 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Carolynatut
Date: 2013-05-10 16:26
Any tips on places one could find an A clarinet without paying $3500 for a new one ? I play a couple times a month in chamber music ensembles and would like to have an A clarinet.
Thanks !
Carolyn
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Author: JamesOrlandoGarcia
Date: 2013-05-10 17:04
Acquiring a acoustically balanced A clarinet for under that price point can be really tricky. Your typical ebay options of Noblet, Buffet E11 are horrid instruments for numerous reasons. I'd recommend you look at:
Tom Ridenour's Lyrique A clarinet. It is is $1200 new. Tom has been known to offer interest free 12 month payment plans.
Yamaha A clarinets are all extremely solid and can be sold for pennies on the dollar used because they don't have the same following in the US they do else where. The Yamaha 650 A clarinet is the best deal on a wood A clarinet but you'd need to purchase it from overseas.
Hope this helps!
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2013-05-10 17:06
Try before buy. All makers turn out a few good ones, so try all makes and models, both new and used, that you could afford to buy.
richard smith
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2013-05-10 18:32
The Leblanc Esprit is a pretty good instrument at a modest price if you can find one around.
Personally I find the Noblet Artist models are very sound models and usually very reasonably priced.
The requester after all is using a few times a month and not auditioning for the NY Phil.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2013-05-10 18:46
I agree with the advice to try a Ridenour. Call Tom and talk it over.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
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Author: William
Date: 2013-05-11 15:12
I second the suggestion for trying a Tom Ridenour A. He is known as a master accoustian (clarinet designer) and all-around nice guy. His products have received good reviews from many on this forum.
However, keep your eyes open--you never know when a great clarinet is going to pop up. I recently found a vintage R13A (79XXX) sitting on our local high school's instrument storage shelve in complete disarray--broken zipper on a Selmer double case, missing barrel, lots of leaks, etc. Being unused for "years", i made an offer of $500 to the high schools music department and invested another $300 for repair and silver plating which resulted in the Buffet A clarinet I now consider my orchestral instrument. It repaces a Buffet A that I played my college master's recital on and a (very good) Leblanc Concerto A that Tom Ridenour customized for me. It proved to be a perfect match for my Leblanc Concerto Bb, also customized by Tom. Bottom line, I kept my eyes open and got lucky, you might do as well on an auction site or at a garage sale--you just never know and need to be willing (like I was) to take a chance. However, Tom's Lyric A is probably your best short-term bet for a decent playing instrument at a good price.
BTW, Tom Ridenour is a very good clarinetist in his own right and knows when a clarinet is "right". I trust and respect him as a musician, technician and human being. He knows his business and will treat you right as well.
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Author: GaryH
Date: 2013-05-11 17:05
There's a Leblanc Infinite A clarinet not far from you if you're interested. I can get details for you if you want, or I can get a phone number if you'd like to talk with her. I'd by it, but I don't currently have a need for one.
Email me at saxmaniac100@hotmail.com and I'll get you her information.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2013-05-11 22:31
Look out for the Amati Kraslice ACL 675 on that auction site. It's a full Boehm and an excellent instrument for the price. Amati also make the standard A Boehm as well of course.
Skyfacer
Post Edited (2013-05-11 22:32)
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-05-12 14:07
If you play an R13 Bb, grab the Infinite A. It was designed to play like the R13 and was made only for a short time. I hated the Opus but loved every Infinite I tried.
Ken Shaw
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