 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: glier48
Date: 2003-07-11 15:19
I am the mother of a dedicated 14 year old clarinet player (of three years). I promised a good used wood clarinet if he was interested in continuing into high school. I am looking on ebay, pawn shops, etc. Does anyone have suggestions about specific models to look for and prices I should pay? He is a symphonic and marching band player and is serious about his playing. Thanks.
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Author: wjk
Date: 2003-07-11 16:42
My personal opinion is to invest in a quality instrument. You can likely find a used Buffet (R 13 or other--they are wonderful clarinets) at a very reasonable price. You will also have an instrument that can be re-sold fairly easily if necessary.
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-07-11 16:46
You have just opened Pandora's Box! 87% of those responding will insist you loook no farther than a Buffet R13. I have another suggestion.
On the right side of the BB is a "Classified Ads" section. Look there. Several of our BB regulars repair and restore for resale. Excellent value, excellent quality. Keep your options open, see what all others suggest and then check what is available through our own folk. "Shop At Home". And good luck, whatever you do you are stuck with "peer presssure" at your young persons school--not to mention the bias of his instructor/teacher/director.
Bob A
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-07-11 16:47
If he has a plastic horn now, keep it for marching.ˇ
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-07-11 16:55
Hi - I'm surprised no one has answered as yet. I've bought and sold quite a few clarinets and saxes, [delete if needed, Mark], so at least have a feel for some insts. Buying from a pawn shop is always risky, but might be quite rewarding, from EBAY is much the same, the big unknowns are the quality and the potential cost of repair, which nearly all will need. An experienced cl'ist to advise you would be desireable. The Classified Ads here, far right on this BB, bottom brown box, will be much more dependable re: condition and seller's knowledge. The thread [just below now] about the Buffet C12 is worth reading, I played a good one some time ago, was very reasonably priced. I made an EBAY search for "wood clarinet", retrieved 100 listings, I was attracted to a number of Noblet[LeBlanc made] cls, of recent [1970+ manufacture], Buffet E11 and 13, and others of our "Big 4" LeB, Buff, Yamaha and Selmer. We all suggest keeping a plastic cl for the hazards of outdoors playing. I hope others will respond, feel free to ask for further advice. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2003-07-12 19:54
I recently bought a Leblanc Noblet on ebay, and I like it a lot. Very comfortable key action and beautiful tone. It's an intermediate horn. You can get them very reasonably on ebay. I know it's risky but if you ask questions and deal with sellers who have a lot of positive feedback you should be ok.
Leonard
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-07-12 20:20
I know of NO reports of dissatisfied buyers who have bought Clarinets listed in the woodwind.org Classifieds. But if you are tempted to look on eBay, remember these:
1) If a seller says, "I know nothing about Clarinets," BELIEVE THAT. Do not believe anything the seller says about the instrument.
2) If a seller reports that an instrument plays well, it may be a good one. Ask for an opportunity to try it out and return it for refund if it isn't satisfactory. If the seller can't be bothered with that, perhaps you shouldn't be bothered with bidding.
Regards,
John
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Author: Benni
Date: 2003-07-12 21:34
I bought a used Selmer Series 9 from an instrument dealer in Texas that had a website I came across in a search. I asked for pictures, and he provided them, and I consulted with my teacher about the quality and price of the particular instrument. The dealer had said that it would need all new pads (which it did!), but at the price I got it at, it was worth it. Plus, there were no cracks or crack repairs, so with an overhaul, it plays beautifully now! 
(note: A Series 9 is probably a somewhat unconventional choice for your son unless he's also into jazz/klezmer/something where you need a really big sound or really likes playing large bore clarinets. You might want to check out the Leblanc Concerto . . . Really great horn. And, as mentioned above, keep the plastic clarinet for marching!!)
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-07-14 01:26
Here's a down and dirty note....
An overhaul will add $125 to your total cost.
The BEST place to buy a second-hand instrument is at your local repair shop... they have an incentive to make sure warranteed instruments don't eat up bench time.
Even if you pay 10% MORE to buy locally, it's money spent well.
I like the Yamaha YCL-72/CS/AE for a serious playing young person, although you could find a clean Buffet R13 for a few dollars more.
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Author: diz
Date: 2003-07-14 22:25
I would say buying from a pawn shop is fine so long as you take someone with you who knows instrument repair and can give you advice concerning the instrument's wellbeing. I would take Mark Pinner, for example, as I know his work and trust his judgement. As to eBay ... I (personally) wouldn't buy anything there.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-07-14 23:03
I'd really recommend anything that wouldn't allow you ample time to test and try out the instrument (for some sellers, Ebay would fall into this DONT BUY category). I've bought WAY too much crap off of ebay which turned out to be just that.....crap. A guitar that when you tune it would be off tune as soon as you try to play a chord. And if you tune that chord, any other chord would be off. Basically I thought for 30 bucks I really couldn't care less . . . well I started to care and now hate that guitar. I have future plans for a marshmallow roast this winter though ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif) .
But seriously, try before you buy is a must in here. Also, like mentioned above, see if you can get someone to test it for you or listen to your son playtest it to see if the sound is better. Also try to find someone who isn't biased one way or other. I know my teacher would TRY to discourage me against anything that's not a Buffet, so I couldn't go to him to playtest a Leblanc, Selmer, or whatever. Unless I somehow don't let him know what I'm playing (which he'll undoubtedly want to look the clarinet over before playing).
GL with your purchase. Keep the plastic for marching and as something to use when your "good" clarinet is in the shop for whatever reason (overhaul, fixing pads, etc).
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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