 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Eb
Date: 2001-01-23 21:19
My daughter needs/wants a new clarinet, and I'm thinking about getting her a wooden one.. Any suggestions about the best kind? Any help would be much appreciated!!!
Eb
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-01-23 21:28
What does she have now, what level is she playing, and how much do you want to spend?
Buffet, Leblanc, Selmer, and Yamaha are the one's to focus on.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-01-23 21:29
There is a ton of information on the bb about this topic, so you might want to do a search or scroll back through a couple of months postings.
In short, it's like this . . .
Aside from specialty handmade models, there are 4 recognized quality producers: Buffet, Selmer, LeBlanc, and Yamaha. All make very good horns. They also make some decent beginner horns that are not what you seem to want.
Now, a few questions that you need to consider:
What level player is your daughter?
What are her future music plans?
What's your budget like?
Do you want to buy new or used?
Were you thinking intermediate level or pro level horn?
By filling in a few of these gaps, you can begin to more clearly understand your options.
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Author: Eb
Date: 2001-01-23 21:49
Well... My daughter is:
level: in 9th grade right now, playing level 5 music
future music plans: through highschool, and possibly in college
budget: doesn't matter, though below 1,300 would be great.
new or used: new
level horn: intermediate
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-01-23 21:56
I was in exactly the same boat a couple months ago. I ended up getting the Buffet International, which apparently is right below the E-13 (which my music shop couldnt get for me :( ). It plays awesome for me. one of my friends also has one that she got about a year ago, she sounds really good on it too. I got it for a tiny bit over $1000, after tax. Also tried the Yamaha 52, but didnt like it as well (sounded a lot brighter than the Buffet), but she might. that one's worth a go too. They gave me a Selmer Omega to try too, and I put that back in the case after about 5 minutes. They couldnt pay me to play that horn
Her teacher will probably have some ideas, talk to him/her. Good luck
*ashley*
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-01-23 22:11
Author: Ashley wrote:
They gave me a Selmer Omega to try too, and I put that back in the case after about 5 minutes. They couldnt pay me to play that horn
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Tom Ridenour had very good things to say about the Selmer Paris Omega. I think he said to make sure it was the Paris Omega, and not the USA Omega. I also read, that the Selmer Prologue II is the same as the Paris Omega. I tried a Prologue II a couple of weeks ago, and it seemed decent, but its and individual thing.
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Author: Eb
Date: 2001-01-23 22:16
Which would u recommend:
a E-11
or E-12?
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Author: jerry
Date: 2001-01-23 22:50
No one asked if she is playing indoors or outside - or maybe I missed it.
~ jerry
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-01-23 23:04
If she's playing outdoors, perhaps she should also keep her B12 for marching band.
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Author: Eb
Date: 2001-01-24 00:54
This clarinet would mainly be used for the indoors... as she WILL be keeping her B12 for marching band.
Thanks for all the help so far!
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2001-01-24 02:09
These are all good suggestions, but rather then just deciding on a specific brand and model from what people have been suggesting, why not let your daughter try a bunch of different models for herself and see which she prefer. For example if you decide after reading these posts that you will get her an E-12.....but you never know, personally she might prefer an E11 or E13.
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Author: Roger
Date: 2001-01-24 12:05
You could buy a used R-13 (a profession grade instrument) and if necessary have it overhauled. That could still cost less than 1300. When buying any instrument I would suggest that you have a professional (like a clarinet teacher) evaluate it if possible. Clarinets (indeed all musical instruments) are not like cookies out a a box. Each has its own charactistics. One E-12 might be better that another or it is theoretically possible that a good E-12 could be better than a poor R-13.
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Author: kaosangel
Date: 2001-01-24 21:04
Last time I checked with Ira, he was selling an R13 for 575 but it needed an overhaul. He's reasonable, and reputable. If you want his email addy, email me.
kaosAngel
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Author: Eb
Date: 2001-01-24 21:05
Thanks for all of the info... it is greatly appreciated
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-01-24 23:33
Do try horns from all four of the major makers. What suits one player doesn't necessarily suit another. I happen to be partial to Leblanc clarinets. The Noblet 40 and Noblet 45 are very nice intermediate instruments. The Sonata is also reputed to be very good and is around $1000 new from the major dealers like International Music or the Woodwind & Brasswind.
With used horns get an experienced player or technician to evaluate them for condition before purchasing.
