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Yamaha YCL-400AD

Author: Ben Shaffer
Date: 2014-05-27 02:19

I was poking around in a local Music store and they had a Yamaha YCL-400AD on Display.
It looks like a very nice Instrument.
I am currently playing a LeBlance Normandy 4 and it seemed the Yamaha was slimmer and weighed a little less. is that my imagination?
I am an Adult beginner. I like my Normandy fine, but do you think this Yamaha would be a big improvement over the Normandy? I believe they were selling this Yamaha for around $900

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Re: Yamaha YCL-400AD

Author: fskelley
Date: 2014-05-27 02:32

I believe that for about the same $ you could have a new Ridenour 576BC, which I'm pretty sure is a lot more clarinet... others might disagree. Or the Ridenours might even have another remaining last model Arioso ASB101 like mine, for a couple $hundred less- the late production was identical in all important respects to the 576BC.

Or (with apologies to the Ridenours) $900 will get you a lot of clarinet on the used market, if spent well.

Let the feeding frenzy commence.

Stan in Orlando

EWI 4000S with modifications

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Re: Yamaha YCL-400AD

Author: gwie
Date: 2014-05-27 21:48

I just checked out a Yamaha YCL-400AD for a student. It's very well made, un-stained grenadilla wood, excellent keywork, and definitely lighter in the hand than average. It's nice to see instruments of this quality in the "intermediate" market. I ran it up against quite a few "new old stock" Germany E11s, a couple E-12F's, and even a used R-13 (albeit not in great shape) and it offered the most bang for the buck by far. Depending on what is available where you are, it may or may not be the best option.

I bought a Ridenour Lyrique A ($1200) for my school and it has served admirably in the hands of several students. The tuning and stability are much appreciated. My only issue with it is that they keywork doesn't have quite the feel, fit, and finish of Buffet or Yamaha, but I accept that at a third of the cost, one has to have priorities.

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Re: Yamaha YCL-400AD

Author: as9934
Date: 2014-05-30 07:38

I feel like you could get better value from a Leblanc bliss or Backun Protege online. They have been selling from about $700-1200 recently on eBay.

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