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 Buying an A clarinet: new or used?
Author: whonderwhy797 
Date:   2012-12-12 20:38

I sophomore year music education major and I don't own an A clarinet. My teacher wants me to buy one but I desperately don't want to buy one...I don't have the money and neither do my parents. However, I'm working to save up for one..should I buy a used A or new? I personally do not see the value in buying new instruments if you can find a great used one. I have heard that excellent used A clarinets are scarce though.
Inputs appreciated!

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 Re: Buying an A clarinet: new or used?
Author: JJAlbrecht 
Date:   2012-12-12 20:49

If you are not a performance major, do you really need one? Are you doing frequent performances which require the use of an A? If not, I wouldn't bother at all. If you feel you must have one, shop around for a good value used model.

Jeff

“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010

"A drummer is a musician's best friend."


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 Re: Buying an A clarinet: new or used?
Author: JJAlbrecht 
Date:   2012-12-12 20:51

Another alternatve is to look at Tom Ridenour's Lyrique A model. Good quality instrument at a very reasonable price.

Jeff

“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010

"A drummer is a musician's best friend."


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 Re: Buying an A clarinet: new or used?
Author: Caroline Smale 
Date:   2012-12-12 22:29

I have seen occasional models of the now obsolete Leblanc Esprit range on sale at good prices - I picked up a virtually brand new one for about $500 equivalent.
The older Leblanc professional models sometimes show up also and since they are not "fashionable" the prices are usually pretty good.



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 Re: Buying an A clarinet: new or used?
Author: music101 
Date:   2012-12-14 19:53

i was going to say i had one but noticed you need an "A"



Post Edited (2012-12-14 20:00)

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 Re: Buying an A clarinet: new or used?
Author: jbutler 2017
Date:   2012-12-15 15:13

I always look for used first. There are many fine used clarinets out there, fewer A clarinets, but they're available. The last A I purchased was from a person that graduated college and no longer needed the instrument. I've since sold it to a colleague but it was a fine A clarinet.

jbutler

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 Re: Buying an A clarinet: new or used?
Author: madvax 
Date:   2012-12-16 04:36

I agree with jbutler. If you can find a decent used one, you can always sell it for close to what you paid for it when you're done.

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 Re: Buying an A clarinet: new or used?
Author: Ed Palanker 
Date:   2012-12-16 13:09

For over 30 years teaching dat Towson Universlity the majority of my students were music ed majors and I never made any of them purchase an A clarinet because I knew they would probably never use them once they graduated. I would not discourage them from owning one if they had intentions of playing in a community orchestra or had the desire to own one so they could play the repertoire that requires one. I don't see the reason for you "having" to buy one if you can't afford it and don't think you will ever use it upon graduating. We did have two A clarinet that the deparment owned for students that used in the school orchstra if they were needed though we always had a few performace majors that owned one as well.

ESP eddiesclarinet.com

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 Re: Buying an A clarinet: new or used?
Author: clarinetguy 2017
Date:   2012-12-16 18:39

Jeff and Ed are right. I was a music ed. major in college, and I had no use for an A. If you want to save money for a second instrument, I think a saxophone would be a much better investment.

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