 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: aerostyc
Date: 2011-03-05 02:44
I've been looking recently for intermediate level clarinets that is compatible with both marching AND concert seasons.
As I've been hunting, I found this brand I've never heard of, and it's called LJ Hutchen.
I have a slight budget of 300$, and this goes for only 220$, and with 30 reviews from amazon, it seems pretty above average for a plastic clarinet.
So my question is, has anyone ever used LJ Hutchen's, and do you think I should get it? I'm not looking forward to a Buffet, or anything fancy, but something suitable for the 1st chair person (xD) If you disagree, please cite a clarinet of better standards for a similar price.
And with the leftover money, what should I buy else that will help improve the clarinet tone/intonation?
(Long Story Short: Just had a Pre-Festival Concert, and coming from the judge, the main comment that was directed towards probably me, was Intonation, as my current clarinet is very unstable, and it's either flat, or sharp anyday.
If you're interested, the clarinet was a 100$ cheap alternate to a rental one, and I ignorantly went through the whole marching season with it, without proving that it was actually a wooden clarinet (It had a plastic shell on the inside.. so I was doubting it was a wooden one. Brand was Noteworthy)
Thanks!
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Author: Bobby McClellan
Date: 2011-03-05 03:01
In the 300.00 range you can find used Yamaha, Normandy, Noblet and a few other tried and true clarinets.
Bobby M. McClellan
Flowood, MS
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Author: concertmaster3
Date: 2011-03-05 03:34
Just for reference, You're going to want a different clarinet for the marching and concert seasons. Marching band is usually detrimental to any instrument, and out on the field, intonation isn't AS important as it is on the stage. You might want to keep your current clarinet for marching band and buy a decent clarinet for the concert season.
Also , every instrument is going to be sharp or flat on anyday, and as much as we'd wish for one to be...no instrument is perfect! Look into the brands that Bobby has lined up, and some others here might have some great options as well.
I'm sure David Sp(I'm not even going to try it without looking...lol) will have a good suggestion as well.
Ron Ford
Woodwind Specialist
Performer/Teacher/Arranger
http://www.RonFordMusic.com
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Author: markcr
Date: 2011-03-05 04:58
Hi, I actually own the LJ Hutchen Bb clarinet and I really like it. Like you, I was looking for an inexpensive instrument. I paid 220 on Amazon for it. The very first thing I did was buy a Clark Forbes "Debut" mouthpiece for 30 dollars and although I'm just a beginner, I'm comfortably playing on it using Rico Royal #3 reeds. I don't have anything to compare it to but the quality, fit and finish were all very good. I use a digital tuner while I play and the intonation is very good. It is made here in America and is not a low quality Chinese instrument. I was very happy with my purchase. Replace the mouthpiece, though.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2011-03-05 12:19
I've just been looking at the LJ Hutchen clarinet site. Despite what the OP has stated, I do not believe this instrument is US-made. If you read carefully on both the Hutchen site and the Amazon listing, it says the CASE is US-made. It does not say where the instrument is made -- which is an interesting omission.
This doesn't mean it's not a good clarinet. It may well be. And just because it is made overseas doesn't mean it has to be bad. But I would lay you odds this is Chinese, even if it is a decent instrument.
Susan
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Author: markcr
Date: 2011-03-05 14:14
Yes, it looks like Susan is correct in that there is no way to know exactly where this instrument is made. I re-read the Amazon listing and found that indeed it is the case that is made in the US. However, it was the many favorable reviews that made me decided to purchase it. At any rate, I'm very happy with mine and it comes with a 2 year warranty.
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Author: jvaruzzo
Date: 2011-03-07 16:19
My name is Justin Varuzzo and I work for LJ Hutchen Corp and Hyson Music.
The LJ Hutchen line of instruments are Made in China, as is all Yamaha student models, and most student Conn-Selmer models (with a few exceptions).
Unfortunately, the Amazon template available to create listings is very limited (anyone who has sold on their platform would surely agree). One of the biggest issues with better imports are the horrible cases.
Our clarinet case is the same USA case that was used by Artley for over a decade, and it costs only marginally more than the Chinese counterparts that simply do not hold up over time. The same goes for our flutes cases (same case Armstrong used for many years with their flutes). For this reason we opt to promote the case as a huge competitive advantage.
To answer the original question, you started by saying you were looking for an intermediate model instrument. The LJ Hutchen is a student instrument designed for beginners to get them through their first few years of band at an affordable price point. We provide a level of service (from LJ Hutchen to professional Yamaha's and beyond) above most others when it comes to warranty, return policies, etc.
On the other hand, I wouldn't recommend a wood clarinet for use outdoors in a marching band environment. You may be best off with a good used Yamaha YCL-250 (or older YCL-20). Yamaha simply is the best in terms of quality and resale value in the long haul, but also tend to be the most expensive.
That service and our relentless pursuit of quality control is what I believe makes the biggest difference in LJ Hutchen satisfaction over many other imported brands. Yamaha does a terrific job out of the factory on their instruments, as does USA Conn-Selmer (Selmer 1401, and their Vito USA model), and sometimes Buffet.
We offer a full selection of Yamaha, Conn-Selmer, Buffet, and LJ Hutchen both used and new. You can feel free to call me directly at 516.433.1107 ext. 106 if you have any questions regarding the LJ Hutchen instruments, or anything else for that matter.
Goodluck on your search - if you opt to purchase a used instrument elsewhere, ensure there is reasonable return window and a warranty. We have a liberal 30-day policy (not strict), as well as a 1-5 year warranty on all of our used instruments.
Thanks,
Justin Varuzzo
Vice President
Hyson Music, INC
516.433.1107
www.hysonmusic.com
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