 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Joutsen
Date: 2009-01-27 08:37
Hi everybody,
What I'm going to ask has probably been asked more than once here, but I just didn't have time to look through all the posts and the search didn't help either...
I have been learning clarinet for a couple of years, on a Conn-Selmer Prelude student model, which is, well, not exactly the finest instrument, and now I want to buy a new and better one. My choices are as follows:
Yamaha YCl-650 (or 650E)
Yamaha YCl-CX
Buffet E10 (aka BC 2446-2-0)
Buffet E11 (aka BC 2501-2-0W)
Leblanc 1020 S (Sonata)
Leblanc 45 N (Noblet)
Leblanc 1040 S (Esprit)
I would be eternally grateful for any recommendations. As far as I know Buffet might be the best choice, and Leblanc is second-best.
And one more question. If I get it right, all the Buffets are made in France and all the Leblancs in USA? What about Yamaha? Do they manufacture these clarinets in Japan, or in China?
Many thanks in advance!
Similis Cvm Folio
De Qvo Lvdvnt Venti
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-01-27 10:56
The Buffet E10 and E11 are made in Germany by Schreiber - the E13 and upwards are made in France.
Although people can recommend certain makes and models, the final and deciding choice is really down to you. Play-test as many as is possible at the same time so you can make a direct comparison between them all. Then whittle down your choice even more by picking out the ones you like best and comparing them against each other. Then narow it right down to the two that play best for you and weigh up the differences between them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Iceland clarinet
Date: 2009-01-27 11:02
Well I would recommend Buffet E-13 rather than E-11 because the quality difference between them and R-13 is not too much but the price difference is. On the other hand the quality difference between E-11 and E-13 is much more but the price difference is not that much.
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Author: D
Date: 2009-01-27 15:50
Well given that they are all on a fairly level playing field you are left with:
-how does it feel and sound when YOU play it - the shape of your hands and what you are already used to will make some instruments feel better than others.
followed by
-are you going to upgrade in another few years in which case local resale and reputation and if you can get it second hand in good condition now need to be factored in.
Best instrument purchase I ever made was one where I had a budget and the shop got out loads of instruments in my price bracket but didn't tell me which was which. If you do this and one comes out on top then your laughing. If you do it and can't decide between two then buy the cheaper, still laughing.
Have fun choosing.
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Author: Joutsen
Date: 2009-01-28 03:12
Thanks to all the replies!
Of course I should play-test all the available models, but the trouble is you cannot find them all in a single shop out here in Moscow, Russia. However strange it may sound. Widely available are only J. Michael, Jupiter and Amati. I know only a single shop that sell Buffet and just two shops that sell Leblanc...
As for Buffet R13, I've heard plenty of good things about it, but the cheapest R13 I could found still costs as much as three E11!
For some reason I'm more inclined for Leblanc, but I will consider Buffet seriously too. What about Yamaha? I have encountered very controversial opinions about it. On the Yamaha site it is said that both YCl-650 and YCl-CX have a lot of hand-work applied during the manufacturing process... is it to their advantage?
Similis Cvm Folio
De Qvo Lvdvnt Venti
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