 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mom
Date: 2001-09-19 05:41
Need some advice as to which one to buy (or not to buy) for a beginner student?
USED EQUIPMENT vs. NEW.....One brand vs. another.... What to look for? etc.
Please help!
Thanks.
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Author: Gene Wie
Date: 2001-09-19 06:15
New. A Buffet B-12. Works great. ~$350 a lot of places.
A good mouthpiece is crucial. Check out other posts on this forum on suggestions for mouthpieces for beginners.
Good luck!
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-09-19 11:11
I'm partial to the Leblanc Vito myself. However read the article at the following site for a good overview. As indicated, Leblanc, Selmer, Yamaha, and Buffet all make fine instruments. The price data is slightly out of date and Selmer has a different name than "Bundy" for their student model.
http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Equipment/Beginner_Equipment.html
Note that the bottom section on the Lyon's C clarinet is not applicable if you are talking about a student who is beginning band. It's basically intended for students who want to start when they are too young and small to start on a standard clarinet.
On-line retailers sell them for under $400. You can often get close to the same price locally if you get a catalog from one of these retailers and use it to negotiate. It is often worthwhile to buy from a local shop and establish a working relationship with them.
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-09-19 12:40
One important issue is that you should have even a new instrument checked out by a competent player or repair technician before handing it over to a student to play - a plus for buying locally if they will negotiate. Horns are kind of like cars . . . you expect to have a few issues that you need to have the dealer take care of shortly after purchase. Just because it's new doesn't mean it's right.
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-09-19 13:19
The sticky subject is rarely broached with starters.... how much to spend if the child decides the instrument is NOT to their liking?
I do not recommend rentals, the quality of the gear is generally low (heavy use) and you quickly pay more than retail costs.
I do not recommend purchasing new, particularly at the Mega-music stores.
(If the place is cavernous, and filled with guitars - RUN!)
The local repair shop that offers a warranty will be worth the money.
Starters drop their equipment, it happens.
The Vito/Bundy/Selmer 1401 and other plastic clarinets are very good players with interchangeable spare parts (inexpensive repairs).
A decent mouthpiece and good reeds (investigate the Legere synthetic - it's good!)
are easily more important at the start. Buy a neck strap - fewer accidents.
Bottom line - $250 for a decent, used, plastic clarinet with a comfortable mouthpiece from a repair shop.
anji
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-09-19 14:20
Very good summary, ANJI, and advice Dee. I try to supply a few cls and do minor repairs for the "student trade" and frequently "check-out" bought/rental horns for worried parents. Yes, try to find a repairer with a good reputation, often a small shop will be excellent on pricing and continuing service [as I try to]. I personally prefer the Vito and Buff B series as being well built and easily repairable. Don
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-09-19 14:48
Avoid instruments with synthetic key and linkage corks. The chances are just to great that they will fall/slide off.
An exception is the mottley Yamaha synthetic which is glued really well. Is Vito the same?
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-09-19 15:06
Check out the "Sneezy" classifieds--especially Dave Spiegelthal's. He refurbishes older clarinets and the good news is that when he is finished many new horn purchasers wish they had gone to him. It not only looks good it plays good and will last far longer than some "new" el cheapo's. If peer pressure will not allow you to buy "used", at least get a GOOD mouthpiece. Check the "search" column on this BB for comments on this, but you can't go wrong with another of our "family's" products. Go to <www.clarinetxpress.com>, Walter Grabner's web site and browse around. Walter has a "try before you buy" system, but with a new player that may not be too much help to the beginner as a squeak on one is a squeak on another %-) Bob A
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Author: Azzacca
Date: 2001-09-19 17:37
As I've seen many many times on this site, you need to avoid all the cheapo plastic horns on ebay that are made in China (Shinyan is one name that comes to mind). However, Yamaha are one of the "big 4" in the clarinet world, so this doesn't apply to them.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-09-19 20:29
Azzacca wrote:
>
> As I've seen many many times on this site, you need to
> avoid all the cheapo plastic horns on ebay that are made in
> China (Shinyan is one name that comes to mind). However,
> Yamaha are one of the "big 4" in the clarinet world, so this
> doesn't apply to them.
That's because Yamaha is made in Japan not China. In addition they have a long tradition (over 100 years) of building musical instruments although it's only in recent decades that they have made much of an impact in the US.
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Author: Terry Horlick
Date: 2001-09-20 03:25
Dear Mom,
One thing not usually mentioned is the philosophy that you need to have a good quality good working horn for your child. Most of the other kids will have the rental or the cheapest new they could find. If it has a crummy mouthpiece and maybe a leak or two all of those horns will be difficult to play. They will sound poorly and usually squeak up a storm. It will be the exceptional child who sticks out this kind of situation. Often if a good player picks up this horn from your child, he will also have difficulty playing.
The other side of the coin is that if you get a good playing horn and a good mouthpiece your darling will soon be making pleasant noises, he will advance faster than his peers and will have some satisfaction with his playing. If he doesn't need to work for all he is worth to just get a sound he will begin to enjoy the clarinet.
I suggest (note: I am an old duffer who only plays for fun) you get a horn which has been tested and repaired to play well, get good reeds and a good mouthpiece. You will pay much more than the other kids parents will to do this, but what is your goal... save a few $ or provide a good experience for your child.
I would rather get a good used and cosmetically marred horn which plays well for the kid than a flashy new difficult to play horn. With my kid I violated this a bit, I got a used plastic Bundy from a pawn shop for about $100, but I played it and it played well. Since it played well she progressed quickly and soon needed a top quality horn... mine! She refuses to let me sell that student horn as sometimes she needs to play outside. Remember if you get a good playing decent used horn you can resell it if interest is lost. If you get a new cheapie student horn you will end up trying to sell a used cheapie student horn. In other words, I think the used horn keeps it's value and the cheapie doesn't.
Best of luck in however you do it, my daughter is helping pay her college bills with the music scholarship which came out of the experience started with that old Bundy (and my good horn).
One more thought, why not go to the high school and get the best player there to go with you to check out the horns you find. I bet a burger and $20 will get you someone who is on your side in evaluating the available used horns.
Terry
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-09-20 17:05
Tom Ridenour has developed a clarinet designed for beginning and younger players. Brook Mays sells it and it's very reasonable (under $600.00) and is a complete package with mouthpiece, etc. The band directors around here are all recommending them over the Vito V40 (last year's recommendation) for beginners. You might go to the Brook Mays website (I think it's www.brookmays.com) and find one there. They haven't been around long enough to be able to easily find a used one.
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Author: Casey
Date: 2001-09-25 22:49
Get an Buffet Crampton E-11! I use that and i really love it!
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