 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Grandpa
Date: 2011-03-16 16:30
I have several grandchildren that are interested in starting Bb clarinet next school year. Their ages will be 9 and 11 so I am not thinking anything made of wood as boys of this age are not as careful as one would like with an instrument. From my research so far I am thinking of the Leblanc Vito 7214, Buffet Crampon B12, Boosey & Hawkes Series 1-10 (Regent) because these seem to have good intonation. Do you have other recommendations besides these three manufacturers? What are good years and country of manufacture if there is a difference with a given clarinet brand? I have been looking on ebay for anything I can get for $100 or less. I can do pads, cork and a bit of bending if needed to refurbish.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-03-16 21:23
You may add the good old Bundy to the list - that million-seller goes for a dime a dozen these days, but it's sturdy and easy to keep in regulation, and tone and intonation are pretty decent, and replacement parts are easy to come by.
Whatever you do - be sure to buy a decent mouthpiece; I'd recommend a Fobes Debut, and an easy-to-operate ligature such as a Rovner.
Stock mouthpieces that come with clarinets aren't always the best choice for a beginner.
--
Ben
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2011-03-16 23:54
The Buffet B12 is a very decent student instrument both musically and mechanically. The Yamaha 26 is also pretty good (at least the ones made in Japan that we get here in the UK are).
Sadly I am not a fan of most US made student clarinets.
I agree with post above - the mouthpiece is even more important than the clarinet - here I prefer the Yamaha (4C/5C/6C) to the Buffet mouthpieces.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2011-03-17 03:07
I own a Vito 7214 and can recommend them with some reservation; they can be very nice players with a good regulation and a decent mouthpiece. The main "gotcha" with the 7214 is that many mouthpieces do not play in tune on this model. I haven't tried the Fobes Debut with the 7214 but find the Ridenour Encore to work very well with this model. They're sold for around $30.
Note that the Vito clarinets were also sold under LeBlanc's Normandy (as the Reso-Tone) and Holton brands (these have a white Holton/LeBlanc bell-in-circle logo). The Holton clarinets seem to have been forgotten about by today's educators and musicians, so they can often be purchased very cheaply.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2011-03-17 07:50
If you can find one in good condition I'd also consider the Buescher Aristocrat. It was basically the same as the Bundy 1400 and they can often be found for quite attractive prices. I had one which performed very well with a Yamaha 4c mouthpiece.
Tony F.
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Author: BassClarinetBaby
Date: 2011-03-17 12:06
I played a Buffet B12 for the first 8 years of my musical life. It took me all the way from 10 years old to the end of high school. It is only now that I am planning on studying music at university that I have upgraded to a Buffet R13. The B12 was light in my young hands but still produced a great tone. The B12 will grow with your grandchild for a long time and I strongly suggest this one. Or if possible, you could get them to test each clarinet to pick the one that works for them?
Never Bb, sometimes B#, and always B natural! ♫♪
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-03-17 21:04
The mouthpiece is an issue that should be addressed. During this week I have been switching between the Yamaha 4c and the Hite Premiere. I normally use the Hite Premiere but had got it into my mind that I should switch back back to the mouthpiece that came with the instrument. The Yamaha 4C does play better in the higher register, I think, but the Hite Premiere is more free flowing for me, and I get a better tone from it, so I quickly moved back.
My vote for a beginner's mouthpiece is the Hite Premiere.
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Author: CocoboloKid
Date: 2011-03-17 21:08
I can't imagine why that would have gotten in your head, as conventional wisdom is that you should NEVER use the mouthpiece that comes with your clarinet. (Unless perhaps it's a Leblanc/Backun Cadenza or Bliss, both of which come with the Cadenza mouthpiece, which is actually quite good!)
I would concur that the Premiere is an excellent mouthpiece for just about any beginner.
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-03-17 21:41
I would have thought that conventional wisdom comes about because the unconventional is tried and either rejected or accepted and, if accepted, becomes conventional. And it shouldn't be such a stretch to think that the mouthpiece that comes with a Yamaha professional level instrument could be an adequate piece of equipment.
I don't think that the Yamaha 4C is a bad mouthpiece. I just think the Hite Premiere is a better one (for me).
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