 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TPeterson
Date: 2009-12-16 02:53
I have a talented student with fairly limited resources. Her parents want to get the absolute best instrument they can for $1000 or less. Does anyone know of a good place online to look for and purchase older used professional model instruments? She has a decent student-model instrument now, and her parents would rather wait and get her a pro horn rather than an "intermediate" instrument. Thanks for the input!
Tim Peterson
Band Director & Clarinetist
Ionia, MI
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-12-16 13:13
I would second that. The Ridenoutr is an excelent quality instrument, and your student will never have to worry about it cracking.
Jeff
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Author: Dan Oberlin ★2017
Date: 2009-12-16 14:40
It's hard to imagine getting a used pro level Buffet, Selmer, Leblanc, or Yamaha
for $1000 that would be as well set up as a new Ridenour. And it's harder to imagine finding one that would play better in tune than the Ridenour.
D.O.
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2009-12-16 15:58
It's a bit of a crap shoot, and it helps that I do my own repairs and adjustments, but I have gotten a Selmer Centered Tone, Selmer Series 9, and Selmer Series 10 form that auction site. The worst one needed a couple of pads and a little swedging. The best one was a shop demo that got put in a back room and forgotten when the case got damaged. They are all in great condition and ranged in price from $350 to $700. The drawback is the time it takes to wait for the "right" instrument to come along at the right price. Right now, anything Buffet is going to go high just because of the name.
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Author: MartyMagnini
Date: 2009-12-16 18:58
I would recommend the Ridenour or one of the Leblanc Bliss models over anything used, unless it is being picked out by someone who really knows what to look for. I own a Ridenour Lyrique that I like very much, and have been very impressed with the Bliss clarinets I've tried. I would not hesitate to play on either of those horns in virtually any setting. I've also played some very very nice R13's, Yamahas and Selmers over the years, but I've also played on some dogs from those manufacturers. I now recommend the Ridenour Lyrique or the Leblanc Bliss to all of my students who are looking for step-up horns, but don't have $3000 - $4000 to spend.
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Author: TPeterson
Date: 2009-12-17 03:27
Thanks everyone for the ideas and comments. I have tried the Bliss clarinets and agree they do play well. Her parents aren't in the market right now, but they wanted info, so I gathered some! I hear the phrase "blown out" regarding clarinets, but I don't know what that means (and I've been playing for twenty years!) could someone enlighten me?
Tim Peterson
Band Director & Clarinetist
Ionia, MI
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Author: BobD
Date: 2009-12-18 13:02
"Blown out" means the owner really wants a new horn. Or it needs work and he'd rather get a new horn than fix the blown out one. Or his chops have gone south.
Bob Draznik
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-12-18 13:18
Few years ago I was having dinner with Pyne and Ricardo.
I asked if there was such a thing as blowout and Jim replied that if the top joint isn't completely dried when putting the clarinet away, the dimensions can change due to rot.
My own take is that the keys can get so badly out of regulation that it would take more $$$ than the instrument is worth to swedge and fix the looseness/damage.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: Molloy
Date: 2009-12-18 13:37
"It's hard to imagine getting a used pro level Buffet, Selmer, Leblanc, or Yamaha
for $1000 that would be as well set up as a new Ridenour. And it's harder to imagine finding one that would play better in tune than the Ridenour."
It surprises me that so many people buy new clarinets when the world is awash with old ones, many of them fantastic instruments.
I have no experience with Ridenour clarinets. I do have experience getting used pro-level Selmer and Leblanc clarinets for less than $500, sometimes *much* less than $500, then paying someone to set them up nicely, if necessary. Other than Buffets from the last 50 years, second-hand clarinets are usually bargains.
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Author: yearsofwisdom
Date: 2009-12-20 02:28
yeah my teacher, whom used to be a principal of a major symphony, now primarily a teacher, got me my instrument... i think its a selmer from the 40s, but oh my... no instrument made these days is gonna play like it...
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-12-20 12:53
Molloy,
My primary clarinet is a LeBlanc L200 from the 1980s, then a Selmer Series 9* with a major pinned crack (1970s), and then a $25 TR147. My total investment for all three including repairs is about $950. All play beautifully in tune and have nice action.
The L200 and Selmer 9* came from the auction site and the TR 147 came from a salvage company.
HRL
PS My saxes are pretty much all Selmer Mark VI and Super 80s with a Yamaha or two thrown in. One does not have to spend a lot of money but a terrific tech like Eric Satterlee at Meridian Winds makes it all work.
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