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Author: Tracey
Date: 2001-01-25 04:51
Hi,
Sorry, this is a little off topic, but I have been wondering this for a while. How can you tell if your used R13 is of good quality or not? I mean, I know, obviously, if you like it. However, I have not played on very many clarinets, and certainly not any besides the one I have now that is on the professional level. I've been wondering for a long time if I've been "jypped" or anything. I mean, if I don't have experience playing on pro quality instruments, how can I know if it is good or not? It seems good to me. But, what if, really, it's on the lower end and there are a lot of better R13s out there? I didn't really have a choice when I was buying it, as my teacher got it for a pretty good deal. Anyway, if you could give any advice, I would really really appreciate it!
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Author: Eilidh
Date: 2001-01-25 09:00
Im not sure but it sounds like I'm at the same level as your daughter.I don't understand the American systam, being Scottish, but it sounds like I'm at a similar level.I'm 17,playing grade 8 music, and this time last year I bought a Buffet E13. I would strongly recommend it for your daughter - it's a good quality instrument for a pretty decent price. I'm certainly very attached to my Bb!!!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-01-25 10:54
Eilidh wrote:
>
> Im not sure but it sounds like I'm at the same level as
> your daughter.I don't understand the American systam, being
> Scottish, but it sounds like I'm at a similar level.I'm
> 17,playing grade 8 music, and this time last year I bought a
> Buffet E13. I would strongly recommend it for your daughter -
> it's a good quality instrument for a pretty decent price. I'm
> certainly very attached to my Bb!!!
The original poster is not referring to music grades but academic grades. The daughter is in the 9th academic grade at school (this would make her approximately 14 years old). Thus she will graduate from high school in 3 1/2 years.
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Author: Aussie Nick
Date: 2001-01-26 01:06
Tracey, when selecting a new clarinet there's a few things you should look for. I'm not the best person at selecting the right one, but when I buy something I always test a bunch of instruments (usually about 4 or 5 of the same model ) and when I think I have found the one I like best, I take it and another 2 or 3 to my teacher and he gives me his opinion...and his opinion is usually the same as mine. Anyway, either use your ear or a good quality tuner and test all registers of the instrument to be certain there are no out of tune notes etc... If you get the chance, I like to borrow the instrument and take it to a band or orchestra rehersal and see how well I can tune with the rest of the ensemble. Also, listen for which instrument gives you the best tone, try to avoid the ones with alot (or any) fuzzy notes. All clarinets have sort of fuzzy throat notes but certain instruments (as well as embouchure and mouthpiece setup etc) play the throat notes better. Look at the wood and hopefully you will find nice straight grains. Also, decide which instrument feels the easiest to hold and also which is the most comfortable to play. There might be other things that people look for, Im not sure. But this is basically what I try and do when searching for a new clarinet. Also, if you like a certain clarinet, but there is a little small something wrong with it, you'll often find the a good technician can adjust it so that its perfect for you. I hope this makes sense to you.
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Author: Eilidh
Date: 2001-01-26 11:16
Well,I think Dees message established that I REALLY don't understand the American system!!!Anyway, I would still recommend the E13.
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Author: Stacy
Date: 2001-01-26 13:37
Recently I was in the same situation as your daughter. I very badly needed a new clarinet. I was told by my teacher to get an R13 or, if I could not find that, and E12 or E13. I couldn't find and R13 or an E13 so I went with the E12. I could not be happier with it. From what I have looked up, I have found that it is supposed to be an intermediate clarinet with a professional sound. Of course just because it works for me it doesn't mean it will work for your daughter. I would suggest she try out the E11,E12, or E13 and see for herself whether or not she likes it. If she likes it, I would get. Like I said I am very well pleased with mine.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-01-26 21:39
Eilidh wrote:
>
> Well,I think Dees message established that I REALLY don't
> understand the American system!!!Anyway, I would still
> recommend the E13.
Well it's just what we call the classes that all children attend. At age 5, a child usually begins school. Most systems start them in a class called Kindergarten. Then each year (if the child does acceptable work), they advance a grade. The grades are named 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, and so on through 12th Grade (we also have descriptive names but I'll skip that for now). Upon successful completion of 12th grade, a student may then go on and attend a college or university.
These are just regular school classes and have nothing to do with music. How do you describe your schools? How do you describe what year in school your child is?
In the US, we have no national, standardized system for ranking a student's musical study level such as exists in the UK.
So when we say our child is in the 9th grade, we are just talking about regular school classes not music achievement levels.
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