 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Funnpun
Date: 2013-03-17 23:19
I have a wooden clarinet at home and I like it fine. However, it is not convenient for playing at school events, especially games. Can anyone recommend a cheap, but decent plastic clarinet? Thanks
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-03-17 23:34
Look for a used Bundy, Artley, Buffet B12, Vito, Yamaha YCL-26II or similar as they don't cost much to buy, but will most likely require a full service to put them in good playing order.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2013-03-18 07:13)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-03-18 03:05
Your first choice should be a Bundy Resonite, which is available for next to nothing and is absolutely bullet-proof. With a decent mouthpiece, it plays pretty good, too. A plastic Vito is a step up, but costs more.
Ken Shaw
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Author: curlyev
Date: 2013-03-18 07:01
I used a plastic Vito for marching, etc. when I was younger, so Ken makes a great suggestion. Bundy and Buffet are viable alternatives. I have one friend that swears by her Yamaha, but the plastic Vito produces a better sound in my opinion.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2013-03-18 12:53
Plastic, metal, or hard rubber. Yamaha is ok, plus many others.
richard smith
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-03-18 13:41
A used plastic Boosey & Hawkes Regent or Series 1-10 (same instrument) would also be a viable option.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-03-18 14:28
One area of structural weakness on all plastic clarinets is the middle tenon - should you accidentally drop it or have it knocked over, the chances are the middle tenon will break.
But it's not the end of the world as they can be repaired relatively easily by someone with all the necessary equipment to make and fit a new middle tenon. Failing that, a suitable donor top joint can often be sourced and your keywork can be transplanted to it if needed.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-03-18 15:20
Chris P wrote: "One area of structural weakness on all plastic clarinets is the middle tenon - should you accidentally drop it or have it knocked over, the chances are the middle tenon will break.......they can be repaired relatively easily by someone with all the necessary equipment to make and fit a new middle tenon......."
Funny you should mention that. I got my start as a "woodwind repair tech" at age 10 when, having inherited a plastic Vito clarinet from my older brother, I accidentally dropped it and it broke at the middle tenon. I was too scared to tell my parents about the event so I fixed the break myself with some sort of glue, and amazingly it held up for the next couple of years until my folks bought me a better clarinet. They never found out about the accident.
Needless to say, at the time I didn't exactly have "the necessary equipment to make and fit a new middle tenon" 
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-03-18 15:37
I did a similar thing with my plastic B&H Regent oboe when I was 15 - I stood it upright without using a stand and it fell over and snapped at the middle tenon. I was working at the local music shop at the time and kept it there out of sight and told my parents I lent it to the boss's wife as she needed it for a show. The middle tenon was replaced but I already stopped playing by then as I couldn't stand playing such a crappy oboe. I started playing again around ten years later when I tried a Marigaux 901 that came in for repair which showed me that not all oboes are bad.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Taras12
Date: 2013-03-18 17:59
How cheap is cheap? Did you think about the composite LeBlanc L320? It's about $600. Get the Nickle-Silver Plated keys, tough. The Black Nickle plating does not hold up that well. The tone is awesome.
I have a Vito Resotone 3 which isn't too bad, if you're interested.
Tristan
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2013-03-19 04:11
I get Vitos from the auction site, work them over, and donate them to local school districts. While you can find them listed for up to several hundred dollars, I rarely buy one for more than $30 and never bid on one that has gone over $40. I replace corks and use surprisingly serviceable foam pads that I get from China (Zheng Hao Music) for very little. Other than my time, I rarely have more than about $50 in any instrument I donate.
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Author: LJBraaten
Date: 2013-03-19 17:10
I picked up a student Olds on Craiglist, it has a decent sound. If you buy local always bring your mouthpiece and reed, and run it through a complete chromatic scale.
Laurie
Laurie (he/him)
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Author: MSK
Date: 2013-03-21 15:14
Unless you have the skill to do your own instrument repair, make sure you know repairs in your area cost. Where I live a total repad of a plastic clarinet is $115. You may need to budget that onto the price of those rock bottom auction site horns. On the other hand this could be the perfect opportunity to practice and gain that skill
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Author: moma4faith
Date: 2013-03-26 22:34
I have a plastic Armstrong that actually plays pretty well, has decent key action, response and decent intonation. I used it in college. Pawn shops are great places to find super cheap instruments, along with garage sales. It's a gamble, but if you know what to look for, you can make some good finds.
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Author: gkern
Date: 2013-03-30 18:24
When I started playing again several years ago, I bought an LJ Hutchen from the Amazon website. It is a hard rubber clarinet with a surprisingly good tone for around $200.
Gary K
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Author: Rickwbliss
Date: 2013-03-31 17:10
A really good plastic would be the Bliss l320, l310, or the Backun Alpha, but these cost at $600-$1100, so they are not CHEAP clarinets. So if a CHEAP clarinet is what you want, then get a Vito, or Yamaha. Buffet is also fine (B12 or B10)
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