 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nonpareil
Date: 2016-04-03 07:31
So I've been thinking about getting a new clarinet, (I made a post about my low notes going high) though that's not the reason I'm thinking of getting a new one. Anyways, I want to have some knowledge of what I should be going for like: what brands are good? Should I get it online or locally? Anything you think I should consider while buying a clarinet. Also I'm thinking a price range of $200 to $300 would get a pretty good one.
—Clarinetist, High School Senior, 6 years playing.
Post Edited (2016-04-03 07:35)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-04-03 12:05
What level of clarinet are you looking to getting? And are you wanting a wood or plastic clarinet?
There isn't much in the way of new clarinets in the $200-300 range that's going to be of good quality, but there should be plenty of good reconditioned used clarinets from reputable makers.
I'd recommend you look for a used Holton, Martin, Vito, Normandy or Noblet that's been fully reconditioned as they're built like tanks and will last for years as well as having a good depth of tone to them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-04-03 14:25
I will be flat out honest with you that your price range.....it is NOT realistic.
You might be able to find a decent used horn at some crazy bargain price (there are experienced collectors on this board always posting about their great finds) but you'd need a lot of experience and A LOT of luck to do it.
At that price your ONLY option for a decent horn is one of the older Bundy or Vito plastic clarinets (I hear the new ones are garbage). Many music stores have overhauled Bundys and Vitos for sale around $400.
If you can bump up to $1500, you would actually have better luck with used horns and some decent new horns to choose from.
I am not familiar with stores immediately in your area, but it may be worth the commute down to Kessler in Vegas (eight hours away) to get a realistic idea of good horns available.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2016-04-03 18:26
Paul Aviles wrote,
>You might be able to find a decent used horn at some crazy bargain price (there are experienced collectors on this board always posting about their great finds) but you'd need a lot of experience and A LOT of luck to do it.
>
Yes. Those of us who are flea market, auction and junktiques shop addicts look for a whole lot of different things, not just clarinets. We do luck into superb bargains on clarinets, yes, but these accumulate slowly over the years. Don't expect to find what you need right now.
For example, yesterday I arrived at the Civitan flea market in Arlington, Virginia at 6 a.m. and spent about two hours there. I saw more than a dozen clarinets -- an unusually large number, because on a typical Civitan Saturday (first Saturday of the month from April through November), I'll see fewer than half a dozen soprano clarinets. Yesterday, I bought none of them. A formerly-good wooden clarinet had terrible cracks that yawned so wide they could only mean the shape of the bore had distorted (and an incompetent, amateurish-looking repair had made matters worse): not worth repairing. All the others were plastic beginner instruments. Yes, they were cheap -- in both senses of the word.
A knowledgable person looking for a good beginner clarinet could have done well at that maket. For an intermediate or professional-quality clarinet -- zilch. Next month, who knows?
Heed Paul Aviles's advice.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2016-04-03 19:00)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2016-04-03 19:24
"Also I'm thinking a price range of $200 to $300 would get a pretty good one."
Who told you this or where did you see it? I don't think you got that kind of misinformation on this BB.
But let me ask this. What does your private teacher or band director say about your clarinet?
HRL
Post Edited (2016-04-06 18:05)
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Author: bbrandha
Date: 2016-04-03 20:43
IF you are in no hurry, IF you have a teacher or other knowledgeable clarinet person to go with you so you can both play every clarinet you find, IF you live in an area with lots of people so you don't have to spend hours and hours driving, and IF you have lots of time to spend on your search, then Craigslist, pawn shops, and flea markets might have something for you. It happens.
However, even though I am a pretty good clarinet seeker, when my personal clarinet needed major repair and I needed a clarinet to play NOW, I couldn't spend the time on that. I shopped the more usual way.
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Author: knotty
Date: 2016-04-03 20:46
There might be something out of balance here. There are many very good, excellent, professional, players here and accordingly with instruments of professional quality and cost brackets. There are many people in the world who just cannot afford those suggested costs.
