 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kali
Date: 2007-10-06 21:35
Hi,
My daughter is looking into joining the band at school, she is in 5th grade. I found a brand new clarinet for a steal on ebay. The brand is Clairmont and I have never heard of it (although I don't remember the brands from when I was in band so that doesn't do me much good)
It is ebonite which is good for the climate in MI (from what I understand from the music store that is basically what she will get if we rent one but it will be an Artley and considerably more money).
I don't want to waste the money on an instrument we can't get repaired or anything if we need it to. For now though we don't want to spend a ton of money either if she decides this isn't for her, she is only in 5th grade and isn't as responsible yet as I'd like her to be when I spend $700 on a brand new instrument. The one on ebay is only $50 then $30 for shipping (I'm assuming they are making up part of their costs in the shipping perhaps).
Does anyone have experience with this brand?
I know I need to look for a bflat clarinet. This one says b standard.. I don't remember anymore if that is the same thing basically just different wording.
Since the bidding is over fairly soon (sometime tomorrow from what I remember) an early response is better if you can.
TIA
Mom to possible new band student, and former clarinet player myself.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2007-10-06 21:46
Use this thread as a general guide of instruments to avoid:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=20&i=357&t=357
Clairmont is another one of the cheap Far Eastern made instruments which will cause more trouble than it is worth. Getting it repaired, as it will undoubtedly need,, is often a nightmare. Many repair techs refuse to work on these calibre of instruments because of their flimsy construction.
My advice would be to stay away from instruments of that type and look towards the more established name brands ...GBK
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Author: Kali
Date: 2007-10-06 21:52
Thanks so much. I had a feeling that might be the case.
I was told to buy either Artley, Buffet, or Selmer for her student b flat clarinet. But this was by a bigger music store, I tend to trust the mom and pop type ones more but there are none nearby to me. I couldn't find one of those so far at a really good price new. I don't want to buy off ebay used because I can't have someone look at it first, and I may be buying someone elses headaches.
Mom to possible new band student, and former clarinet player myself.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2007-10-07 01:03
Many of the local schools also recommend the Vito student clarinet models as decent first horns.
A further way to save might be to check both at your local elementary and middle school, and see if anyone has a used one sitting around from a kid who decided clarinet was not his cup of tea. Try placing an ad in the school papers, or asking a band director.
A very reasonably-priced instrument of quite good quality is the Forte clarinet offered by an advertiser on this board, Doctor Omar Henderson. The clarinets come with a good mouthpiece, which is critical for getting the most out of an instrument. Here is a link to his page: http://www.doctorsprod.com/store/comersus_viewItem.asp?idProduct=53
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2007-10-07 01:06)
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Author: gwie
Date: 2007-10-07 04:04
Second the recommendation for the Forte!
Another one of my 4th graders has one, and I am really impressed. While the clarinet itself is wonderful (the fit and finish are superb), the accessories and the case really "close the deal" for me. It annoys me to no end that after buying a Buffet B12, my students have to still acquire on their own a decent mouthpiece, ligature, and a working swab (I hate those cotton ones, they get stuck so easily).
Kudos to Dr. Henderson and Co. for producing such a great student clarinet!
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-10-07 11:14
One suggestion for the list of clarinets of questionable quality - how about making the list alphabetical so instead of having to go over all of them, you could easily find a specific company if it was in that list?
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-10-07 14:22
My good Tulsa pro/friend, Bill V, showed me his new Lyricque [sp?] sop. Bb at band reh. , wanting my opinion, I will have my sop. mp next week and will give it !!. He feels it is fully as good as our best woods, and the price for a Bb/A SET is less than $2000. I really DON"T need more sops, but will be tempted ! It sure FEELS VG, with the adj. T R higher, I believe. Every now and then I see or hear of a good Asian-made inst, the latest a Haydn! O-H'd flute, but yes, buy very cautiously, or not at all. Wordy again, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2007-10-07 14:38
clarnibass wrote:
> One suggestion for the list of clarinets of questionable
> quality - how about making the list alphabetical so instead of
> having to go over all of them, you could easily find a specific
> company if it was in that list?
Good idea - done.
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Author: Cindyr
Date: 2007-10-08 01:59
I'd like to suggest adding a Yamaha as a possibility. The YCL 250 is a great plastic clarinet, one that would take a student through middle school with an upgraded mouthpiece. There are plenty of used Yamaha 20's (predecessor to the 250) around for a reasonable price. If you consider a Buffet B-12, I'd go with the older, shiney plastic model, rather than the new brushed to look like wood one. I've tried both, and the older ones are built better and sound better.
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Author: SolidRockMan
Date: 2007-10-08 12:23
I started on Buffet B12 because everyone I asked recommended one. Got on ok but as gwie says you have to buy a mouthpiece, lig etc.
Bought a Forte later and found it to be a superior instrument in *every* respect, together with a great deal on the accessories. If you want an excellent plastic clarinet pick the Forte - for the money you really cannot go wrong.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2007-10-08 15:17
I got two used TR147s . Reworked them, mainly to adjust mechanisms and upgrade pads with cork and kid. Very acceptable, and as good acoustically as my Concertos. For a new instrument I would try a Forte- great price and generous trial period.Try before buy.
richard smith
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Author: mcpilot
Date: 2007-10-09 11:26
I have one of the Clairmont clarinets.. It is just fine for a beginner. I have not had any problems with it whatsoever. For $80 bucks if you child decides to quit playing it's no loss. I have been playing for 39 years, and got one just to see what it is like...
No problems..... What else can I say.
I think you get robbed sometimes by the large outfits that rent instruments. You end up paing two to three times what the actual worth is.
I have an employee who rented a student trumpet and then bought it from the company here in PA. She has alost two thousand dollars in this student quality horn. That makes no sense to me. IF she tried to sell it what would it be worth????
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2007-10-09 15:30
I don't think it is necessarily that all those clarinets in the list are alywas bad. It is just that you can't always count on them being good (or good enough for a beginner). Other brands and models are known to be very good.
For example I recently tried a clarinet from a company that is in the list, and it was just fine for any beginner. It was in great condition and the tone wasn't as good as the best instruments, and intonation a little worse, but nothing too bad for a beginner to have. I also saw four alto saxophones from a different company in that list, two of them were ok and two were horrible.
I guess if you can try this clarinet and it is ok then no problem, but *some* of these cheap instruments *might* have problems that are not always possible to tell imediately (I think Gordon showed a good example of this recently on SOTW). From the better brands you know (as much you can really know) that you won't have those mysterious problems.
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Author: mcpilot
Date: 2007-10-09 15:43
Your words are well taken.
My point is that just becasue an instrument is inexpensive because it it made in China, that doesn't always make it bad.
I am the last person to defend the China and it's trade practices...
The Chinese are in the position of having a skilled labor force that works for cheap....
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