 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Stuart Szeto
Date: 1999-03-03 12:00
Hi there
I've done a little bit of research in this area, so hopefully I won't sound like a total twit.
I played the clarinet for 1 year over a decade ago, and would like to get back to it.
I've read some peoples' postings on the net and was pretty convinced that the Buffet B-12 was a good clarinet to start of with. However, I was offered another opinion at the local Musical Instruments store. The salesman is an avid clarinetist and claims that the Yamaha C100 is better than the Buffet B-12. A claim that seems slightly biased, considering that he sells mainly Yamaha brands.
I did agree however on the point that I should not need a better mouth piece, such as the Vandoren B45, since I am a newbie.
If I can get people to validate this fellows point on the clarinets that would be great.
Thanks in advance.
Stuart
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-03-03 12:10
Stuart Szeto wrote:
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However, I was offered another opinion at the local Musical Instruments store. The salesman is an avid clarinetist and claims that the Yamaha C100 is better than the Buffet B-12. A claim that seems slightly biased, considering that he sells mainly Yamaha brands.
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I didn't see the C100 on the Yamaha Web site - just the 20 and 34 as their low-end models. What differentiates the C100 from their 20?
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You wrote:
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I did agree however on the point that I should not need a better mouth piece, such as the Vandoren B45, since I am a newbie.
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Actually, I feel the opposite way - a newbie needs all the help they can get, and a good mouthpiece can make all the difference, even (especially) on an inexpensive clarinet. I have, however, heard that the mouthpieces provided on the mid and upper end Yamahas are pretty good (don't know about the low end).
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Author: Katherine Pincock
Date: 1999-03-03 13:25
Ah, my favorite topic! People on this board have heard me talk about it before, but I'm a strong believer that, unless there are specific circumstances, get the clarinet that feels best to you. That may mean a different brand, or maybe only a different clarinet of the same type (two B-12s can feel very different). Try as many instruments as you can, to get a feel for them, and whichever feels right is probably good. Even though you're essentially new to the clarinet, you'll probably prefer one to the other.
As for mouthpieces, I agree with Mark that it's good to get one as a beginner--especially if you buy a Buffet, whose mouthpieces aren't great. Try to stick with a more open mouthpiece to start with--that way there's not as much resistance to your breath. Again, you should try as many as you can to get a feel for which you like best.
Welcome back! I hope that you have lots of fun.`
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-03-03 15:10
Any of the major brands should be suitable for a beginner. These are Selmer, Yamaha, Leblanc, and Buffet. The main thing is to try playing them and see what you like the best. Selmers and Yamahas are reputed to come with decent mouthpieces. The ones supplied with Leblanc and Buffet are only so-so. Since a mouthpiec can affect how an instrument feels to you, my suggestion is to buy a good mouthpiece first and use it to try out instruments. The Vandoren B-45 is quite popular. Less expensive but well thought of are the Hite Premier and Fobes Debut.
I am also of the opinion that a quality mouthpiece is very important for a beginner (along with decent reeds). A pro can get anything to play for them if they want to fight with it but a beginner doesn't yet have that ability. The mouthpiece is far more important than the instrument itself.
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Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 1999-03-03 17:03
It has been my experience that whatever music stores have for sale (or in stock) is "the best."
I suggest trying to find one of the quality student instruments used, there are certainly a lot around.
The Fobes Debut mouthpiece is very good and not expensive.
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Author: ted
Date: 1999-03-03 17:19
Whichever instrument you purchase, I think you should get a good mouthpiece and good quality reeds. I used a Vito (beginner Leblanc) for years and would certainly recommend it to others. I'm sure the beginning Selmers (Bundy), Buffets, and Yahamahas are as good. Try a few out, and see which is best for you.
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Author: Phillip Adams
Date: 1999-03-03 17:50
All the advice before hand is great. Although, now you are probably old enough to stay with the instrument so I will go on a limb and advise buying an upper-level instrument or even a professional such as the R-13 or opus models
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Author: Marty J
Date: 1999-03-03 21:12
I will go out on the same limb as Phillip. I started again after a couple of decades of not playing. After trying out a few horns, I did not see a reason to buy a beginners clarinet when I could afford a better one. I purchased a Leblanc Infinite and I have two good mouthpieces.One is a Vandoren B45 and the other a more closed mouthpiece which is harder to use but produces a more pleasing sound.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 1999-03-03 21:33
I assume that suggesting that beginners try out several mouthpieces/clarinets assumes that the beginner has been playing long enough to be able to play sufficiently well to try these things out. Obviously, a real beginner wouldn't have the skills needed to try out an instrument. I assume people would have a different suggestion for a real beginner.
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Author: Evan
Date: 1999-03-03 22:41
I think the Yamaha the guy was trying to sell you is a great horn, I think it plays better than alot of the wood ones that are out there, it is in tune and it sounds good.
Also, YOU NEED A GOOD MOUTHPEICE, if you play on the joke of a mouthpeice that comes with any horn you will never be happy with the way you sound, and never practice, as far as clarinets, your mouthpeice is everything with tone and playing ease, trust me do not skimp out on this.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-03-04 00:23
Don Poulsen wrote:
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I assume that suggesting that beginners try out several mouthpieces/clarinets assumes that the beginner has been playing long enough to be able to play sufficiently well to try these things out. Obviously, a real beginner wouldn't have the skills needed to try out an instrument. I assume people would have a different suggestion for a real beginner.
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Well if I were making recommendations to an absolutely raw beginner, I would give them a list of several mouthpieces and several horns of the different levels that I thought well of and their relative prices so they could pick something decent that suited their pocket book.
Also for an absolutely raw beginner, adult or otherwise, I would suggest one of the beginner instruments so that they have time to develop playing skills sufficiently to later select a higher grade instrument that suits their taste. After all what if you plunk down the money for an Opus, play it for a while and find that another design (i.e. playing characteristics) suits you better.
Another reason for beginners to get beginner horns is that they generally blow easier and this is compatible with the fact that their breath support and embouchure are as yet undeveloped.
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Author: Stuart Szeto
Date: 1999-03-05 12:27
Yo peoples
Thanks very much for your advice. I hold everyone of them in high regard considering that all of you have had more experience than I have in the clarinet.
I have found a place that is selling their Buffet B-12's for 615 Australian dollars, which is equivalent to about 400 American dollars. Well, thats probably the cheapest you can get it in Sydney, considering there is an import duty on imported goods.
If I ever get good at it (playing the clarinet) ou guys surely deserve some of the credit. (I'm feelin the good vibes form this crowd).
Regards
Stuart Szeto
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