 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-03-29 10:05
A music teacher at our school asked me if I knew which 'good' clarinets were being sold these days and which were for beginners, intermediate players etc.
I only really know about the Buffets, and told her:
Beg: B10, B12,
Int: E11, E13
Prof R13
Could some kind soul give their opinion about the Selmers, Yamahas and Leblacs that fall into these categories? Also, any other makes she should consider?
Steve
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-03-29 13:18
Better off sticking with 1 brand if it's a school program. That way the intonation tendencies of the instrument won't clash with another brand.
Could be all Selmers, Yamaha's, Buffets (I'm a buffet player only), or Leblanc - just get the same.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: hans
Date: 2005-03-29 14:52
Judging by what I've read here, she should seriously consider the Forte, which is marketed by a BB sponsor of excellent reputation.
The other major manufacturers have web sites where the various models are described.
Regards,
Hans
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-03-29 15:16
-- "Better off sticking with 1 brand if it's a school program. That way the intonation tendencies of the instrument won't clash with another brand." --
No, it's not that. It's more to do with actually passing info onto kids and their parents when they ask for information about what to buy for lessons and for 'upgrading'.
We not only live a long way from any large city, the italians are ripped off good and proper when it comes to instruments and a lot of parents buy when they go abroad - or through ebay.
Steve
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Katrina
Date: 2005-03-29 17:41
If they have access to ebay, they ought to have access to websites like Woodwind/Brasswind. I don't know what their overseas shipping rates are, or what kind of exchange rate exists, but WW/BW has all the reputable brands...
I'm sorry I can't be of any further help, but the WW/BW site does list the different levels from each manufacturer.
Katrina
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-03-29 17:59
Katrina,
The exhange rate is extremely good for Europeans at the moment and the postage rates from USA to Italy are not much different than from Britain to Italy! Therefore the prices on Ebay in USA seem incredibly cheap to us.
Not only that. The choice in the USA is much better. It's kind of ironic that I have to buy french clarinets from the USA. It's not just the price. It's actually quite difficult to find them in France!
Another reason is the level of customer service is WAY higher in the USA!
The world's a strange place!
Steve
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2005-03-29 18:03
Attachment: Clarinet Comparison Chart0089.JPG (221k)
Although subject to differing opinions, this chart, from the WW/BW catalog, gives some general guidelines.
I would, for the most part, stick with the "Big 4" manufacturers...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-03-29 18:14
-- "I would, for the most part, stick with the "Big 4" manufacturers...GBK" --
Thanks very much for the link. Yes, I do tend to stick with those makes.
Steve
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-03-31 13:32
I'll third the Forte clarinet above all others on the market for beginners and advancing students. The Doc did a great job of design and you don't have to buy a step-up mouthpiece and ligature.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-03-31 13:38
I wouldn't use it for advancing students - but as a 2nd instrument (for outside, etc) it's great.
I wouldn't recommend the Buffet E-11 for advancing students either.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-04-01 12:11
How old are the students in question?
Plastic instruments tolerate mishandling better than wooden instruments.
Let us not forget the venerable Vito line, which has been a mainstain in the USA for years... they play reasonably well, and spare parts are CHEAP.
Variation between instruments is miniscule, so rebuilding is simple.
Little kids drop things...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: rosie964
Date: 2005-04-01 17:44
First of all, I'm so glad I found this site!!! YEA! My daughter is wanting to upgrade her clarinet, she is a freshman in HS & just won a scholarship from the council of the arts, it was'nt much but enough for us to add a couple hundred $ & get her a better clarinet. She is in a very competetive marching band & I've been told wood is out, because of the weather. Could any one help clear up confusion? 2 choices I have been presented with are the Yamaha YCL450 & the BuffettB12. She is a very serious musician, so I want to get the best sound for my $. Thanks in advance for any help.
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-04-01 21:31
Ok, get her 2 clarinets - a plastic junker for outside and something good to GET BETTER ON THE CLARINET WITH.
She won't progress properly on a plastic clarinet - that includes all brands.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Karel
Date: 2005-04-02 03:27
How would the Greenline Buffet cope with outdoor weather condition? Can it bridge the gap between plastic and wood?
Karel
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: pewd
Date: 2005-04-02 04:26
greenlines are fine outside, dimensionally stable, the weather wont affect them, or more accurately, it wont affect the body of the instrument.
i wouldn't use one in a marching band - screws and springs still rust when they get wet, and marching bands tear up horns - they get dropped, banged around, keys bent, etc.
paul
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2005-04-02 04:32
The Yamaha 450 is wood. It's the 250 that is their plastic student model.
