good, I know I can trust the merchandise to be good quality and the most important thing is that I can ask him for advice and I know I can trust his recommandations and suggestions.
I deal sometimes with a music store in Ottawa, but the woodwinds and brass section specialist is a saxophone player and not much of the dynamic type : you really have to insist to get minimal information and advice from him.
I find it is worth waiting a few days to receive my orders from The Clarinet Center.
Not sure if he deals outside of Canada, but I would strongly recommend you check with him.
Hope this helps.
Anne-Marie
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Author: larryb
Date: 2001-05-29 19:03
An interesting site for sheet music is musia.de
It's a german on-line store that I think is somehow related to the Peters publishing house. It has an incredibly interesting and deep inventory and prices are very good. Shipping by normal mail, however, takes a long time, but it's worth it if you're patient and have the time. They also sell accessories, by I've only bought music there.
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