 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Linda
Date: 2001-04-13 16:34
Hi all. I have been reading a lot of info on this board and have a wealth of information. I am another one of those who has just re-entered the clarinet playing field. I used to play in the high school band for 4 years, then gave it up once I finished school. I have always missed it and never owned my own horn. I recently joined the Legion Band in our local area. (They are very forgiving) I am picking it up fairly quickly again. It has been 15 years since I played. Anyway, I have the opportunity to buy a clarinet but I cannot afford an expensive one and it would be a stretch to afford an intermediate one. I could but I would have to save longer. Right now I am playing on a borrowed horn from the band but I don't like it very much at all. It definitely needs a new mouthpiece. I am looking for a good quality, inexpensive horn. What are your suggestions? Also I would probably have to buy it online as I live in the middle of nowhere and there are no music stores nearby. Trying them out would be a challenge. Thanks.
(Sorry for my long-windedness, but aren't we clarinetists supposed to be?)
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-04-13 16:40
I restore older clarinets and sell them for very modest prices --- this might be an option. Sorry for the commercial message -- I'll shut up now.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-04-13 17:13
That really is the bottom line, Linda. What can you afford right now? As long as you can afford a good used beginner horn and afford to have it adjusted well, you can have fun. Beyond that, you can buy some older wood horns in intermediate to pro quality for various step-ups in price. You don't have to pay $1000+ for a very playable horn.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-04-13 20:13
Linda -
Welcome home. You'll find that everything comes back more quickly than you might imagine.
You probably shouldn't go shopping for a used instrument on your own at this point, particularly at a pawn shop or on eBay, and even at a music store, you're taking a chance. There's just too much junk out there. I've never tried one of Dave Spiegelthal's restorations, but he's a regular on the board and has been knowledgeable and helpful, so he definitely would be worth talking to.
I would avoid the off-brands. Stick to the student model plastic instruments from the big 4: Buffet, Leblanc (Vito), Yamaha and, at a slightly lower level, Selmer (Bundy). Buy new if you can possibly afford it, though a used instrument in good condition from one of these makers will also be fine. When you go shopping, take along the best player you know, to help you try out various instruments.
Particularly with Buffet, the stock mouthpieces that come with the instruments are dreadful and will hold you back. If you can afford it, get a plastic student mouthpiece from one of the artist makers who also make mouthpieces by hand. These include Sneezy sponsors, such as Fobes, Hite and Pyne. Their student mouthpieces cost about $30 and will make a dramatic difference. If that's too much, the Yamaha plastic mouthpiece for around $20 is also pretty good and is available in almost all musical instrument stores.
Come back often.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2001-04-13 22:49
As usual, Ken's advice is "right on." IMHO, you should try the Buffet E-11series or a LeBlanc "Infinity" or "Sonata." These are good clarinets that perform almost as good as the most expensive "pro" instruments and are affordable for the average player. A good clarinet will be SO MUCH MORE FUN to play and well worth your investment. Also, welcome back.....now get on with practicing! Good clarineting!!!!!!!!!
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Author: Karel Vahala
Date: 2001-04-14 02:56
Linda, in your shoes I think I would buy a better mouthpiece first; I used to like Hite's Premiere. I would take my time getting a better horn as finances allow. If you can cope with the loan instrument for a while, you will be in a better position to decide how good an instrument you wish to buy, and have more freedom of time-frame in which to do it. And your new mouthpiece will work with the new horn.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-04-14 12:50
In addition to starting with a good mouthpiece, make sure that you are using good reeds of the appropriate strength for your state of development and the mouthpiece you are using. There are only two really bad reeds around, the plain old orange box Ricos (there are lines are fine) and the gimmick "Flavoreeds".
For someone who is just returning to clarinet, I would recommend Mitchell Lurie reeds. They are very easy to play right out of the box and have an excellent sound. The only drawback is that they tend to not last quite as long for some people as other reeds do. This is only a minor thing though.
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-04-14 19:36
Look on the sneezy classifieds. Short commercial too: I'm selling my Buffet R-13 for $750 + $25 S/H. If that's in your budget and you contact me, it can be yours. I'll shut up now too.
