 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: DanDannyDk
Date: 2010-09-05 05:00
Edit:
After reading all these detailed replies (which i am very grateful for), I've decided to take offers from others instead of buying a brand new one.
I'd prefer an e11 or an r13 (under $1k), however other intermediate-pro clarinets will also be considered.
Please e-mail be at dan-kim@hotmail.com if you are interested in selling!
Once again, thank you to everyone who posted up their valuable suggestions.
End of Edit.
Hello!
I'm currently a high school student enrolled in band.
About six years ago, my mom bought me a used plastic b12 buffet.
Now (six years later..), the padding is torn, the cork is shrunken, and some of the keys are bent. I've gotten numerous recommendations to get a brand new clarinet, but my mom never really supported my interest in music.
Thus, she isn't willing to buy any expensive clarinets ($1000+?).
So recently I went to Sam Ash to find an affordable clarinet. I was actually hoping to get an e11 intermediate one, however it was a little bit above 1k.
Instead they showed me a "custom professional clarinet" that was on a 56% sale O_O. The original price was $1900, but it was lowered $850. It was the last one, so i currently have it reserved.
Now, I've never heard of this custom clarinet and would appreciate some opinions (and descriptions xD) about its features and etc.
Also, how does this clarinet compare with the e11 and is the price worth it?
Sorry for the long post, and thanks for any help in advance!
Post Edited (2010-09-07 21:06)
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Author: Franklin Liao
Date: 2010-09-05 05:03
What can you tell us about this custom professional clarinet? That is a very loaded term in itself... almost too vague to go on. Is it on a catalogue somewhere? Do you have any photo?
What I can say about E11 comparing to B12 is that given the state of your current B12, the E11 will make you very delighted to play. I must say however that the competition for E11 price instruments is now rather fierce, with numerous interesting offerings contending for your dough. If you are open to choosing other clarinets, at the price tag of a grand, there are quite a few horns to consider.
Thomas Ridenour's Lyrique clarinet is a professional hand-tuned product despite it being made out of the same material that the B12 is made of. This horn you can nab for under a grand.
Leblanc has the Bliss line of clarinets that compete very well against E11. It is an instrument that's designed by Morrie Backun with Julian Bliss the star player. It's quite the instrument.
Luis Rossi's Andino is actually a horn to keep an eye on, as well as Jupiter's top offering... Parisienne I think? For that much money, the choice is really wide open.
For those that dab in second hand instruments, recently a great Marigaux RS Symphonie went for $1050...
Post Edited (2010-09-05 05:17)
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2010-09-05 06:12
I've seen some used Buffet R13 horns go for under a grand on ebay. I'm sure you can get some sort of trial and return it if you don't like it. Just protect yourself by using ebay.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-09-05 06:18
Just go get the B12 fixed. Even if you go to the most expensive repair person in NY it can't cost more than $600 to be overhauled.
In NJ, you will probably pay about $2-300.
"New clarinets" are not all that they are cracked up to be. Many people that buy a new clarinet take it straight to their favorite repair person to have a few hours of work put into it to get it playing well.
As mentioned in another thread, you should take you clarinet in to be checked for repairs about once per year.
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Author: DanDannyDk
Date: 2010-09-05 16:26
ebay isn't really an option for me since my mom absolutely hates using her credit card online :/
She's one of the those "old fashioned" people.
The most expensive thing she'll buy on the internet is books.
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Author: DanDannyDk
Date: 2010-09-05 16:28
even if the repair cost was $200, it would still be more expensive than the clarinet itself since i bought it for about $100.
The keys were already bent when i first got it...
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Author: DanDannyDk
Date: 2010-09-05 16:31
The person at the store couldn't give much detail on the Special Clarinet itself, but according to another post...
" Basically it is an E13 body with R13 barrel and bell. It also has the left pinky Eb lever and an adjustable thumb rest."
Also, i'd personally prefer a buffet clarinet, since i've tried several of my friends' buffets and they sound wonderful.
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2010-09-05 16:38
If your really looking to get a new instrument instead of repair yours and you mom doesn't like using her credit card online, Go into any store and get one of the Visa gift cards. works just like a credit card without any fear of them stealing from you. It would cost like an extra 3 or 4 dollars though for the fee.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2010-09-05 19:29
The sam Ash Custom is pretty much an E-11 rebranded (could be also the International) with their name.
They are pretty good instruments and made of wood - I'm not into the hard rubber clarinet concept no matter how well it may play in tune.
That's a good price for that instrument!
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: skygardener
Date: 2010-09-05 21:06
Have you thought about the Bliss clarinet?
They seem to have very consistent reviews and are within your budget.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2010-09-06 01:47
Within your budget, check www.clarinuts.com. A sponsor of this board, and they have pretty fair prices on some pretty decent clarinets. I'm sure if you gave them a call and asked what their recommendation was from what they have in stock, you can at least ask your parental unit and discuss it with her.
