 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: siralex
Date: 2011-08-29 21:32
I am going to be a junior in high school this year and I would like to upgrade to a better clarinet.
Currently I play on the Yamaha ycl-20, a standard student model. I have liked it greatly; the keywork is good and the tone is fairly consistent (being a plastic instrument it isn't the most nice-sounding, but it's bearable).
At first, I went with all the advice and craze everybody had over buffets...I looked especially at the E11 and E13 (the R13 was out of my price range), but I found them overhyped. Though they cost over 1000 dollars in most cases, I found them to be inconsistent and not worth the money (I would have to upgrade eventually).
I have heard good things about the Yamaha ycl-650 on this board and from all the reviews people have rated it very highly. I have a couple questions regarding it:
Will it have the same quality I currently experience on my plastic yamaha (will it be easy to adjust to)?
Is it true that they are on par with the E11? I heard this from a buffet dealer (he only sells buffets), but from everything I have read that does not sound true. I've heard the yamaha ycl-650 to be closer to the E13 or even the R13.
Is it considered a professional model (or at least entry-level)? I didn't want an intermediate model because I didn't feel like it would take my far; but I also have to watch my buget (can't top $1600).
Are they consistent? I have been forced to buy online because no stores in my area carry this clarinet. I'm thinking about buying from Woodwind and Brasswind, they seem to have good service and a good returning policy. I just don't want to go through the hassle of returning.
This is my first post! It's been so stressful trying to figure out all this information by myself. Thanks in advance for the advice.
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Author: Tony M
Date: 2011-08-29 22:05
I can't answer all your questions but I can address a few concerns. I moved from a Vito (standard starter plastic clarinet) to a Yamaha YCL-62, which I think was the earlier version of the YCL-650. You are moving to the entry level of professional clarinets. I have been extremely pleased with the shift. I have no desire for any other, i.e., higher level, clarinet but I'm not a professional player. It is well built and lovely to play (although I replaced the standard mouthpiece with something more suited to me). The technician who services my instrument is also of the opinion that there is no reason to spend more or seek out out a brand with more prestige.
Are they consistent? They're clarinets so I don't think so.
Good luck.
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Author: CocoboloKid
Date: 2011-08-30 00:18
You should have absolutely no hesitation about playing a 650...it is indeed a professional model clarinet, and the dealer that told you it was equivalent to an E11 either genuinely knows nothing about anything but Buffet clarinets, or is just a weasel.
It is a beautiful instrument, impeccably finished with heavily silver-plated keys and gorgeous unstained wood, and the sound and intonation are first-rate. It projects beautifully, and would not be out of place in any professional ensemble.
It is Yamaha's answer to the R13, if any comparisons between the two must be made. I've played nearly 2 dozen of them, and I would have happily owned any of them.
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2011-08-30 01:01
A couple of clarinet students I had taught for a few years had the Yamaha 650, and it is an entry level pro model. They are all still playing them, and one of them will be doing a Grade 10 clarinet (Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto) on it in January. I personally almost bought the A clarinet version of the 650, but ended up with an instrument that initially cost less ($400 CDN less, which was 3 or 4 years ago), but took 3 or 4 adjustments to finally get it set up to the way I wanted it to play. I think they are way better than the Buffets, though I have and have had some students who like the E11 and related models better than the 650. I personally like the Yamahas much better than the Buffets, I find they have a more focussed sound, better tuning, and fit my fingers better than the Buffets, which is something to consider too. I also played a Yamaha plastic Eb for a show a number of years ago, and I was very pleased it it, though that was a rental.
Meri
Please check out my website at: http://donmillsmusicstudio.weebly.com and my blog at: http://clariniano.wordpress.com
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-08-30 04:44
Personally I like Yamaha's and if I were going to buy a new professional clarinet it would probably be a YCL-650 or a YCL-CSG. I would strongly recommend trying to find a dealer and play testing some instruments before buying however. I seem to recall from when I lived in Michigan a decade ago that Evola Music carries woodwinds despite being primarily focused on pianos. According to the Yamaha website they are listed as a Yamaha woodwind dealer so it might be worth calling a few of the local branches to see if they have anything in stock for you to try.
If you don't have luck with local dealers then I would suggest planning a road trip to the Woodwind Brasswind retail store in South Bend Indiana. It's a little over a 3hr drive from you (still do-able as a day trip) but you would be able to try several instruments from many different models and pick the one you liked best.
Another option would be to see what you can find on the used market. If you want to see what is available there I would recommend contacting Steve Sklar http://clarinetperfection.com/index.htm . He's fairly local to you and I have been very happy with the Selmer CT I bought from him last year.