The OP may not be in those ability categories and suggestions should perhaps match his/her realistic financial ability. An instrument of good quality that will last them a little while maybe like Chris P suggests.
One question to the OP, is that price range what you were told by someone or, can you afford more without breaking the bank?
Just MO.
~ Musical Progress: None ~
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-04-03 21:26
Personally, I am not trying to be elitist, only place "Nonpereil" in a more realistic mindset.
There just isn't a good, stable horn that you can find for that price other than what I suggested. The old plastic Vitos are actually very decent horns. Their pitch is very stable and they can get very satisfying sounds. I had a friend on a budget that used one all through high school and he played it in a very prestigious metropolitan youth orchestra with great results.
I've played plenty of horns that cost more than the $400 Vitos that just suck. The Buffet B12 is one of them.
Dave is also correct that you may find something a little less expensive than I suggested. I found a wonderful Selmer series 10a (I think) that was overhauled to the point of looking brand new. It played as well as just about any R13 I ever tried and the asking price was only $900. I tried to get the word out on this board at the time but it had to go into a timed section elsewhere and I doubt it got the press it deserved. Point being, those finds are rarer.
.................Paul Aviles
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-04-03 21:39
Hey Silversorcerer,
I do agree with the essence of what you say. The other factor is the area in which the poster lives. I haven't heard of any great techs or better retailers out there.
Here is where someone in Utah needs to chime in.
..................Paul Aviles
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Author: Nonpareil
Date: 2016-04-03 23:06
Ok wow, I think I'll talk to my teacher see what he has to say
—Clarinetist, High School Senior, 6 years playing.
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2016-04-04 03:31
There are quite a few Normandy 4 clarinets on Ebay in your price range- they got me all the way into college, whence I got my R13s. They have a pretty good scale and to be honest if the clarinet is set up well it can be a GREAT player, better than the E11 in my opinion.
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Author: fernie51296
Date: 2016-04-04 05:11
Save the money for something better. Or you could get a Ridenour and make payments. I love my 576
Fernando
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Author: kdk
Date: 2016-04-04 06:00
Did you ever say here or in your thread about jumpy low notes what clarinet you're playing? If you did, I missed it.
It only matters because the one you already have may as good as what you'll find in the price range you gave. I think you said you're getting it repaired? So it may turn out that with all the leaks fixed your current clarinet may be fine for awhile longer.
Karl
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Author: Nonpareil
Date: 2016-04-04 06:47
That was in another thread.
And I don't know what my clarinet is
—Clarinetist, High School Senior, 6 years playing.
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Author: Nonpareil
Date: 2016-04-05 06:56
It's about 26 & 7 sixteenths inches long if that matters
—Clarinetist, High School Senior, 6 years playing.
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Author: Nonpareil
Date: 2016-04-05 07:11
Attachment: DSCN0537.JPG (508k)
It's about 26 & 7 sixteenths inches long if that matters
—Clarinetist, High School Senior, 6 years playing.
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Author: bbrandha
Date: 2016-04-05 07:53
That means it's a B-flat clarinet rather than an A (longer) or E-flat (shorter). Is it wood, hard rubber, or shiny plastic? Did you buy it new or used? If used, do you know any history on it? Are there any markings on it? Maker's logos or serial numbers on the sections? There are people who can make a pretty good guess at the maker just from photos. If you can, look at some photos that have been put on other threads and post similar ones. The mouthpiece likely will not help as they are often changed.
Yours may be a great clarinet already. A small leak or other issue could make the best clarinet play poorly. A repair would likely cost less than a different clarinet.
Don't be embarrassed to ask. The Clarinetpages site has helpful people, too. I have played clarinet for 40 years, never seriously, and was clueless about anything beyond fingerings until recently. (Don't tell other members, but I didn't know an A clarinet even existed until I was almost 50. Shhh!)
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Author: Nonpareil
Date: 2016-04-06 17:36
It doesn't have a mark, and I don't think it has any numbers either. We got it from somebody whom I think was a student.
—Clarinetist, High School Senior, 6 years playing.
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