 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: dfh
Date: 2004-08-25 17:59
Hello.
I have a student (a beginner) on a very tight budget - both with time and money. She has been renting a clarinet (not a very good one), and would like to have her own. I have little experience with purchesing this level of instrument. After looking at the Woowind & Brasswind website, there are 2 intruments that fit the budget. The Band Now intruments and the Woodwind Bb clarinet. I have not played either of these, and have no idea which to recommend. I looked these up in the Archives, with now success. I realize some time spent looking for a used intrument would prehaps be a better idea, but that takes time, and we don't have that right now. Or, should I really push for the next level up of beginner clarinet (Buffet B10 etc)? I also know that the First Act clarinets are a NO! Any advice would be very much appreiciated.
Thanks!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-08-25 18:16
The Woodwind/Brasswind house brand clarinets are Taiwanese in origin. I suspect that the Band Now instruments are as well.
Mark's suggestion of the Forté clarinet is excellent....GBK
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-08-25 18:37
I just purchased a nice Czech clarinet from Steve at <www.yankelswarehouse.com>, an "Ernst Reidl" in Grenadilla.
It tunes reasonably well, and is a nice find at $125 (plus shipping).
I'm with you Dana, avoid the Chinese made stuff.
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-08-25 19:43
The above advice is sound. Also consider secondhand Bundy and Vito clarinets, which can be had for a song (pun sorta intended) on eBay. All the usual buyer beware caveats apply to eBay, but some good things can be found there. See this thread for info:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=152450&t=152438
________________
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: ron b
Date: 2004-08-25 20:14
I used to buy Bundys and Vitos off eBay cheap, fix 'em up as Training Projects. They're very nice student/intermediate instruments when finished, but no longer useful to me after they've served their purpose. I've sold some for the price I paid for the instrument and the materials that went into 'restoring' it.
I know you're short on time but it might be worthwhile to hold your ground; ask around and you may find someone like that in your neighborhood, almost every hometown has one... or two 
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: psychotic lil clarinet girl (don't as
Date: 2004-08-25 22:50
Sometimes when you get a clarinet off of EBAY the repair for it can cost more than the clarinet itself... But still, I got a perfectly fine Buffet B12 off EBAY for under $100.00... I don't think I had to get repair on it... I'm not sure...
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-08-25 22:57
Mark/GBK ... I looked at the forte website (student in mind) but I think it's not feasible due to my current place of residence.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2004-08-26 01:57
(Disclaimer - I am a maker of the Forte' clarinet)
I have recently sent some Forte's to the ends of the earth for $40.00 insured shipping.
The Doctor
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Author: diz
Date: 2004-08-26 02:06
"ends of the earth" ... now THAT's the kind of remark I've learned to grin at from our American cousins ...
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: Phat Cat
Date: 2004-08-26 11:56
Doctor:
Actually, as that other doctor A. E. demonstrated, it's the combination of position and time that is relative.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-08-27 00:39
I have always liked the student Yamaha clarinets
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2004-08-27 05:10
Funniest thing I have ever seen: I go to a local tech to get a recork of a mouthpiece. The ppl in front of me had taken in their son's Bundy because the tenon from the top joint broke inside of the bottom joint. Well, the tech replaces the whole upper joint, and tells the guy "Well, it's going to cost $150 for the part, then some more for moving all the keys to that joint and the other work to remove the broken tenon." I so wanted to speak up and say "hey, you can get a better Bundy than that for $100 on ebay!" I should have. haha
Moral of the story, sometimes you can get a good deal on student clarinets on ebay if you know what youa re lookin for. Don't go for the no-names or crappy brands... like Maxam, First Act, or Mach 1... heh yeah.
--CG
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Author: ron b
Date: 2004-08-27 06:40
Contragirl, you said, "I so wanted to speak up and say "hey, you can get a better Bundy than that for $100 on ebay! "I should have. haha "
Why didn't you? You certainly have more self-control than I, I don't believe I could've contained myself... especially if I saw someone so obviously being taken advantage of ![[frown]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie2.gif)
- ron b -
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-08-27 07:01
"...and the other work to remove the broken tenon"
Whaaaat!! A few seconds work, especially if it is to be thrown out.
However it often takes some time to do a good job of transferring keys without sloppy or jamming pivots. The spacing between posts is not usually consistent. REpadding is often necessary. So this work can be expensive.
Another option is to simply glue the break together. I, and possibly many other technicians, have reservations about how long this would last.
Another option, that most technicians probably don't offer, is to glue the break, and insert long reinforcing pins inside the plastic walls. Its success would is very dependent on the details of how it is done. Well done, it is very reliable, stronger than the original, and cost effective compared with joint replacement.
Yet another option is to 'graft' a new tenon to the body. The remains of the old tenon are cut off, and the end of the body is bored out on a lathe, to receive a new tenon, made to the correct dimensions, also using a lathe. The new one is glued in. In this case the stresses on the glue are 'sheer' forces, and far more reliable if this fix is well done. Some technicians specialise in this grafting work. It too, is considerably cheaper than replacing a joint, espceially if you go direct to a specialising technician.
Post Edited (2004-08-27 10:13)
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Author: Dee
Date: 2004-08-27 12:33
contragirl wrote:
> Funniest thing I have ever seen: I go to a local tech to get a
> recork of a mouthpiece. The ppl in front of me had taken in
> their son's Bundy because the tenon from the top joint broke
> inside of the bottom joint. Well, the tech replaces the whole
> upper joint, and tells the guy "Well, it's going to cost $150
> for the part, then some more for moving all the keys to that
> joint and the other work to remove the broken tenon." I so
> wanted to speak up and say "hey, you can get a better Bundy
> than that for $100 on ebay!" I should have. haha
>
Keep in mind that $100 ebay horn may require a $100 overhaul after buying it.
However I agree that this is rather expensive. They could have bought a new one from a reputable internet dealer for around $400 or a reconditioned used one for a reasonable price.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2004-08-27 13:48
Since she is currently renting one, check into the Woodwind & Brasswinds rent to own program. This way she could get a good instrument for payments probably comparable to the amount she is spending now.
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