 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rg4444
Date: 2025-05-06 04:52
Hi, I am looking for a decent cheap instrument to use in a marching band. I use a Buffet R13 normally, and for obvious reasons I would not like to use that for marching. I would like to stick to a budget of $200, max $250, since I will not be using this instrument for more than 2 to 3 months in a year. I know some of you may suggest I spend the money for a better instrument, but for the purposes of this discussion I would like to stick to my budget. From what I understand (correct me if I'm wrong), it's better to purchase an older instrument that is still of good quality, since that will be cheaper but still likely sound good. I have found the following clarinet models that fit my budget. Any suggestions on which ones would be the best and most reliable? Also if there are any suggestions not on this list I would happily look at them. I have low knowledge of this subject, so any information would be greatly helpful.
Selmer Bundy (some are marked as 577 or Deluxe, some are neither. I'm not sure what the difference is, if any)
Buffet Evette (some made in Germany, some in France)
Buescher Aristocrat
Leblanc 7242
Blessing Clarinet (I'm not sure which model)
Selmer CL300
Boosey and Hawkes Edgeware
Amati Kraslice ACL-201
E.M. Winston Boston Clarinet
Selmer 1401
Selmer Liberty
Fin-Der-Premier Clarinet
Selmer 1400
Andre Chabot Clarinet
F E Olds and Son Duratone Clarinet
Grenadier Clarinet
Jupiter CC-60 Carnegie Edition XL Clarinet
King Cleveland 707
Armstrong 4000
Selmer Signet Special Clarinet
Yamaha YCL-24
Hunter New York Clarinet
Leblanc Normandy 4
Selmer Signet 100
Selmer CL600 Aristocrat
Selmer Soloist
Kohlert Clarinet
Armstrong 4001
Leblanc Vito ResoTone 3
Wurlitzer Clarinet
Leblanc Vito V40
CONN Model 16 Clarinet
Leblanc 7212
Selmer Signet
Boosey and Hawkes 1-10 Clarinet
Jupiter JCL-631
Holton Clarinet
Reynolds Emperor Clarinet
Reynolds Medalist
Leblanc Normandy ResoTone
Conn-Selmer Prelude
York 76 Bicentennial Series Clarinet
Evette Schreiber (I think this might be the same as the Buffet Evette)
Thanks so much for the help. I apologize if this list is too many clarinets to compare at once.
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2025-05-06 05:00
It doesn't matter. You're definitely overthinking it.
1) For the budget you're considering, I'd just pick one.
2) You're assuming that anyone will hear YOU specifically on a marching band field.
As long as you can blend successfully with your section, any horn in decent playing condition will work assuming a decent mouthpiece, reed, and ligature setup.
But just for consistency's sake, I'd go with a Buffet B10 or B12 for your budget. In my high school days (30 years ago), I played a Yamaha YCL-20. It worked just fine. When I had misplaced my Yamaha clarinet, my local music store let me borrow an Armstrong clarinet for the night. Also worked just fine.
Another option could be a used hard rubber Ridenour clarinet, but for your budget, I'm not convinced it would be durable enough.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Vandoren BD5 HD 13-series mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren #4 Blue-box reeds
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2025-05-06 05:09
Scanning quickly down your list, I see "Wurlitzer clarinet". I think their cheapest model new is probably over $10k. The list is, what's the word, bemusing.
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Author: ISM
Date: 2025-05-06 06:30
Wurlitzer was a 1970s student clarinet made in Elkhart, Indiana. Nice student clarinet.
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Author: ebonite
Date: 2025-05-06 11:15
I found that the Vito worked very well for marching. You can often find them in good condition within your budget.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2025-05-06 19:45
Yup.....I agree 100%
You'd think all inexpensive, plastic clarinets are the same, but of the usual suspect which are the Selmer Signet and Leblanc Vito, the Vito wins hands down. There is pitch (internal that is) to consider and for some reason most inexpensive clarinets don't even give you decent pitch. It's like playing a really out of tune upright piano.......yuch
............Paul Aviles
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Author: davyd
Date: 2025-05-06 22:01
My recommendation: Don't play clarinet in marching band. You won't be heard.
