 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill Lees
Date: 2001-08-01 15:45
Please help as I don't know the first thing abou clarinets!!
I am looking for an instrument for my son, he has been playing for a year.
I understand wood is bettet than plastic and that's about it!
Is a buffet B12 a suitable instrument, is it wood or plastic? Am I better getting a secondhand wood instrument or a new plastic instrument?
Has anybody any recommendations?
Thanks for your help,
Regards
Bill Lees
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-08-01 16:40
Bill, a Buffet B-12 is a plastic instrument. If your son has been playing about a year and you want a good instrument but don't want to spend a fortune, I recommend a good Buffet E-11. There are usually some around for sale on eBay, or you could call someone like International Musical Suppliers and get a good buy on one. I checked their prices on these last week for some students and they were selling at $599.00 plus shipping. They normally retail for around a thousand, so that's a good buy on a new one from a reputable dealer. (No, I don't work for them---but probably should start asking for commission or referral fees).
Or, you might find someone with a good used one for $350 to $400.00.
Be sure you get a reputable seller with the option to return the instrument if you don't like it--or if there's a problem they'll back it up.
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Author: Benny
Date: 2001-08-01 21:39
Welcome to the world of clarinets! Buffet clarinets are my personal favorite. However you should STAY AWAY FROM THE "E" SERIES! They are not much better than the B-12s and they do not have the R-13 bore. If your son has only been playing for a year, the B-12 makes a wonderful instrument. If he is serious and stays with it, in a few years you will be able to upgrade him to the R-13. Like Brenda said, you should probably buy from International Musical Suppliers. (Wonderful customer service!) Order three horns and let your son choose which one he likes best. If possible, have his teacher help. The mouthpiece that comes with the clarinet isn't the best in the world, so for starters I would recommend a Hite Premiere mouthpiece. I think they cost around $30 USD.
Benny
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-08-01 22:24
Benny wrote:
>
> Welcome to the world of clarinets! Buffet clarinets are
> my personal favorite. However you should STAY AWAY FROM THE
> "E" SERIES! They are not much better than the B-12s and they
> do not have the R-13 bore.
Bill needs to read the Bboard about the E series. The consensus I've read shows the E series to be absolutely fine clarinets for the money. I think you may be a minority of one, Benny.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-01 23:21
I agree 100% with Mark Charette!
The Buffet E-11 is a very nice step up Intermediate Model. The plastic Buffet B-12 is a good instrument for mbeginners & marching band. The E-11 is superior in MANY respects to the B-12.
The Yamaha YCL-34 is a comparable instrument to the Buffet E-11 and costs about the same.
Many of us agree that, most important, is a good quality MOUTHPIECE!
Best,
mw
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-08-02 00:37
Don't be fooled by the common idea that wood is better than plastic. It's good to start on plastic and work your way to wood. Especially finiancially.
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-08-02 02:48
Doesn't the E-11 have the same bore as the R-13? I thought the only difference was that the R-13 was polished and the E-11 wasn't. Oh well.
BTW, I loved the E-11 when my brother had one. He had a wonderful tone with it and we had it set up with a wonderful set up as well. His tone was almost as good as mine. I had been playing for about 8 years at the time, and he was only on his 5th month! So, yes, I also recommend the E-11.
However, if he's really accelerating in his learning, you MIGHT want to just look at an R-13 for him for the future. The prices for R-13's are at a record low - about $1499. Prices should escalate soon, so it's just a thought if he's really showing great potential.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-08-02 03:26
Hey Bill,
Congrats on suppoting your kid's interest.
What does he play, now?
Invest in lessons, a decent mouthpiece, quality reeds (I like the Legere Synthetic) and a new object of torture (sorry, clarinet) in that order.
If he practices 20 minutes, daily he can make most any clarinet in repair sound pretty good.
If he's playing a Bundy or Vito now, why change horns? They have a nice tone, are nearly indestructible and are just fine for the first three years.
If he moves onto higher grades with the instrument (age 13 or so) the horn may impede progress.
