 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: nicole
Date: 2001-06-14 01:32
ok...i've been playing the bass clarinet for 5 years now and i want to buy myself a normal little clarinet for practicing at home because i rent my bass from my high school. i'm probably just gonna go with a little cheapo one off of ebay, but does anyone know if a "Bestler" brand clarinet is good....or if it will just fall apart on me in the near future???
any help would be greatly appreciated. thanx.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-06-14 02:16
Suggest buying a Leblanc, Yamaha, Selmer or Buffet student horn. To save money, buy from one of the major internet dealers. You can get any of these student instruments for under $400 brand new this way.
Almost everything on ebay will need an overall to be playable. This could cost you anywhere from $50 to $200 after getting the instrument.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-06-14 02:19
I assume you mean a Bb Soprano ("normal little clarinet" . . . )
If so, why do you inquire about a Bestler? Unless you are being given one as a gift, I can't see it being the horn to choose. The four major brands for well built instruments ranging from beginner to pro are Buffet, Selmer, LeBlanc, and Yamaha. If you want to go cheap, I'd strongly consider the Yamaha 20 or any of it's numerical cousins (24, 28, etc). Or you can spend a bit more for wood . . . your choice. But unless you buy from a player with a good reputation that can vouch for the quality of the horn, stick with the four mentioned above.
Note that exceptions to the big 4 rule definitely exist . . . check out the sneezy classified for examples.
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Author: mw
Date: 2001-06-14 15:40
The reason why the inquiry is directed at Bestler is beacuse there are oodles of bestler & other brands (take your pick: Chinese, Korean, Indian) on sale @ eBay for cheap $$$.
Heck you can buy an Eefer for $59 @ eBay ... NEW. [[ but, please don't do it !!! ]]
Best,
mw
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-06-14 16:06
Don't waste your time with a Bestler or other off brand clarinets, even if you're never going to play it in public. What you practice on at home makes a difference in your playing at school. Look for one with similar characteristics as the one you're using at school (understandably the soprano and bass will be different)--but if you're using a Yamaha school instrument, look for a Yamaha soprano. Actually, for inexpensive instruments, the Yamahas are ok. Or, get an inexpensive Buffet (E-11). But, you might decide you like playing the soprano and then you would have one that wouldn't be just a total frustration to play.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-06-14 21:32
Certainly I'd avoid the current crop of cheap Asian-made horns (under the names Bestler, Rhythm, Belmonte, etc.). Yet with judicious shopping on eBay, there are many "diamonds in the rough" to be had. I just finished renovating an "M. Lacroix" hard-rubber Eb clarinet ("eefer") purchased on eBay for just over a hundred bucks, and after a routine and uneventful overhaul it plays like a dream --- in tune, even. I could have paid thousands for a prettier Patricola or Buffet or Selmer, no doubt, but on my beer budget I can't afford Chateau Lafite Rothschild clarinets. So let's not totally rule out the "off-brands" as an option ---- there are many pitfalls, certainly, but with a little knowledge and a little luck one can still get a bona-fide bargain.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-06-15 09:37
I've worked on 115 brand names to date, and nearly all are junk. And they did not include Bestler. Sounds scary!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-06-15 13:40
Good advice above, I recall looking at a Bestler, was unimpressed! What Dave says is worthwhile considering. I have seen, worked on and played briefly several lesser-known, French-made cls of 40's- 60's era, Martin Freres, Thibouville, etc and found them to be quite competent, some heavy-bodied ones were quite "dark", and recently checked out 2 Buffets, 30's vintage, the one with the 7th ring and art. C#/G# [terrible mechanically] was very good, the 17/6 only fair IMHO. Caveat emptor and luck, Don
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-06-15 21:08
Nicole,
You might check the Sneezy classifieds. There are some used instruments mentioned on there that you might be able to work a deal with. Most of them belong to players and they can let you know of any problems. Some people might even be willing to include shipping or offer a money back deal or somehow work with you. You never know, there might even be a bass clarinetist on there with some good advise.
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