 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Glenn
Date: 2005-11-18 18:31
Hello:
My fiancé played clarinet in high school and has been talking a lot about wanting to do so again, and to get serious about it. I want to buy her an instrument for her birthday, but know very little about clarinets. I was wondering if anyone had some advice for me concerning the following: First of all, is it a good idea to surprise someone with a clarinet, or should I skip the surprise and take her to music stores and let her make the decision. If I do buy an instrument for her, I am thinking about the Buffet B11. Are there any thoughts on this instrument? Do you know of any other instruments of similar quality that I should consider? Does anyone have any advice about good online sites that sell clarinets? I visited several, including Woodwind Brasswind, and Music 123. Are there any thoughts on those regarding customer service, reliability, and speed of delivery? Any help that anyone out there can give me would be greatly appreciated!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Peacham
Date: 2005-11-18 19:35
I'm not sure there's such a thing as a Buffet B11. The Buffet B12 is their standard beginner's instrument, and the B10 a cheaper version of the same. The E11 is their cheapest wooden instrument.
If your fiancée wants to get serious she will most likely want a more expensive instrument that any of these: Buffet R13, Leblanc Concerto, Yamaha SEV are some of the best-known choices. Any of these will be at least 4 times the price of a B12, but should last a lifetime and will never be "outgrown".
I suggest you let her make the decision. If she has not played for years then a good plastic instrument (B12, Yamaha YCL250) may be a sensible first step, but my guess is she'll want to upgrade sooner rather than later. The only real downside to buying an expensive instrument straight away is that individual instruments do vary and if she's out of practice then she won't have the ability to judge which one is best for her.
-----------
If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-11-18 19:45
You asked for it...so there:
I have an open order with WWBW and they managed to postpone the availability of [crucial] articles three times in the last month. So be warned that the intended christmas gift won't make it under the tree in time.
As per the instrument I can only give you the advice that it'd be wiser to blindfold your Significant Other and lead her to a music store than to buy her something. (my experience stems from jewellery but I think with an instrument it's not entirely different). After all, you shell a lot of money, and better spend two hundred more for something that really pleases her.
From what I hear, you can't do much wrong with the "Big Brands", but that doesn't mean that a B11 is the best you can get for your money, let alone for your fiancée. A voucher may appear a bit cheap, but it needn't be an Amazon gift certificate. Hand-paint a clarinet on a piece of paper and write "Choose The Right One" beneath it, something along these lines. Or ebay for a 15$ clunker and give her the right to trade it in against something better. (if she likes the clunker, even the better. )
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2005-11-18 20:00
If you do buy an R13 then I would recommend buying from somebody who will really set the thing up properly, wwbw does a pretty good job. Walter Grabner does a very good job checking everything out on a new instrument. www.clarinetxpress.com is his site. both are very reliable site to order from interms of payment, shipping and returns, and for a good price. E11 is not a bad instrument for somebody just getting back into things. Also a good used Selmer (9, 10, 10S, 10G) can be as good as a new R13 for under $1000. If there is a good music store near enough to where you live my best recommendation is to take her there and let her try some. not all R13s or E11s play the same. Likewise she may find she likes Leblancs, Selmers or Yamahas better than Buffets. With any of these makers its all personal preferance, as the level of craftsmanship is similar. Its always best to try several instruments and pick from them. I personally don't like Buffets that much (although I am in the minorty) she might not either. I am huge Selmer fan, they tend to be a little more expensive, but they play much more in tune, and I personally like the sound better. So If there is a music store with a large selection nearby I would say just let her try some clarinets and find one she really likes. Also wwbw may allow you to order several clarinets, pick one and return the others with differed payment if you do not live near a good music store. I hope this is helpful,
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-11-18 21:41
You probably inferred from the previous answers that it is risky to buy a clarinet "for" someone else.
You might want to discuss an "acquisition policy" with her. Decide if she wants to get back into playing in two steps or on. The two step might consist of getting an inexpensive clarinet "now" with the plan to upgrade it when and if she becomes convinced that she wants better equipment. A variant would be to start with a student horn, get comfortable with it and then go to a big clarinet-fest to sample many options for the second instrument.
The one step option --of going straight to a professional level instrument is risky.
She might not want to stick with it --thus "wasting" the extra cost of the pro-level horn.
You or she, if given the choice, might make a bad choice. Unfortunately, as mentioned above, all clarinets of the same make and model ARE NOT EQUAL, and a random selection often does not provide a satisfactory instrument. A measure of the risk of getting a bad horn is in the ancetdotes reported in this forum; "I tried 15 Buffet R13s before finding ONE that I liked."
A trap for a beginner or returnee is that mouthpiece, finger leaks, reed selection all get in the way of evaluating the instrument itself.
An alternative is to have someone you trust select an instrument for her. This could be a retailer --with his/er vested intrests or a professional player or teacher you could commission to select an instrument for you. To see what this amounts to, look at Grabner and Muncy Winds web site.
Good luck. Talk with her, winkle out what will make her happy; and give her a gift certificate for step one -whether or not its a full professional horn.
Bob Phillips
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bassie
Date: 2005-11-19 16:15
Don't forget Selmer Paris. They have their own special quirks but they're worth a look. I tried the Selmer Prologue II (don't know if they still make it, it was their entry-level pro / advanced student model) against the R13 and came away with the Selmer - and about 400 quid in my pocket.
Thing is, it's a very personal choice. I came away with the Selmer cos I wanted to stand out from the crowd. I liked the distinctive voice it gave me (and my friend, from whom I got the whole Selmer idea in the first place). Surprising someone with an instrument at a more advanced level isn't necessarily a good idea. Maybe the present you need to give is a trip to the shop. But then again, clarinetists are notoriously shy performers... which brings us back to the E11, a 'real' instrument at an (almost) sensible price. Tricky call... whatever you do, pay the premium for a reputable specialist dealer who will check the new purchase over for mechanical defects.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-11-19 20:26
Rather than purchase one, now - check the availability of decent rental instruments in your area. If she stays with it, purchase in the Spring will be something you two can do together - travel to try them on for size.
If she doesn't make the time to play, you're only out the rental fee.
When starting up again, a beginner's instrument (in proper repair) will be just the ticket...
FYI - I now play the Ridenour TR147, which is a hard rubber clarinet. It may not seem like much, but it plays VERY similarly to my megabuck LeBlanc Opus!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Glenn
Date: 2005-11-23 16:08
Hi All:
Thanks for your help. I appreciate it. We'll go clarinet shopping for the holidays.
Glenn
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bnewbs
Date: 2005-11-23 16:19
You are more than welcome, good luck in finding a great instrument,
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
