 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Netty
Date: 1999-06-08 17:01
Hi clarinet friends! I just wanted to see what you guys thought of these clarinet brands. Which do you think is the best (model etc). Thanks!
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Author: Joey
Date: 1999-06-08 18:05
I've had a few years experience with Buffets, both old and new. I've played on my teachers, made before I was born, and more recent R13s and have noticed that they always project a beautiful sound.
For my band, Yamaha's seem to round out that "decent for marching" category. They really aren't our prefered choice for stage band.
I haven't had a chance to play on the new pro-line Selmers, but I know I don't like come of the older models. I am not particular really, but they just don't do it for me.
Joey
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Author: Rich C
Date: 1999-06-08 18:15
Well, it's hard to compare specific brands, what it all really depends on is the model of each brand. I used a Yamaha Intermediate clarinet, which I love ever since I bought it a year ago. The Selmer and Buffet Intermediate models, which I also tried out at the store (and also had the same price as the Yamaha), were OK, but I quickly attached myself to the sound of the Yamaha...I suggest you hit your music store and try out ecah model....be sure to bring your mouthpiece and a good reed. 
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-06-08 22:05
Take Rich's advice. Check out the horns for yourself. Be sure to be fair and add LeBlanc's horns to your shopping list, too.
Compare horns only with each other in the student grade, the intermediate grade, and the pro grade. Look for features that can make a difference in playability, tone quality and intonation, and your opinion of what you like and don't like in a horn. Look for goodies such as (for the intermediate grade horns) undercut tone holes, and for a long life, such items as nickel plated keys and high quality springs/rods. The low end student grade horns are plastic, but there are some genuine student grade horns that are made of wood, so be careful. All of the intermediate horns I know of are made of decent quality stained wood. Pro grade clarinets are all wood, unless you consider the lone exception: The Buffet Greenline series. The better brands of horns like Selmer, Yamaha, Buffet, and LeBlanc will have plenty of good things going for them. All of these brands are typically very good. Again, don't compare a Vito to an R-13, because that's a student grade horn versus a pro grade horn. That wouldn't be fair. However, you could compare say a Yamaha YCL-50 series horn versus a Buffet E-11 series horn as I did a few years ago. Both of these horns were pretty close competitors for the intermediate grade market. The Buffet had better tone because it had undercut tone holes and it had better quality wood. The Yamaha had very good quality keywork, it was slightly less expensive, and it was easier for me to play. This is the kind of 1:1 in-grade comparison to make.
A fairly reasonable guide that can help you separate the student grade from the intermediate grade and then from the pro grade is the approximate retail price for a new horn. Compare $300 to $500 horns with each other as student grade. Then, $750 to $1000 horns as good intermediates. Finally, the $1500 to $3000+ range for pro grade horns.
For instance, in my comparison, the Buffet E-11 full retail price was about $900 and the Yamaha's price was about $800. Expect the going price for a new pro grade Buffet R-13 to be about $1800 or more.
Most of all, have fun shopping. Don't rush and don't be talked into taking the horn right then and there. Believe me, the salesman is under much more pressure to sell than you are to buy at this time of year. Take advantage of that and slowly take your time to narrow down the field of what you think is the best horn for the money.
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Author: Meredith
Date: 1999-06-09 03:32
Sorry...I gotta say that Buffet is the best. Just in my own opinion. I got a brand new silver plated buffet r-13 in november and it is my baby. I had a selmer (some intermediate model) before that. I know I can't compare them b/c one is a pro horn and the other is now affectionately known as "my piece of crap"
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Author: William Fuller
Date: 1999-06-09 03:37
And after you finally pick out the "perfect" clarinet, remember that there is not a professional clarinetist out there that has not had his horn worked on by accoustical and mechanical gurus who fine-tune such things as intonation, eveness of scale and key action. I picked out my own LeBlanc Concertos at the factory in Kenosha, Wi and Tom Ridenour (who designed the accoustics of the Opus/Concerto line) was kind enough "tweek" my choosen clarinets and make the great even better. The Selmer, Buffette and LeBlanc factorys will all let you visit if you are sponsered by a local music store. You usually cannot buy directly from the factory unless you are Eddie Daniels or some such celeb. Good luck.
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Author: Mark Charette, Webmaster
Date: 1999-06-09 11:47
William Fuller wrote:
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The Selmer, Buffette and LeBlanc factorys will all let you visit if you are sponsered by a local music store
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Buffet & Yamaha required no "sponsorship" of anyone to visit; I don't know about the others, but I really doubt it. I'll bet all you have to do is ask.
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Author: Kjersti
Date: 1999-06-10 19:42
Selmer or Buffet is about the same, but NOT, I repeat do NOT buy Yamaha!!!! Trash!
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Author: Rich C
Date: 1999-06-11 22:05
I don't know about the professional models, but the Yamaha Intermediate models are certainly fairly decent. There were a few clarient players in my band who played the Yamaha Intermediate Model #34, it have a sturdy sound as well as a strong tone. Infact, I disliked the Selmer model the most when trying the Intermediate clarinets. But to each his own.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-06-12 22:18
Kjersti wrote:
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Selmer or Buffet is about the same, but NOT, I repeat do NOT buy Yamaha!!!! Trash!
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And what, pray tell, brings you to this conclusion? Which models do you consider trash? Why? Is it a general problem that we can replicate, or is it just your personal observation?
Please - keep this kind of comment off the board. If there's a problem with a specific barnd and/or model, we're all willing to hear about it. Generalizations such as the one above are not welcome without some basis in fact - spelled out for all to see.
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Author: Abbie
Date: 1999-06-13 16:11
As a (soon to be former!) Selmer user, I was unhappy with the intermediate level performance. While it seemed like a great choice at first, I quickly outgrew it...almost too quickly. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure it would make a beginning/high school student happy, the tone and action are okay. However, some of the alternative fingerings are rough to come out. It takes an insane amount of air to produce any decent sound. I prefer something like Buffet's R-13 over other professional level Selmers after test-playing them. Honestly, I haven't played many Yamahas. Good luck!!
Abbie
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-06-13 18:31
Abbie wrote:
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... It takes an insane amount of air to produce any decent sound ...
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This is NOT normal for any clarinet not matter whether it's the cheapest, imported no name junk or the highest level of professional instrument. There is something wrong with your particular horn or the mouthpiece or the mouthpiece/reed combination.
I would be inclined to guess that there are very small leaks under some of the pads. Even a minute leak can cause an incredible amount of resistance and significant tone and playing problems.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-06-15 17:47
Good advice, Dee, playing should be easy with a competent cl! Since my pro-cl experience is with LeB and Sel, I cant speak to Yam or Buf, other than to say their plastic -student models I have worked-on and played have been reasonably good. To me, its like auto's etc, the best of the line are all good, its usually the small differences that suit an individual's fancy. Don
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