The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Maria
Date: 2002-06-25 00:13
Hello everybody,
I'm interested in buying a fair quality clarinet for my daughter who's starting out in 6th grade next year. Would you all suggest that I buy a Vito Resotone or a Buffet B-12 clarinet?? Thanks a bunch,
Maria
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Author: Kat
Date: 2002-06-25 01:16
Short answer: Yes. Both are excellent horns. I'm assuming you're loooking at new ones?
The long answer involves the different Vito beginner makes...I've got students with a coupla different ones and they all seem to be just fine, but there are a couple of other options out there I'm not as familiar with. The Buffet B12 is also really good...and more predictable if you're buying an older/used one, in my opinion.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2002-06-25 02:11
Natalie wrote:
>
> I would go with a wood horn rather than a plastic
> B12.
I wouldn't - the plastic clarinets are more rugged and forgiving in the hands of a beginner.
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Author: jblair
Date: 2002-06-25 02:43
agree with mark- especially if there will eventually be playing in a marching band.
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Author: Meredith
Date: 2002-06-25 05:48
There is nothing wrong with a good quality plastic instrument, they are more robust for beginners and also a fair bit lighter making then a bit easier to manage. Buy a good quality mouthpiece and you will have a fine instrument. I don't know anything about the Vito but the B-12 is a really good instrument
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Author: ron b
Date: 2002-06-25 06:42
Vitos are about as sturdy as they make 'em, good intonation, maintenance friendly... very good all around instrument.
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Author: Gnomon
Date: 2002-06-25 07:19
I started out on a (used) Vito Resotone. It needed about $5 worth of maintenance and then it was a great instrument. It kept me going for a few years and then I splashed out and bought a semi-professional wood clarinet (Buffet E-13).
I agree with Mark that a plastic clarinet is much better for beginners. You have to look after wood clarinets carefully, cleaning them out after every use. This discourages a beginner. With a plastic one, you can leave it on a stand all day and pick it up any time you feel like it, play for a few minutes and put it down again. This encourages "messing around", which is an essential part of learning to play any instrument.
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Author: Dan Borlawsky
Date: 2002-06-25 11:59
Mark is definitely right about the plastic for a beginner! In our 5th grade beginning band program (7 schools), we start between 80-100 clarinets each year, and although the Vitos are fine, we find that most of the kids who have the B-12 develop a more mature sound, and that is the main reason we recommend them over the other brands.
(Of course, there are some brands which have poor intonation, poor construction, etc., and we try to discourage families from obtaining those, but when you have a local dealer whose main concern is economy, not quality, a significant number of those "economy" horns show up in the hands of a student!)
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Author: Bob
Date: 2002-06-25 13:30
I just recently purchased the B-12 and find it to be an excellent piece of work...plus a fine adjustable thumb rest and a case that only opens in the laid down horizontal position....a good feature for beginners.
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2002-06-25 15:22
I second the suggestion for a good mouthpiece. Most beginning clarinets' mouthpieces are awful. There are decent ones that aren't too expensive, too- you can get one that is worlds better for about $25-$35.
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Author: Maria
Date: 2002-06-25 16:11
Thanks a lot for everyone who wrote me back. I truely appriciate it.
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2002-06-25 19:19
If you're looking for some fairly inexpensive beginning mouthpeices, I suggest a Hite Premiere.
I hope your daughter enjoys herself!
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Author: Benny
Date: 2002-06-26 02:29
Go for the B-12. I also agree with David on the Hite Premiere mouthpiece. When you get a clarinet, buy it from Woodwind and Brasswind or International Musical suppliers. It will be much cheaper than your local music store.
Benny
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