Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2012-03-26 01:12
From a standpoint of what your daughter needs, I think the answer is probably a good plastic student model clarinet and, if you had been better advised when she was starting out, and had bought her one then, we probably would not be having this discussion now.
3 1/2 years down the road, a new plastic clarinet might be a big disappointment to her even though it would likely be a big improvement and you could find one within your price range. New intermediate clarinets from major manufacturers tend to run $1,100 - $2,000. If you want something at this level, then, you pretty much have to settle for used. I'll keep my recommendation simple. I would suggest you look for a lightly used Yamaha YCL-450. Yamaha quality is generally consistently high and Yamaha is the one major manufacturer that is willing to compete on price. New Yamaha clarinets typically sell for at least a couple hundred dollars less than comparable clarinets from their competitors. The YCL-450 is popular so used ones are fairly easy to find. I've seen several examples that appeared to be in good condition sell on eBay for $350 - $550 recently. Expect to pay more at a music store, if you can find a used one there, because you don't bear as much risk as you would on eBay. As a second choice, I guess I'd suggest an E11 -- perhaps a little more status to the E11 because of the Buffet name and it is a good clarinet but IMO not as much clarinet for the money as the YCL-450.
Vandoren makes good quality mouthpieces at a reasonable price. One thing to be aware of is their wide range of variety in style. Your daughter would probably like some and hate others so you have to make sure you buy the right one. She probably should try quite a few after she has her new clarinet if you decide to go this route.
Alternatively, Clark Fobes makes an inexpensive mouthpiece for students. He keeps the cost down by using plastic. It sells for about half the price of a Vandoren. Many students use these through high school at least. It is a good middle-of-the-road design for a beginner/intermediate player. Fobes also makes an intermediate hard rubber model in the same design that sells for about the same price as a Vandoren. If you go this route, you don't have the number of options to worry about but I would still recommend a trial, if possible, to make sure it "fits" your daughter.
It would probably be a good idea to keep an open mind about buying a new mouthpiece even if one comes with her new clarinet. The one that's included may not suit her at all. Also, hang onto the Image. It is good to have a cheap plastic clarinet for marching band season when bad weather can potentially harm a good instrument and accidents are prone to happen.
Best regards,
jnk
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