 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2004-03-17 01:39
Hello I'am a Clarinet player who has been playing for four years and my family has decided to buy a new clarinet. My lession teacher told me that it was a good idea to buy a Buffet R-13 which I know is a VERY good clarinet.(I really need this I have a 50 dollor vito though I have done very well with it, midstate band 4 years in a row >_>). Well the thing is my parents will not buy it unless I can find it at the price of 1,800 or below. What I need is a link to a website that sells it for 1,800 or less if possible. And also tips for trying to find a good R13 since with the clarinet right now I really can't tell the diffrance between a crappy r-13 and a good one. Thanks in advance!
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Author: msroboto
Date: 2004-03-17 01:53
I think you should be able to find one new for under $1800.00 it might be nickel plated keys not silver but it shouldn't be a problem.
I think you will have to call around for actual prices. I don't think Buffet allows them to be published.
Try Weiner Music or Woodwind and Brasswind.
Disclaimer: I have never purchased an instument from either one of these places.
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2004-03-17 01:54
Oh btw, I'm mainly looking for advice on telling a good R-13 from a bad one.(I want to get my lession teacher to try them at the a store we may plan on geting it at but I may not have enough time in advanced to tell him.)
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2004-03-17 01:59
Thanks for the info about woodwind and brasswind the price was about 100$ lower then I needed so thats a plus. Now all I need is info on how to tell a good buffet from a bad one.
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Author: Simon
Date: 2004-03-17 02:01
From your post you say that your family has decided to buy a "new" clarinet. If taht is the case the best bet is to shop around. The way I would do it is certainly shop around on the web, however before making a purchase and sicnce you are going to spend $1,800 I would try out as many R13's as possible, because there will be a difference from one to another. I am sure the pros will support me on this.
Why not try some other clarinets such as Lablanc, Selmer etc. You don't need to buy them all, just try and then make a decision which clarinet is for you.
I personally would not buy straight from the web without trying.
I am sure you will get alot more responses soon from others.
Goos luck with your search.
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Author: icecoke12
Date: 2004-03-17 02:02
Some information here on selecting a new clarinet (written by Tom Ridenour)
http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/articles/select.htm
WWBW sells the silver plated R13 for $1799.
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2004-03-17 02:03
Mainly what we are planing to do is to get the clarinet for the same price as woodwind and brasswind from sam ash because of their matching price policy.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-03-17 02:38
Buying clarinets over the internet is an inefficient way to select an instrument. Most companies will send you a maximum of 3 instruments at a time to audition and may not refund your credit card retainer in as timely a manner as you would like.
Very few (if any) clarinets play perfectly "out of the box." Most will need a few on-site set-up adjustments.
Better to go in person. Pay your private instructor for his time when he goes with you to try clarinets. It will be money well spent. Most of the dedicated private instructors I know consider helping a student select a clarinet part of the teaching process.
If you do not try a minimum of 6 different clarinets of the same brand and model, you are doing yourself a disservice.
If your dealer does not have at least 6 for you to try, it would be better to travel in person to a larger dealership where you can have a greater selection. Again, the travel cost is money well spent.
Bring a tuner, your primary mouthpiece/reed/ligature set-up and some patience...GBK
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2004-03-17 02:58
There are many stores around the country that will give you a price pretty close to the Woodwind and Brasswind's. Some of these will have a large selection to choose from. (It's possible that Sam Ash is in this category. You've probably already verified this but do they include internet/mail order prices in their price matching policy?) If you tell us roughly where you are located, perhaps someone on the list can suggest other stores to check out (e.g., if you're in the vicinity of New York city, a trip to Weiner Music might be your best bet).
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-03-17 03:28
Jeff:
You don't say where you are located, but I'm thinking maybe you are in Texas. If you are near Dallas, there's always Brooks Mays. If you are near Houston, you might check out the Houston Band Instrument Company. Last I knew, they had lots of R-13s to try, and their prices were extremely competitive.
As far as what to look for, I agree with the others who say you need to play the instruments. I chose my R-13 from among many others, and it was decidedly different than most of them in that it (to my ear, at least) had a deeper, sweeter, sound and was more responsive and freer-blowing than some of them.
I wouldn't totally rule out Internet or Ebay buying, because you can really get some tremendous deals on good USED horns. Used R-13s in good shape go for about $1,100 to $1,200, in my experience,and sometimes (not usually) EBay dealers permit returns after a short trial period. But perhaps that is not the place to get your very first upscale instrument unless you have someone very knowledgeable helping you.