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Author: siralex
Date: 2011-08-30 14:31
Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm trying to convince my parents to get me this clarinet if I pay for at least half of it.
I checked with Evola music; they carry woodwinds but they didn't carry many clarinets. I would have had to order (for a much higher price) and been placed in a binding rental contract, so I see it better to do it online.
Unfortunately, I can't make it to Indiana due to other circumstances (my dad works out of state).
But thanks for the link also. I'll see what he has.
Post Edited (2011-08-30 14:31)
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2011-08-30 14:37
Try Meridian Winds in Lansing - they might be helpful. Royal Music in Royal Oak might be worth a shot, too. Evola is a piano store ... and my piano didn't come from them, either.
PS - my wife works in the elementary schools in West Bloomfield /8^)
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2011-08-30 14:51
Yamaha's North American factory is in Grand Rapids. I'm not aware that they give tours or allow people to try out clarinets but you could try contacting them to make sure. Even if they won't let you try out clarinets there, there are a lot of music stores in Michigan listed as Yamaha dealers. It seems to me that getting some clarinets in to try might not be that difficult if you can find a cooperative dealer who would be reasonable on price. You'd have to do some homework though -- first on the Yamaha site to identify local dealers, then contacting dealers to see if you can find one to work with you.
It requires much less effort, of course, simply to order online but you run a greater risk of getting an instrument you don't like. But Yamaha has a long-standing good reputation for consistency in its instruments. Their annual production of professional clarinets is relatively low so perhaps they give each one more personal attention throughout the manufacturing process. So even though there is a risk, it may not be a large one.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2011-08-30 21:40
Sometimes, a store will allow you to try at a factory, but you have to BUY through a store. So what I've done is try out at a factory or distribution center, and then call a store to tell them that would like to purchase an instrument through them, but I've already picked it out. In that case, you pay the store, and after payment, the store tells the distribution center that it's paid for and you can take it home. Everyone wins.
As for the 650, I found them to be VERY good clarinets. I personally prefer other ones, but of the 650s I've tried, I'd consider them professional level instruments and worth the money.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2011-08-31 18:12
Unfortunately, Royal Music is now closed. Meridian Winds might be worth checking out, but I don't know if they stock Yamahas. I think Marshall Music and A&G Central are Yamaha dealers, but I don't know if they have 650s in stock.
There is another possible option, but it could be a bit more expensive--Windsor, Ontario. About six years ago, I was shopping around for a clarinet for my daughter. I ended up getting a good deal on a Buffet locally, but before I found it, I checked out other options. I called a few music stores in Windsor and found one that sold the 650 and had several in stock. Unfortunately, I don't remember the store's name.
Here's a link to nearby Yamaha dealers in Ontario:
http://yamaha-corporation.force.com/dealers/en_ca
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Author: siralex
Date: 2011-08-31 23:15
Thanks everyone for the advice again. I'll probably get the clarinet soon.
I want to clarify that no yamaha dealers in southeastern michigan carried the ycl 650 and I also checked with other stores and they couldn't get it.
Also, Ontario is out of the question because I don't have a passport right now and the process and money to get one would be way too inconvinient.
I'm going to likely end up buying from Woodwind and Brasswind.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2011-09-01 14:15
The one you try may be excellent, if not, try again, and maybe again and again. No two clarinets are alike and very few, directly from the factory, are of artist quality.
richard smith
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Author: TianL
Date: 2011-09-01 18:14
one thing about this great bboard is that say if you have 20 people, 10 of them have positive views about some product and 10 people have negative views. then what you might see in a discussion is 10 positive reviews and 1 negative review. this is because most people with the negative views will opt to stay silent.
so even if you see lots of positive reviews about something, don't assume that it will work for you. i assumed that the 650 would work for me and so i bought it online and it was so resistant that i didn't like it at all. i had several other experiences about several other things as well, including mouthpieces, etc. you gotta try it first and see if you like it or not. again, it might be a great clarinet, but may or may not be a great clarinet for you.
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Author: siralex
Date: 2011-09-02 00:09
I understand your point TianL. But I do like my current yamaha clarinet and the great majority of reviews I have seen have been positive about the 650, here and elsewhere.
If I really don't like it I can always return it for a refund, so I don't see the problem with trying.
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Author: annev
Date: 2011-09-02 20:00
I don't know if this is an issue in the U.S., but in Canada Yamaha regionalizes its distribution. So if I order a Yamaha clarinet from a store in Quebec, and live in Ontario, they are unable to send it to me because I am not within their catchment area for sales. That may be something to inquire about if you are contacting stores. Good luck!
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