There's a difference between playing outdoors and marching band. A Greenline might be the answer for frequent outdoor concerts. Even if the weather weren't an issue though, I wouldn't march a good clarinet, even a Greenline. The marching band situation is too fluid. It's too easy to collide with another band member, or slip and fall, or set the instrument down for a moment and have someone else step on it or sit on it or knock it over or have it knocked around on the bus... You get the picture.
If she already has something to march with, don't worry about upgrading that. As David Blumberg says, get her something good to improve her clarinet playing with. IMO, if she's serious enough to upgrade from a student instrument, she's ready for a professional model. At the risk of committing political incorrectness on this board, I would recommend a new Buffet R13 if you can afford close to $2,000. If that's too much, if your upper limit is around $1,200, I would recommend you look for an R13 in the 5-15 year age range. If your price range is around $650 - $850, then I would recommend you look for a used Yamaha CS or CX or maybe a lightly used 72. They are relatively new, are IMO superb instruments and are (again, IMO) the most undervalued professional clarinets on the used market. (Actually, I think a Yamaha professional in this price range is a better buy than a used Buffet for $1,100 - $1,200.) In the $450-$550 range, I would look for a Yamaha 650 or 62. If you are patient and careful, you can pick one of these up in very good playing condition on eBay. My 2 cents.
Best regards,
jnk
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: leonardA
Date: 2005-04-02 13:43
I have a Leblanc Noblet that has a very nice tone and a nice feel to it. It's relatively inexpensive, especially used on ebay.
Leonard
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-04-03 12:09
Leanard,
As a relative newcomer to this Ebay game, what is the sort of price I should bid for an old Noblet?
Also, what's the difference between a 40 and 45?
Thanks,
Steve (Steep learning curve here!)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2005-04-03 19:48
Steve,
You can find current going prices on eBay, by searching for "Noblet" without the quotes and checking the "completed items only" box. I would recommend checking in on this a couple of times a week for a month or so before actually bidding on one. Focus on instruments that actually sold or had bids that fell below the reserve price (in the latter case, look at the highest bid, not the reserve; you want to follow buyers' offers, not sellers' dreams). I would ignore the amounts on any items that didn't receive a bid. The starting bid was what the seller wanted and was too high to attract any interest. By following the items for a month or so, you should be able to get a pretty good idea of the relationship between condition and price. For an old "found in the attic/basement/garage" and "sold as is," you should be able to pick up a Noblet (I would wait for a model 45) for around $85 - $125. For one whose photos look really clean, whose seller has a longstanding track record of positive feedback, and which is advertised as "in good playing condition" or "recently overhauled," if you are patient, you should be able to buy one for $185 or so. I would not recommend spending over $250 for an older Noblet (Bb) in any condition. Older Leblanc professional models start around $350 on eBay and, at that price, are IMO a better buy.
Leblanc has a description of the model 45 and model 40 at:
http://www.gleblanc.com
but I don't think they are particularly useful for differentiating the two. Personally, I would rate the 40 as a wooden student clarinet. The 45 is a higher-end intermediate instrument but I can't tell you why. The one I have simply "feels" better to me than any of the few 40's I have played (sturdier with better intonation). IMO, either, in good condition, would be a good beginner instrument and a fine instrument for someone who plays in a high school, college or community band for fun. A 45 might also be acceptable for a free-lancer who occasionally doubles on clarinet. On older Noblets, the low-end model has a label shaped somewhat like a TV screen (really old ones have an oval logo). Older model 45's have a diamond-shaped logo, so the two models are easy to tell apart. Some eBay sellers will try to tell you that Noblets (both models) are semi-professional clarinets. I think that's stretching things.
Best regards,
jnk
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-04-03 20:02
Wow, thanks Jack. I'm still new to the Ebay game, but learning quickly - I hope!
I didn't realise about the "completed items only" box. This is very useful as I'm trying to get an idea of what the going price is for any given clarinet.
There does seem to be a huge variation in price. I recently saw a very old Buffet Evette with no decent description suddenly treble in price within the last hour of sale and a Buffet R13 'Buy it now' price suddenly reduce from $1200 to $950 and get sold within an hour.
Looks like good fun!
Steve
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