Why not post a "wanted" ad on this BBoard?
Susan Kundert
Coshocton, OH
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-03-17 03:36
ohsuzan wrote:
> Why not post a "wanted" ad on this BBoard?
[ It is not permitted. Use the Classifieds for any "Instrument - Wanted" requests ...GBK ]
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-03-17 03:47
> Why not post a "wanted" ad on this BBoard?
[ It is not permitted. Use the Classifieds for any "Instrument - Wanted" requests ...GBK ]
Well, that's what I meant to say. Use the Classifieds at Woodwind.org. Is that better?
SK
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-03-17 14:31
Why would anyone buy a new R13?? I say this in all seriousness and do not include the Greenline as it is a special case in itself even tho it's classified as an R13. The options are several and are all interesting. The obvious one is to buy a used one on eBay where you can pick one up almost any day of the week for around $900. OK, so it needs a repadding and cleaning up....you're still ahead financially...and maybe all ways. The frustration of finding a new one you like, spending $1800, and then having problems with it are enough to prevent me from ever trying it again.
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Author: lyn
Date: 2004-03-17 15:31
Think of your parents money as an Investment. They are Investing $1800 or less in your instrument. Where ever you buy it, make sure you try more than one, they are a lot different. Just like any other kind of investment.
There's nothing wrong with buying new Or used, as long as you approach it the right way. If you buy used over the web, make sure you can have a tech check it before you finalize the purchase.
I can vouch for Weiner's having good instruments, I have had good experiences with them. When I bought my first upgrade flute (solid silver but not handmade), I looked everywhere. The prices were not less than $1800, and I saw them as high as $2500. Weiner's sold me the flute for $1300. They will beat other people's prices, but you have to call, don't ask for a price over the 'net.
~L
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-03-17 20:50
If your local shop can provide pricing within 10% (or so) of a website, buy from them! It makes some sense to provide a profit opportunity to the folks that will service your instrument.
That said, any shop that quotes you the 'retail' price in excess of $3000 USD doesn't deserve a second look.
If you want quality service, and a personal touch - there's no substitute for going in person.
I bought my Opus from <www.saxshop.nl>
I buy my loose items from <www.muncywinds.com>
I would consider any secondhand item from <www.marshwoodwinds.com>
GBK is right, there is variability in the R13 line, so you need a selection.
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2004-03-17 21:01
hm, well if your wondering I live in TN, Sam ash is offering it at 2,100 but if I can find it cheaper on the web(which I did with everyones help) I could get it at that price. What im planning to do now is to get my lesson teacher to go try some and then I will try the ones that he thinks are good.(btw if you can find a web site with a brand new R-13 lower then 1,699 tell me, and also this is a dumb question but do silver keys make any diffrance what so ever or just look shiny?)
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Author: Carol Dutcher
Date: 2004-03-17 21:21
I bought an R13 from Weiner a few years ago. No adjustments necessary, just needed to have the cork filed down a bit so the barrel would fit right.
Good luck.
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2004-03-18 00:16
Totally unscientific, but I love the look of silver keys. And under stage lights they are better still.
They do feel different from nickle (better or worse, depending on you), and some people are allergic to nickle, and silver does tarnish, and with some people it super tarnishes, so there are pros and cons.
But I got it because, simply, I love the look, and that in some wierd way makes me a better player...
By the way, I very much agree with Synonomous, above. Buy locally if you can, it's worth 10 or more %.
WT
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Author: growlingbunny910
Date: 2004-03-18 16:37
I got my brand new R-13 from a local music store by making them match WWBW's price. I got mine for $1,799 with silver plated keys. The best of both worlds, I got to try out 3 R-13's and select the one that felt the best for me and still recieved internet pricing.
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2004-03-18 17:10
Since you are from middle TN(I am close, I live in Memphis), I would buy from the Sam Ash in Nashville. Please email me at brandonhood@hotmail.com. I can help you out more, and am curious to know where you go to school and who you study with. I have several contacts in Nashville, and would love to know who you study with. Were you at All-State this past weekend?
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2004-03-21 22:39
Well today I went to sam ash to buy the clarinet but sadly right before I brought it the ring on top of the barrel came off(O_O) so we waited for my teacher(ken ozmick) to come to sam ash to see if the ring affected it at all. Well it turns out the ring coming off was a blessing in disguise since the clarinet was crap.(I tried it but being that I don't know what a good r-13 is supposed to feel like I thought it was good) So I went to 3 other stores and all of them were bad. Thank you for your help so far everyone btw.(ps to brandon sadly no I was not at all-state this weekend I 12th chair in the 1st band at midstate and I needed to be at least 10th to be in all-state)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-03-22 13:49
Well, 4 bummers at local stores.....not bad! Loose rings on a new horn at a store is an indication the store management ain't on the ball.
