 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: sowilson
Date: 2012-04-26 02:57
My daughter will start high school next year and she plays bass clarinet in addition to soprano (both first chair). She uses one of the school's student Yamaha's and is quite happy with the sound but the instruments could be maintained better. In high school they have Yamaha and Vito student instruments to rent and one Buffet (pro model) available for wind ensemble performances. She was selected to the district mid-level honor band and is quite a strong player. I'm considering the purchase of a bass clarinet for her and am trying to decide between a an older wood clarinet (Noblet and others you see on Ebay) and a new Yamaha 221. Any thoughts?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Merlin_Williams
Date: 2012-04-26 03:34
Skip the old Noblets - get the Yamaha. You'll be glad you did in a Minnesota winter.
Jupiter Canada Artist/Clinician
Stratford Shakespeare Festival musician
Woodwind Doubling Channel Creator on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/c/WoodwindDoubling
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CuriousClarinet
Date: 2012-04-26 14:19
You might want to consider a Buffet 1180 if you can find one. They were discontinued a few years ago, but a few new ones are still out there. I'm in my senior year of high school and have tried a fair amount of bass clarinets, and in my opinion the 1180 is a great option. It's probably about the same level as the Yamaha, although it is more expensive. It has the benefit of silver plated keys and a wooden body. The key work has a great feel to it. (I prefer it to my 1183's keys =p) If your daughter wants to continue music into college it would be an instrument that would work well for her there too. But like Merlin said you might not appreciate the wood in the winter, and it is generally more upkeep. =p Just another option to consider.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2012-04-26 23:04
The student Yamaha is terrific. I recently used one on a gig. It is a great player.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2012-04-27 02:50
I agree, go for the Yamaha. They can really sound excellent, especially when you put a professional level mouthpiece with them. My only problem with them is they tune a tad sharp, but then, most bass clarinets do.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: mvjohnso
Date: 2012-04-27 03:30
Played on a Yamaha student model (the 5 piece one w/ the gaskets) in high school jazz band and it was quite good (though I got the pick of the litter). And, this is coming from someone that hates Yamahas (great horns, just feel dead to me); I barely noticed that it was lacking a soul. On a related note what would y'all pay for one of the old ebay horns (for each plastic /wood /Buffet)?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sowilson
Date: 2012-04-27 04:23
Thanks for the reply's. I'm use to wood instruments and Minnesota winters (13 stringed instruments) and my daughter takes good care of her E11 - so I'm not to concerned about that (dampit's are a good thing). It's just that the student Yamaha does sound very good and I'm not sure that restoring an older intermediate level wood instrument would be a real improvement. There's a good woodwind dealer where I live that caters to local professional orchestra members who's prices are competive with online prices and very good repair technicians. They have liberal trial policies and actually stock bass clarinets (student models and some professional).
My daughter and I plan on looking for an upgraded mouthpiece. We'll probably look at the Vandoren (B44, B45) and Fobes Nova, seems to be a good price point. She has a concert comming up in a month and could use a better mouthpiece. We did a similar upgrade to her E11 mouthpiece a couple of months ago and it was a great improvement.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