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Author: LIZZIE
Date: 2001-04-15 20:44
I know someone that sells clarinets so just e-mail me and i will give you his screen name he sells all different kinds,
lizzie
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Author: Linda
Date: 2001-04-16 13:49
I just wanted to thank you all for all the good advice. I am taking it all into consideration. I haven't decided what I am going to do yet. I will let it digest a bit and then decide. Thanks again. I really appreciate everybodies comments.
Linda/Euryale
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-04-16 15:35
Linda,
There are several good clarinets on the market that would be great for you. I'm sure you've already checked out the above suggestions. Let me add a fcouple to the assortment.
Lots of people like the Buffet E-11 and I agree it's a great instrument for the money. You can usually find a good one for $400.00 or under. Several places sell these new for under $600.00.
Another really great intermediate/upper level instrument that often goes overlooked is the Leblanc VSP. That's priced just under the Sonata (mentioned above) and is made at the Paris factory where Leblanc makes their pro instruments. It is a grendilla wood clarinet and has a great tone with almost perfect intonation. It's very easy to play and a you can get a new one from places like International Musical Supply (www.intlmusicalsuppliers.com) or Woodwind and Brasswind (www.wwandbw.com) for about $710.00. It retails for $1,350.00.
I've played several of these and highly recommend them.
International Musical Suppliers is owned by a clarinetist who pre-tests clarinets and makes sure they are good and are easy to work with if you don't like something. (Not a commercial, I have nothing invested but tons of purchases from them.) They offer a package deal on the VSP of $760.00 that includes a Larry Combs mouthpiece (good one) and some other goodies well worth the $50.00 extra.
Also, if you ever run across a good used one of the two I've recommended that's a great deal.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2001-04-16 17:34
Brenda Siewert wrote:
> International Musical Suppliers is owned by a clarinetist
> who pre-tests clarinets
While I count Lisa Argeris as a friend of mine, I do know for a fact that sometimes a clarinet "escapes" from IMS in really bad shape, notwithstanding Lisa's pre-test. Perhaps they need to institute a "post-test" on returned clarinets, too.
IMS is as good as if not better than the other mail order retailers, just not perfect yet 8^)
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Author: joseph o'kelly
Date: 2001-04-17 15:51
I would recomend buying a used wood clarinet. I do not recomend the ones most commonly found online such as E-Bay as they are usually old and worn out. I have too many times played on old R-13s that although fully restored were a nightmere to play. This does not mean you cannot find a good used instrument. Go to a store and try out some, you might come across a great deal.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-04-17 15:53
Yes, Mark's right. I've actually gotten a couple of instruments I had to return to them. But, of the dozens I've purchased from them this past year, I've been pleased overall. I'm also happy that they're pretty easy to send back to them.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-04-18 07:19
I notice Ken acknowledges the Yamaha student mouthpiece.
It is a matter of great mystery for me what, exactly, so many others have AGAINST the Yamaha 4C. There seems to me NOTHING badly wrong with it. It is a good student mouthpiece and a plastic Yamaha plays very well with it. I don't notice a lot of difference when I change to my Hite or Selmer C120. Does that make me a total pleb?
It seems that some feel a need to reject any mouthpiece that comes with any clarinet. If Yamaha 4C was renamed 'Yyte' would it be accepted better?
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-04-18 11:10
Gordon (NZ) wrote:
>
> I notice Ken acknowledges the Yamaha student mouthpiece.
>
> It is a matter of great mystery for me what, exactly, so many
> others have AGAINST the Yamaha 4C. There seems to me NOTHING
> badly wrong with it. It is a good student mouthpiece and a
> plastic Yamaha plays very well with it. I don't notice a lot
> of difference when I change to my Hite or Selmer C120. Does
> that make me a total pleb?
>
> It seems that some feel a need to reject any mouthpiece that
> comes with any clarinet. If Yamaha 4C was renamed 'Yyte' would
> it be accepted better?
Actually quite a few people on the board have explicitly stated that the Yamaha mouthpiece is an exception to the "discard mouthpiece that comes with the horn" approach.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-04-18 11:49
I agree that the Yamaha 4C is a decent beginner mouthpiece. I find it comparable to my Fobes Debut and Hite Premier mouthpieces.
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