 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gotajam
Date: 2011-12-05 16:40
Hi - Its that time of year again - Christmas!
My wife has expressed an interest in getting back into playing the clarinet. I've seen 2 in my area of interest. A Normandy (no specific model number given) and a Selmer (Presonite?). Is one of these 2 clarinets better than the other? Should I be considering a different (wood) clarinet for an intermediate user?
THANKS SO MUCH (in advance) - Jay
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2011-12-05 17:12
The Bundy is made of Resonite, a type of plastic. The Normandy may be wood, but at that (low/intermediate) level there's little difference.
Older Bundys were indestructible, but the keys were crudely shaped.
Any mouthpiece that comes with a used student instrument will be beat to death. It's important to start with a fresh one, such as a Fobes Debut at around $30.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-12-05 17:19
Free advice, costs nothing and is worth the price:
Don't buy your wife a clarinet! Support HER choice. Give her a gift certificate and/or go shopping with her.
Don't dare to make HER choice for her.
Consider, too, getting some good advice --from a competent music store staff to a hired pro clarinetist/teacher.
Bob Phillips
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-12-05 17:25
Assuming that they are both in good condition the Normandy will probably be a better instrument. My first wood clarinet was a used Normandy 10 that I still own today. They are pretty solid intermediate instruments.
Can you give us an idea of what your budget is?
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Author: gotajam
Date: 2011-12-05 19:00
Thank you Ken S.
One of the details my wife had asked for is a wood based instrument, and it wasn't obvious that the Bundy was plastic nor wood.
The person offering the Normandy is selling it at $60, which tells me that and another 200 to overhaul it, may give her a reasonable instrument.
So I'm hoping that is the better path, verses purchasing one that someone "says" it has been rebuilt, when in fact it was, but then played for a year (or what ever) after the fact.
Thank you Steve G.
Its nice to get that type of feedback from a Normandy owner, 'preciate that! My budget is "hoping" to target the 200 neighborhood (so 260 is within that area), which is what made this clarinet so appealing.
Bob P. makes a VERY valid point and I ACTUALLY thought "this is a personal" decision, and that she should tell me what type she wants (other than plastic or wood). Doing something like this, isn't unlike my trying to buy here undergarments! Bottom line, no clue why I feel I can pull this off - But I'll try!
Thanks ALL!
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Author: denkii
Date: 2011-12-05 19:09
Over at SOTW, there are three Selmer Signet 100s selling for $129 each but I'm not sure if they are all gone yet.
Link here: http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?170724-Three-Selmer-Signet-clarinets-for-sale-all-repadded!
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