If your school requires participation in marching band, then wave a flag, or bang a drum, or move equipment (I did that for one season in high school), or be the drum major, or twirl a baton. If none of those are options, ask if you can borrow a plastic instrument (I did that for one season in college).
A good plastic instrument would be useful for playing outdoor concerts, especially on uncovered stages. But not for marching band.
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2025-05-06 22:37
I've used a student Yamaha (non-wood) in parades. I would also use my current student Selmer for this. These instruments work great/sound good for practicing. How good does it have to sound for marching? Maybe a better model if you're in like the U.S. Marine Band marching.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
Post Edited (2025-05-06 22:38)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-05-07 00:18
"My recommendation: Don't play clarinet in marching band. You won't be heard."
Given how the majority of military band clarinet parts are usually up there screeching about in the altissimo register, there's very much a chance they'll be heard.
A solid and dependable plastic clarinet like a Vito or Normandy (or a Martin or Wurlitzer which are both Vito stencils) will be ideal. Have it padded with synthetic pads and resprung with stainless steel springs and it'll go on forever.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2025-05-07 00:49
davyd wrote:
> My recommendation: Don't play clarinet in marching band. You
> won't be heard.
>
Maybe because so many school clarinetists (if they don't have a private instructor to nag them about their reeds) play on broken reed-like pieces of lumber for the whole season no matter how much has broken off by the last game.
If the director requires the kids to maintain a functioning mouthpiece with a functioning reed, they'd be heard more. Not so much as the trumpets, but more than inaudible.
> If your school requires participation in marching band, then
> wave a flag, or bang a drum...
I did play bass drum in high school for my senior year.
Karl
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Author: m1964
Date: 2025-05-07 01:55
If the primary clarinet is an R13, then a Buffet would be the easiest to play - no adjustment to the key work will be required.
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Author: rg4444
Date: 2025-05-07 03:12
Would it be worth it to purchase a wooden instrument if I can find it at this price? Or would it not be worth the risk of damaging the wood?
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Author: Ed
Date: 2025-05-07 04:21
I always suggest the Yamaha student model.They are really fine playing instruments with great intonation and response
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Author: Hunter_100
Date: 2025-05-07 04:34
what is the climate you will play outside in? If it is cold or wet/rain you should not use a wood instrument.
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Author: rg4444
Date: 2025-05-07 06:09
Hunter_100 wrote:
> what is the climate you will play outside in? If it is cold or
> wet/rain you should not use a wood instrument.
It doesn't rain much, its usually just pretty hot.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2025-05-07 08:21
I just had a temperature issue come up on a concert that was cancelled at 55 degrees Fahrenheit. You never know for sure when you'll be required to play in termperatures that are UNACCEPTABLE for a wood wind instrument. Think about it. You blow body temperature (98.7 degrees) down the bore, and you contend with whatever the differential is to the ambient temperature. A wide gap in temperature is just asking for a crack to develop in a wooden instrument. The US military bands issue a secondary "plastic clarinet" to all clarinet players for the outside performances that are less than ideal. But by plastic, the military bands mean Buffet R13 Greenlines for the most part.
...............Paul Aviles
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Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2025-05-07 17:09
During winter months over the last 18 years, my wooden r13's have been practiced daily at or near 55F, the setting of my home thermostat. The Bb gets used for outdoor concerts and parades during the summer. No problems from that use.
For colder temperatures and a typical high-school or college or community marching band, you have good advice from others here.
Thanks to Paul for the mention of high-end bands using high-end (R13 Greenline) instruments outdoors; I wondered about that.
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Author: ACCA
Date: 2025-05-07 19:35
If you can stump up $450 to spring for a yamaha 52 like this one, (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/175541989895) you may find it money well spent. I have found these to be excellent for band purposes, they project extremely well with minimal effort and are extremely solid build quality.
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