 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: superson
Date: 2009-10-12 21:13
hi, i have been playing the clarinet for about 5 years and for four and 1/2 of these i have been playing on a cheap beginners non-branded (or it might as well be, ever heard of 'musical design in U.S.A')one i got on ebay. It was actually a good clarinet, had a nice sound, it played well and suited its purpose, but now as it's broken for the 4th time in as many months i've decided it's time for an upgrade. I want a clarinet thats a 'proper' branded intermediate one but don't know where to start.
can i get one cheap? (i'm on a really tight budget)
if not is there a cheaper brand just as good?
can you get a plastic intermediate clarinet? (i'm scared of wood cracking)
are those pretty red and blue ones on ebay good, i know i'm being hopeful but they look so pretty.
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-10-13 01:28
Besides Ridenour...a good suggestion, from what I've heard and read...you might consider a used Yamaha Ycl 250. It's plastic, but it's a great student clarinet, sounds great and plays in tune. It has excellent key work and take wear and tear with aplomb.
Retail, the 250 is more than $800. Great used ones can be had for less.
Having tried the Buffet B12 and various Vitos (some of which are quite good) and some of the newer Selmer instruments, I'd stick with Yamaha.
Others on this board have recommended the LeBlanc "Bliss" model. It's a bit more money but it gets high marks, from what I've read here.
But as Jeff said, do check out Ridenour.
Post Edited (2009-10-13 02:02)
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Author: Steve L
Date: 2009-10-13 12:06
Dont know what your budget is but have a look at Hanson clarinets.
http://www.hansonclarinets.com
I ordered their 'SE' model which is made of ebonite (hard rubber) and much prefer it to my old Buffet B12. It feels very well made. Their prices start at £209 for a student model. The 'SE' was £489.
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Author: superson
Date: 2009-10-13 17:42
thanks steve l, weberfan and jjalbrecht, i've looked at the hanson and ridenour models and they look quite good and might consider buying one, i think i've played my friends yamaha 250 before though which didn't agree with me. but i might try it again anyway. by the way what are student clarinets? are they like beginner ones, or ones for people going through the grades.
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Author: Ryan K
Date: 2009-10-13 18:21
I'll second they Yamaha 250 recomendation. Even if it doesn't fit with you (it might grow on you), they're built like a tanks. I punished mine through a season of marching band (competitive marching band mind you), and it didn't need but a small adjustment afterward.
This was after I used a Buffet B-12 for four years, and the pads look like they calcified. <_< Still plays, barely.
Ryan Karr
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-10-13 19:19
superson,
You asked, "What are student clarinets?" Well, in a way, it's whatever a clarinet student happens to be playing, even if it's a $3,000 R13.
Student clarinets are generally the least expensive models, usually made of a plastic (Resonite) material and range from the flimsy, fly-by-night "no-name" brands to those made by Buffet, Selmer, Yamaha and LeBlanc (Vito). Least expensive, however, does not necessarily mean cheap..ie, poorly built.
To sell more clarinets at higher prices, these companies also market so-called intermediate instruments made, usually, of grenadilla wood; i.e., the Buffet E-11, the Yamaha 450, and various Selmer/LeBlanc models. And so on and so on, up the price scale.
If you felt comfortable on a Yamaha 250 and you know how to play, you can make it sound almost as good as something costing four times the price. For advancing students, my teacher sometimes recommends a new barrel (Moennig, for example), which, with the right mouthpiece and the right reed, can really make difference on a 250.
Post Edited (2009-10-13 19:59)
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Author: Molloy
Date: 2009-10-14 13:08
My $70 Penzel-Mueller Artist is one of the best clarinets I've ever played. If your budget is really tight, you should go vintage.
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Author: Eddydavik
Date: 2009-10-14 13:34
The Selmer USA models are decent intermediate clarinets.. I played on a CL200 ($500.00 retail 13 years ago) through high school and most of college. It did me well.
Edward Escobar
Suita City Wind Ensemble
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Author: lrooff
Date: 2009-10-14 14:18
You asked about those bright colored clarinets sold on eBay... Don't even think about wasting money on one. They are so badly constructed that most don't play well, can't be made to play well, and are a disaster from the get-go. Most instrument repairmen won't even try to work on them, as the keys are die cast from white metal and break easily. I know the ads say "director approved" or "teacher approved", but the fact is, you'll search hard and long to find a director or teacher who approves of one of those monstrosities. Many of the ads are equally deceptive when it comes to shipping -- they'll have a hidden shipping charge of $100-$150 for a horn that wholesales at about ten dollars when the actual cost of shipping it from China is about $15.
If you want a colored clarinet, search for a Vito Dazzler. They're made in a half-dozen colors and, while not a high-end instrument, are still a LeBlanc and will play decently.
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Author: superson
Date: 2009-10-14 18:05
hey, thanks everyone so far, what do you think of a hanson HE3V, theres one online quite cheap and it looks in good condition. also i was looking at some vintage clarinets- thanks molloy- and am wondering what the deal is with metal clarinets, (i found a very nice 1930s pedler silver one) do they play as good as they look, i've heard very varied comments about them, a particular one being that they are only good as lamps.
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