The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: vollkommen
Date: 2006-08-15 04:22
I figure that the two clarinets you'll be looking at for your daughter are the Buffet B12 and the Yamaha YCL 250. Both of those can be found for between $400 and $600 if you look in the right places, but chances are the Buffet will actually end up being cheaper.
As far as playing goes, I would choose the Buffet over the Yamaha. The tone is just more pleasant (generally) and the keywork is more comfortable than the Yamaha. The nickel plating on the Yamaha seems to be more durable and long lasting than the Buffet, but this is just a cosmetic issue.
Both the B12 and the YCL 250 are plastic clarinets, but they are probably the best of that bunch. My first clarinet was a Buffet E11 which my parents bought new for about $600, with tax and all the little extras included. Although it is a bit more expensive than the B12, it will probably be a better fit for your daughter for a longer period of time since it is a wood instrument. Yamaha has several intermediate models as well, but I've never played any or had much experience with them. For better or worse most people play on Buffets, myself included (I own 3), and many clarinetists overlook the fact that there are many other reputable makers besides Buffet. Leblanc has a whole range of intermediate instruments that are definately good instruments, and yet they are vastly underplayed since people go off recommendations for Buffet. One reason for this might be because of the need to blend with a section. Different makes of clarinets, and even different models from the same maker, can have remarkably different tone qualities that can be harder to bring together into a cohesive sound. To alleviate this problem, most advanced clarinetists play Buffet R13s. My school's wind ensemble clarinet section of 9 all plays on Buffets, seven of which are R13s.
Sorry for the long-winded speech, but it is important to think about the future of your daugher's playing. While it should ultimately be a personal choice, these things should be taken into account.
Here's a list of some clarinets that you might think about having your daughter look at, in order of my preference by category.
Plastic
Buffet B12 - $400
Yamaha YCL 250 - $470
Leblanc L7214PC - $470
Wood Intermediate
Buffet E11 - $600
Leblanc Rapsodie or L1012S - $820-$890
Yamaha YCL 450 - $900
Selmer CL211 - $900
If you would like to avoid having to upgrade instruments for the next few years, I would advise spending a few hundred more and getting the E11 or another wood instrument. They require more maintenance and care, but will ultimately last longer and be a better instrument to play than a plastic horn.
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Karen C |
2006-08-15 02:58 |
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vollkommen |
2006-08-15 04:22 |
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Karen C |
2006-08-16 01:30 |
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vollkommen |
2006-08-16 02:25 |
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Karen C |
2006-08-16 02:44 |
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clarnibass |
2006-08-15 05:56 |
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BobD |
2006-08-15 14:20 |
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vollkommen |
2006-08-15 17:19 |
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David Peacham |
2006-08-15 18:50 |
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Brenda Siewert |
2006-08-15 18:52 |
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beantown_Bb |
2006-08-15 19:14 |
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clarinetwife |
2006-08-15 19:19 |
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Karen C |
2006-08-16 01:27 |
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DressedToKill |
2006-08-16 03:57 |
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