 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mrs_gekko
Date: 2007-08-10 01:43
I haven't played in over 30 years. I went to a music store yesterday intent on getting a flute ( which I also used to play), got to talking to the sales guy
and he brought out a Buffet and a Vito. I was surprised that I remembered as much as I did and how much I was enjoying myself.
My husband brought me home a Jean Baptiste today ( from Sam Ash) I'm not sure I like it.
My question is what would be the best student-intermediate clarinet for me to try? I really liked the action on the Vito and I thought it sounded pretty good.
I will add when I played years ago I had a wooden normandy. I'm not sure I want a wooden horn now though.
I appreciate your help.
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Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2007-08-10 07:58
Hi Mrs. Geckko,
I played through high school and college, then quit for thirty years. One day on a whim, I purchased an old Selmer Bb and started playing again. It all came back to me, and within a month, I joined the local community band's third clarinet section. Six years, and umpteen concerts later, I think it's one of the best things I ever did.
Some suggestions:
1. Return the Jean Baptiste to Sam Ash and get yourself a real instrument, not a clarinet-shaped-object, as most Chinese-made ones are. At our age, we can afford to play only the best. Get yourself an artist's clarinet.
2. Wood is not necessarily the only way to go, but the best made clarinets (and most expensive one) seem to be made of African blackwood. The manufacturers with the best reputations are Buffet, Selmer, Leblanc, and Yamaha. Their entry level horns will be made of plastic, of course, but I dare say, will be superior to a Jean Baptiste.
3. There are other fine brands to consider: Check out the Forte clarinet, and Tom Ridenour's Lyrique. Also, Amati is a huge concern which was the biggest instrument manufacturer in the Eastern block countries.
4. Use the search button on this site for much more information.
Mike Blinn
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2007-08-10 09:17
I second Mike's advice - return that Baptiste horn if possible.
www.clarinuts.com has a broad range of good (refurbished) plastic clarinets as well as some wooden ones. I think it's a safe choice if you're on a budget, or if you look for a cheap time-tested allround instrument.
--
Ben
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-08-10 13:23
May I add my "welcome back" ? Good advice above, I recently bot several cls from a small music store, and am greatly impressed by the [wood] Evette "Sponsored by Buffet- Crampon", which is discussed in another thread here [as an E11 equivalent]. With little knowledge of Buffet cls, R13 etc, to me its my R13 ! Excellent. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: pewd
Date: 2007-08-10 17:22
what mike said
"At our age, we can afford to play only the best. Get yourself an artist's clarinet. "
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: leonardA
Date: 2007-08-11 01:28
You said you liked the Vito. I started with a plastic Vito, and even though I now have a Buffet D11 (wood) I still enjoy playing the Vito. I think for the money you could't go wrong with it to start, and then you could always upgrade and have the Vito for a backup or for outdoor playing.
Good luck. You're in for a lot of fun, and you'll learn (or be reminded of)a lot on this board.
Leonard
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Author: Mrs_gekko
Date: 2007-08-11 01:54
Thank you gentlemen for all your suggestions! We are taking the Jean Baptiste back first thing tomorrow.
I have two Vito's coming my way, one I purchased on ebay and hubby told me his co-worker has a Vito he played once a week for three months he's giving it to me.
Now suggestions for some good mouthpieces.
Thank you
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2007-08-11 07:06
Welcome Mrs G !
Speak to Walter Grabner re mouthpieces.
RT
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Author: blissedOUT
Date: 2007-08-15 03:46
I did the same thing...
On a whim, I bought a Jean-Baptiste.
But, about a week later I took it back for a Yamaha YCL-250.
Being a beginner, I couldn't find fault with the J-B, but I figured resale
(if I later upgrade) would be so poor.
I don't know if the Yamaha is considered a "clarinet-shaped-object",
but I love it.... the action, thumbrest and the case is better.
Congrats on your triumphant return!
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