 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TeaPea
Date: 1999-12-31 23:43
Well, these retail fools were selling a Vito Reso-tone for $269 +tax, and I didn't have the guts to offer $160 for it (as someone here mentioned was a fair price), so I went ahead and rented it for a month hoping I'd learn it well enough to know what a funtioning clarinet was supposed to be like.
All the pads and doo-dads on this puppy seem to be in near mint - and I'm amazed at how easily I can play it (after a few initial squeeks - I've NEVER played a woodwind before). The tone is ok. Not ugly - not pretty, then again I'm using the generic mouthpiece and Ricos being that I had little money left over to buy the Vandoren stuff (had to put all the money down - no credit - boohoo).
So here's what I'm thinking. I'll take this badboy back in a month, get most of my money back, buy a good mouthpiece and some good reeds, and then go around the swapmeets/pawnshops/thriftstores and start looking for a deal. I'll just use my quality MPiece, and my new-found basic understanding of the instrument, to test these second-hand horns out. What do you folks think?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-01-01 02:56
TeaPea wrote:
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Well, these retail fools were selling a Vito Reso-tone for $269 +tax, and I didn't have the guts to offer $160 for it (as someone here mentioned was a fair price), so I went ahead and rented it for a month hoping I'd learn it well enough to know what a funtioning clarinet was supposed to be like.
All the pads and doo-dads on this puppy seem to be in near mint - and I'm amazed at how easily I can play it (after a few initial squeeks - I've NEVER played a woodwind before). The tone is ok. Not ugly - not pretty, then again I'm using the generic mouthpiece and Ricos being that I had little money left over to buy the Vandoren stuff (had to put all the money down - no credit - boohoo).
So here's what I'm thinking. I'll take this badboy back in a month, get most of my money back, buy a good mouthpiece and some good reeds, and then go around the swapmeets/pawnshops/thriftstores and start looking for a deal. I'll just use my quality MPiece, and my new-found basic understanding of the instrument, to test these second-hand horns out. What do you folks think?
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If it is a new horn or one that has been completely re-conditioned so that it needs absolutely no work, then it is worth the $269. The Woodwind & Brasswind sells new ones for around $370 and the list price for a new one is somewhere around $600.
Remember if you buy a used one, it could need an overhaul to the tune of $100 to $200 unless you know what to look for. You are still early in your clarinet playing and even after a month, you won't have enough experience to be sure that you are picking a good one.
So my suggestion is that if this one is a good one, keep it and just save up for that better mouthpiece.
Get a copy of the Woodwind & Brasswind catalog and copies of the catalogs of the other mail order places (the contact information can be found under Resources). You can use the information in them to bargain down the prices on mouthpieces with many of your local retailers.
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Author: TeaPea
Date: 2000-01-01 03:47
Right on, Dee. I was hoping someone would tell me it was a solid deal. They did give me a two year warranty so I should stop being so paranoid! As soon as I find a pro clarinet player I'll have him/her test it. Got two-years to find one.
thanks!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-01-01 04:22
Congrats, it looks to me also that you are off and running in the right direction! When questions arise, just ask. Welcome to our happy herd of year 2000 horn tooters! Don
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-01-01 06:26
As for your tone, it will improve as your embruchure(sp) improves. Just Take a big breath, grab a good low note, and watch the clock and see how long you can hold it. All the while you can experiment on your tone by changing the angle of the instrument, your bite, and side lip muscles while holding these long tones. This will also help strengthen those muscles as they are now being used in a manner they never have subjectd to before. Good luck and stick with it.
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Author: joey
Date: 2000-01-01 09:10
buy a new leblanc from france. they are decent.
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Author: jim lande@ erols.com
Date: 2000-01-02 02:24
Go slow on buying a new mouthpiece. OK, the cheapest student mpc is a Hite Premier, and I like those a lot and you can get them for under $25. HOWEVER, your taste in mpcs will change as your lips get stronger with practice. Also, different mpcs work better with different strength reeds. Chances are the one you are using has a relatively large gap between the tip of the MPC and the tip of the reed and takes a relatively soft reed (say, Rico 2 1/2) Right now you might have a lot of trouble using a MPC with a smaller gap and a stronger reed. You might try the same setup in a year or two and discover you prefer it. You might be surpried to learn how many of us own a half dozen mpcs or more, but only ever use one or two. If you shop mouthpieces now, I can guarantee you will be starting your own collection. Practice first, shop later. (Do as I say, not as I do. sigh)
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