The most important thing is your support of his efforts.
anji
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-08-02 07:38
I agree with Anji, get a good mouthpiece. Even the best horns come with a crappy mouthpiece. I recommend one of "hand faced" ones from some of Sneezy's sponcers. They don't cost all that much and will be far better than the stock mouthpiece.
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Author: David
Date: 2001-08-02 10:27
Anyone still like Woodwind and Brasswind for price, service and selection? I have always had an excellent experience with them.
David
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-02 17:30
David Pegel said:
"Don't be fooled by the common idea that wood is better than plastic."
-----------------------------------
If the answer was that simple we would all be playing plastic. On an advanced or professional level NO Clarinetist is playing plastic.'
David (not Pegel) said:
"Anyone still like Woodwind and Brasswind for price, service and selection? I have always had an excellent experience with them."
----------------------------------
There are many catalogue sellers, WW&BW has no secret, or monopoly for that matter.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-08-02 17:55
BTW: I do NOT consider the Buffet Greenline to be a Plastic clarinet, as some have previously eluded to it as such. To me, it's very much a WOOD clarinet. Best, mw
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Author: Forest Aten
Date: 2001-08-02 23:38
MW,
I've got news for you....
More than a few "professional" clarinetists are playing on top flight Greenline clarinets.
I own many clarinets. This past February, I bought an R-13 chromeplate Greenline off of the Buffet display stand at the TMEA convention in San Antonio. This clarinet is one of the finest that I own. I finished the Dallas Opera season with this clarinet and have played it with the Dallas Symphony, Dallas Chamber Orchestra and for many free lance jobs. Everyone...including my peers that have played the instrument, love the clarinet.
While I would love for the synthic materials (advantages should be clear) to become the standard, my final decision, (when purchasing a new instrument), is based on how well the instrument works for me. This particular Greenline is a gem.
F. Aten
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Author: ~jerry
Date: 2001-08-02 23:57
Well, we shall soon see how the clarinet boot camp wizard deals with the Greenline. We will compare it to the Vito!
Just kidding. I will pobably not be able tell much about it's sound compared to the Vito but I should be able to tell the difference in how it "feels" to play, ease and smoothness of keys, etc. However, some day I may be able to hear the "value" of my new investment (I'm sure I will if there really is a difference).
It has been shipped and should be here by Monday (it is coming from Peter Spriggs of Canada).
Anyone want to drop by and test it for an oppinion?
~ jerry
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Author: Sue B
Date: 2001-08-03 01:27
Congrats Jerry on the purchase. I know you thought long and hard about what to buy and from where.
I can tell you from experience you will notice the difference even from your beginner music and playing. I had been off playing for almost 20 years so no chops, no method, so essentially back to square one.
I had two other clarinets that I played over the years both of them were ok but not spectacular. A plastic bundy (1960''s) and a wood Getzen(big time guess 1950's).
As soon as I played the R-13 it was like I had never played a clarinet before. It was awesome!!!
I could say I don't know what I was waiting for but I guess I was waiting until my wallet caught up with the desire.
Your mileage may vary but I think in the long run you will enjoy playing more.
Enjoy it and Jerry seek out a local community band and just sit in. You will learn a lot even if you can't play that much. Tell them where you are at most of them have been there at one time in there lives.
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Author: Robert Gifford
Date: 2001-08-15 22:02
First, lots of people still use WW and BW, personally I love them, I get good support from them, and I usually receive things from them really quickly. I also do have to admit however, there are lots of places out there, and sometimes they even have better deals.
Also what was said about Greenlines, they are wonderful... but they arn't full synthetic , and they aren't plastic. Greenlines are a mixture of epoxy glue stuff, and wood dust, they are composites.
Back to your son, if he's only been playing about a year and a half, I really woulden't look to get a new clarinet just yet. I do agree with Anji's order of improvement. I don't really think he needs to get a new clarinet, until he starts to go into High School, and then I think you should probobly get a entry level professional (R-13 or the like)
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