Are you going to be using this clarinet outdoors in marching band as well? If so, that B12 is a GREAT choice. Hardy enough for those outdoor marching band gigs (we all know that they don't get canceled on weather, and you don't want to subject a wooden clarinet to those elements if you don't have to). Or another sponsor of this board "Doctor's Products" has something called a Forte clarinet. I've never played it, so I can't comment on that particular product, but people on this board that have played it say favorable things about it. And I HAVE tried other products of his, and EVERY one of those products I've loved and continue to use even YEARS after first trying it.
On the wooden side, E11 would be good, Leblanc bliss has some favorable reviews (especially the wooden model), although that's at the TOP of your budget, I've played a few Buffet Master Models and Evette and Schaefers and they've all been pretty good.
You definitely have more options than the "custom professional clarinet". And I would hesitate to go to Sam Ash for any of them. I would rather trust a mail-order company than Sam Ash, as the stores are VERY heavy towards rhythm section instruments, and so I wouldn't be sure if I can trust them (not that I'd completely trust a clarinet salesman to begin with, but even less so if they don't play clarinet, which it's pretty easy to tell most Sam Ash/Guitar Center employees don't)
Alexi
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-09-06 15:00
You might want to investigate some of the clarinets listed on this site in the Classified section. THe nuce thing about shopping this way, is that you find good instruments at reasonable prices, and manty are offered by regular users of this BB, which means you know the seller a little better than buying one from a total stranger.
Example, SFAlexi is =selling a very nice Lyrique,and you can get it for less than the price of a new E11. The intonation would most likely be better than most new instruments you could buy, and you could get it fro the fraction of the price.
Disclaimers: I have no interest in Alexi's instrument or its sale. I do have experiences with Lyriques, and they are quite decent horns. Just trying to help out a student in need. :
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."
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-09-06 17:51
From what I have been able to find (and I think you have already seen the same info I have, Dan[iel?]), the "special" you are looking at was produced (assembled) by Buffet, especially for Sam Ash. I doubt Buffet designed and tooled a new instrument for this order. That would have been too costly. I expect they simply assembled the clarinets from stock parts and put a special logo on them. Since the clarinets are not standard Buffet models, Ash would not be subject to Buffet's normal pricing restrictions.
One source you found says the instrument is an E13 body with an R13 barrel and bell. David Blumberg, who is generally pretty knowledgeable about these things, says he thinks it is a rebranded E11. There is a fairly easy way to tell which is likely. Look at the joints and see if they say they were made in Germany or France. When Buffet put these instruments together, E11s were still being made in Germany and E13s were being made in France. The country of origin should tell you what you have.
Regardless of which it is, the bottom line is that Ash is liquidating the model at an attractive price (if it's essentially an E11) or a very attractive price (if it's essentially an E13). If the instrument is mechanically sound, reasonably in tune and plays well for you, I think it would be an opportunity to get a lot more clarinet than you normally can for the money. But, considering the type of operation Sam Ash is (primarily a guitar and drum store), I think you should evaluate the instrument very carefully before you buy it. If you have a teacher, I would highly recommend you have her/him try it out and give you an opinion. Remember, it's the last one they have. That doesn't mean it necessarily has anything wrong with it but you want to check carefully.
If that instrument doesn't work out, you might still be able to find an E11 under $1,000. Try calling the Woodwind and Brasswind, Weiner Music, and Kessler Music (you can get phone numbers from their websites) and asking for their best price. It often will be lower than the price advertised on the website. Or it may not, but it won't take much time to find out.
I'm afraid I have to disagree with Alexi about Clarinuts. While I have never dealt with them personally, I can't recommend them because of their inventory. While they may very well be good people to deal with, I wouldn't touch most of the clarinets they have on their site at any price (Armstrong, Artley, Normandy -- and almost everything they have is really old and who knows where it's been). Furthermore, I don't consider their prices good at all especially since the person doing their re-mastering, is a self-described hobbyist, not an experienced professional repair tech.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: crsbryan
Date: 2010-09-06 20:09
Some interesting information, criticism, and speculation here. I'll add mine.
Sam Ash, in their current state, is very guitar and drum-centered. Their physical stores, especially the older ones in NY and NJ are a bit more traditional. They do like to hire wind players to staff the wind room. And, half a lifetime ago, when I went there once a month to poke around and play instruments I couldn't afford on my own, they were more than happy to let me try any instrument in the room. The advice I was given was solid. I hope they are still that way.
As far as the origin of the Sam Ash clarinet by Buffet, I expect it to be an E11 stenciled with Sam Ash, and a left-hand Eb/Ab key. It could be something more, but I remember these being priced better than the E11, and I don't think it would be possible to do that with something that normally starts much higher than the E11. The model probably ended with the end of other Buffet production at Schreiber.
In NJ, and don't want to buy on-line? Make a trip to Dillon Music, or USA Horn. Shopping in NY? I'm not as familiar with those stores, but there are a number to choose from. Definitely look at used instruments. Check with teachers and technicians in your area, and see if they have anything for sale, or know anyone who does. And, play them. You can find some vintage Bundy that play fantastic, and you can find some lousy R13. If you buy from a technician, they will have it tweaked and playing better than new.
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Author: DanDannyDk
Date: 2010-09-07 20:46
Yes, as a student of Wind Symphony, i'm actually FORCED to take marching band. However, i will continue to use my plastic one for that
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