 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Sgt Bruce
Date: 2009-06-08 19:29
Please allow me to explain my ordeal.
I am trying to find a Bb for my wife as she wants to pick up the instrument again. I have no idea what she needs and to give an example, I found an end cap Target clarinet and thought I was doing a good thing.
After she looked at me as if I was a puppy that just made a mess I promptly retreated back to what I know.
Now with that explained, I can only Google so far (which is how I found this board). I still want to find her a good, intermediate Bb, but I have no idea what to look for. Ive found a refurb seller, which I wont mention as to see if the site is brought back up.
I'd really appreciate any advice that I could use to make an informed decision.
Thx in advance
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-06-08 19:37
1. How well does your wife play? How much previous experience has she had?
2. How much do you plan to spend...or how much are you willing to spend?
3. What kind of clarinet does SHE want? Did she specificy intermediate? Some on this bulletin board would argue, justifiably, that she'd be better off with a really good Yamaha or Buffet student/plastic instrument or a good used Buffet R13. If she played before, wouldn't she be better off searching on her own?
4. Whatever you end up with, in whatever price range, you are probably safer sticking with the four main brands: Selmer, LeBlanc, Yamaha and Buffet. Each company sells new clarinets ranging in price from mid-$600 to about $3,000 for the basic, so-called professional clarinets.
5. Auction sites are counterindicated, unless you really know what you're doing. You can get stuck with a clunker.
Post Edited (2009-06-08 19:46)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sgt Bruce
Date: 2009-06-08 19:54
You're absolutely correct as far as her input...problem is I cant very well surprise her if she is the one picking it out.
She still plays on an infrequent basis, but I would expect with the right gear it would be more often.
I was hoping on a range of about $500.00-700.00. Thats why I was interested in a refurb. I'm hoping to find a wooden with a good tone, thats in relatively nice shape.
Its been a while but she sat 1st all the way through school and with the throw away can still hold her own...that thing just sounds bad.
Post Edited (2009-06-08 19:56)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-06-08 20:00
Do you live near a college with a music department? Instructors and students are good sources of good, used instruments. Or a large high school with an experienced band director?
This bulletin board also has classified ads offering instruments for sale.
Refurbished by whom and how well is always the question. For $700 you should be able to get a good used wood clarinet.
Others may also suggest you look into Ridenour clarinets. They are made of hard rubber and many here speak highly of them. The top model, new, is around $1,000. But they can be had for less.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2009-06-08 20:24
Dear Sgt Bruce,
If you peruse this board at any length you will see many of us argue endlessly over the merits of one ligature over another. I think that your wife would have built up some prejudices over the course of her studies and though your heart is in the right place, perhaps a $700 promise toward reeds or lessons of her choice may make a better plan.
The Ridenour is the best suggestion because you would still have to really know what you are doing to get a good used horn (like maybe find a sympathetic clarinet professor to act as a "buyer").
So just mentally prepare to have her get a new pro-horn ($2700-$4500) instead of having a down payment for a summer home and just let her use the "gift card."
................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sgt Bruce
Date: 2009-06-08 20:42
You're a wise man Paul...that is quite sound advice. To the the other responders, I'd just like to say thanks. I'm also a member of another board in regards to cameras...Im used to seeing the expert opines of the alphas of the photog world and figured on the same here.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-06-08 20:43
Hi, Sarge and we,come to the boadr!
Though many clarinetists will be unfamiliar witht he Ridenour instruments, they are qwuite a bargain for the price. The 576 BC is made to professional standards, but costs a fraction of the price of some of the better known brands. It is designed and individually finished by Tom Ridenour, who was the head clarinet designer for Leblanc for a number of years. The instrument is made of hard rubber, and that is a plus in my view, as it will notr crack, which is the bane of many wooden instruments. Weather is not the friend of a wooden clarinet! I bought one of the Ridenours just after Christmas last year, and it has bvecome my everyday instrument. I use it for concerts in all different venues, including outdoors in bad weather, which I never would have considered with my wooden Buffet R13.
If you shop carefully, you can find these new for about $850 when Tom has a sale on them. Even when noty on sale, they retail for less than $1000, and Tom has Interest-free financing right now. Here's the clarinet: http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/Bbclarpg.html
If that's a little rich for your blood, you can also check out his Lyrique 146, which has similar construction, but is made of ABS resin with a hard rubber barrel. That one is here: http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/146Bb.html
Tom is great to do business with, and he sincerely listens and cares about satisfying his customers.
If she wants a woody, you might try looking at Clarinuts.com which is a sponsor of the Bulletin Board here. Many folks recommend them, and they have refurbished, used horns for reasonable prices with trial periods and warranties. Here's what they have right now: http://www.clarinuts.com/clarinuts/pages/ClarinetItems.asp
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 (2009-06-08 20:44)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sgt Bruce
Date: 2009-06-08 20:51
Jeff, Thx...the clairnuts site was what I was hoping for in the referral dept. for the refurb/refinished recommendation.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2009-06-08 22:42
"You're absolutely correct as far as her input...problem is I cant very well surprise her if she is the one picking it out."
Personally, a clarinet (or any musical instrument) is not particularly something I'd want to be surprised with. If I have any experience on the instrument, and especially if I have more than the person buying it, it'll almost inevitably be a case of trying really hard to be appreciative, but at some level knowing that it's "not the right one". For me, I'd probably most appreciate if you bought any old thing in the appropriate price range, from a retailer with an extremely easy 100% return policy (not exchange, mind you, but return for full refund so I can shop elsewhere if need be). That way, you get both "Wow, a clarinet!" and "You can go pick out one that suits you best" at the same time.
That's how I was given my current cell phone. Unfortunately, I could give a crap about cell phones, and even though it's the worst model in the history of cell phones, I didn't care enough to exchange it for one that sucked less. So I've had it for a few years now, and I challenge anyone to produce a worse phone. If I had any interest in the devices at all, though, I would have taken the receipt (taped to the box, even!) and picked out a better one.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sgt Bruce
Date: 2009-06-09 11:42
you guys are all right and with common sense at the helm, Ive informed her of my intentions and admitted inability to read her mind. I sat back and thought how that unless I told her which exact model of camera or firearm there would be a similar issue If I were to receive one as a surprise gift. Those are mechanical/electrical devices designed to work at a specific tolerance, but even they have their own quirks. So I think when given the opportunity to check one out for herself I'd (we'd) be better off.
Again, appreciate all the input.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2009-06-09 18:15
"Clarinuts"?? I've searched and don't find such a sponsor. Using Jeff's link above I get "Music Masters". Does "Clarinuts" really exist?
Bob Draznik
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chorusgirl
Date: 2009-06-10 01:20
Hi -
I have to echo those that recommend the Lyrique by Tom Ridenour. We recently purchased one, and for the money, you cannot go wrong. It is not a wooden clarinet, but plays beautifully, and Tom is a pleasure to work with.
Good luck to you!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