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Author: AJDar
Date: 2004-03-22 14:03
Jeff,
Since you live in Tennessee, I would strongly recommend planning a trip over to Boone, NC to Muncy Winds. Phil Muncy has "lots" of R-13's and other clarinets on hand and will help you play-test them until you find the one you want. You will have to rent a studio by the hour, but it is well worth it for the technical assistance and advise.
Darlene
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2004-04-08 21:45
Well this is kinda late but I would like to thank everyone who helped me. I just got my new clarinet 10 mins ago(I ended up geting it from new york where my teacher tried some out, the place was called Robertos music I think) but anyways thank you VERY much it plays SO much better the my plastic vito >_<.(pets his clarinet) Oh and how often do I have to oil it im just wondering.
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Author: RAMman
Date: 2004-04-08 22:10
OIL it??
Careful...get a special pull through just for oil...and every 3-4 place a few (a very few!) drops on it and pull your instrument through.
On the outside...you can see when it needs oiling...but with a new instrument this won't be very soon.
The first parts to dry out will be the around the cork covered by the barrel and bell when it's assembled.
DO NOT over oil, it makes the inside of your insturment like a slide, and you contantly get condensation in your tone holes (bubbles).
Many people oil much more regularly than me...some far less often, this has always worked for me, and I have never had a clarinet crack.
Glad you like your R13...you have made a great choice. When I'm in an orchestra...that's all I use.
Dan.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2004-04-08 23:33
Oiling a new instrument should not be necessary. It could be harmful.
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2004-04-09 13:48
oh and my instrument seems to be absorbing cork grease like a sponge, is that normal?
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Author: Henry
Date: 2004-04-09 15:58
Unless you use a good synthetic oil, like Mobil 1. Then you can get away with once every 10,000.
(Disclaimer: I used to work for Mobil Oil.)
Henry
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Author: RonD
Date: 2004-04-09 19:33
If your not confidant enough to find a good instrument on your own you should reconsider your desire for a "Pro Level" clarinet. the Purchase of a new R-13 will "NOT" turn you into a great player, only practice will.
A more sutable choice might be a new or used Buffett E-11 or other good quality brand. The instrument can be sold when you advance and you can sell it and put the money toward a more advanced clarinet. And by that time you will have a much better idea of what you need, and you will save at least 50% of the cost of a new R-13.
Dont be stampeded into a purchase you may not be ready for.
Post Edited (2004-04-09 19:35)
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2004-04-12 01:01
Well ron I know that it will not turn me into a great player over night(though I wished it did) but for one I already have it (>_<) and two my teacher told me I was ready for it(which he doesn't say to anyone unless they are truly ready).
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2004-04-12 12:36
RonD wrote:
"If your not confidant enough to find a good instrument on your own you should reconsider your desire for a "Pro Level" clarinet."
I have to say, I'm not sure the "Lone Ranger" approach would be good idea for anyone, at whatever level. At least one other set of expert eyes and ears is a nice thing to have when instrument shopping.
When I was a kid, there was only one guy in the band who was playing pro-level instruments (yeah, he had a double case, with a Bb and an A). He was planning for (and had) a career in the military bands. All the rest of us were on Noblets and Normandys, the occasional Evette, and Bundys or in my case, a no-name pot metal doozie that most of the time featured bent keys and loose screws -- with which I played first chair in every band I was ever in, btw.
But my point is, the standards for prep players have changed today. Especially in the larger (richer) school programs, many students move up to an R-13 when they hit high school. And in my experience, almost all of them who continue their instrument into high school, or even junior high, are taking private lessons.
Frankly, I'm jealous! Just born too soon, I guess.
Susan
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-04-12 13:24
Quote:
RonD wrote...
"If your not confidant enough to find a good instrument on your own you should reconsider your desire for a "Pro Level" clarinet." Also, the price between a student clarinet like an E11 and a pro clarinet like an R13 (especially if you are considering a used one, which might be a good thing) is so small when compared to prices of other instruments, that you really may as well go full monty for your first upgrade.
Or you could do like me and a few others on the board have done and happily buy a professional level Amati which dances circles around any other "student clarinet" at a "student clarinet" price.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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