 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ybell
Date: 2015-09-24 20:11
Hello,
I am trying to buy a used clarinet for my son (we are renting now). He has only been playing for a few months, so he is definitely a beginner. Someone locally is selling their child's Yamaha YCL-450N for $300, which seems like a very good deal. It was serviced one year ago and they say it is in good condition.
My questions are as follows:
I've asked the father how old it is, but he doesn't know. So, when did Yamaha begin selling the YCL-450N, to give me an idea of the oldest it can be.
And, how bad would it be to have my beginner play an intermediate clarinet, assuming I keep on him to maintain the wood.
As you can tell, I'm pretty clueless on this topic, so any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
~jacob
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Author: Kel
Date: 2015-09-24 21:04
Age doesn't matter, condition does. And no problem with a beginner playing an intermediate wooden horn if he swabs it after every session.
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2015-09-24 21:22
I don't have any experience with the 450, but I'm somewhat familiar with the 400, which is a similar clarinet, and the 650, which is a bit more expensive.
It's hard to know without seeing the clarinet, but my inclination would be to buy it. If the clarinet is in good condition, it sounds like you'll be getting a great deal.
A wood clarinet will require some special care, but if your son is responsible, it shouldn't be a problem. Keep in mind, though, that you might need to purchase a better mouthpiece.
Finding the age of the clarinet might require a little digging, and it might be best to contact Yamaha. https://sites.google.com/site/yamahacollectoryamahaloyalist/serial-number-lists
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Author: ybell
Date: 2015-09-24 21:33
Thanks for all the information. This is exactly what I needed!
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Author: gwie
Date: 2015-09-25 06:29
I've had several private students with the 450N, and they obtained them because of special sales at local shops that brought the prices down so low they were competitive with entry-level plastic instruments.
They first started selling the 450N back in 2002, so they aren't that old at all. As long as condition is good, $300 is a steal!
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2015-09-25 11:04
$300 for a 450n is an absolute gift. Go for it!
Tony F.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2015-10-01 13:58
A clarinet that's a year old could be in need of minor or major repair. Does he have a teacher?
I do my own repairs, and I'm not suggesting that you try it. I'm making the point that I usually go over my horns often or when I feel that something isn't right, something may be out of alignment, a bent key, a pad falling out, a leaking pad, it doesn't take much to screw up a horn. Once the horn is in need of even minor repairs the student will get discouraged because the notes won't come out or he/she may squeak a lot. Or nothing but air will come out. Well the next thing you know the kid hates the horn and would rather go do something else with his/her life. It sucks to squeak.
Kids are rough on horns. It doesn't take much to bend a key and then the horn simply won't play. It doesn't take much for a tiny cork the size of the tip of a pen to fall off and cause the horn to not play some of the notes. On the clarinet some notes may come out others may not, depending where the problem is.
See if you can find a local music store to have the horn checked out. One of the stores in your area will have access to a clarinet player and or a clarinet repairman. Usually within 3 minutes a player and a repairman will know if something is wrong with the horn and if there's something majorly wrong, like a crack in the wood, unlikely, but it does happen. I know where Campbell is, I live near Burbank. Lot's of musicians and music stores near you. Call me if needed. I have a lot of friends in your area that can guide you in the right direction.
Please don't buy it without getting it checked out, and as a parent if you hear your kid starting to squeak alot in a few months after getting the horn get the horn looked at again.
An interesting story. I use a brand of clarinets called Buffets. They cost over $3000. Here's the sad part. The horns leak when you buy them. They all do! The first thing I have to do is fix the leaks. I put a lot of work into them, getting rid of the Buffet pads, replacing them with my special pads, change the corks, it's pretty much a complete overhaul. I'm good at repair, but to make this a true professional clarinet it takes me 20 hours. Remember this is new, off the shelf and it hardly plays!
Yahama is a good brand. Have it tested. Then retested every 6 months or so.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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