Author: Katherine Handcock
Date: 2007-01-11 18:25
I'll disclose in advance here, I'm speaking as both a clarinet player and a sales person at a retail store that carries Jupiter instruments, but I absolutely love the Jupiter clarinets. Any of them made in the last 4 years (which is as long as I've had experience with them) have really impressed me. I've certainly heard that there were problems with them when they first came out, and I'm still hesitant to recommend the brass instruments due to some problems I've seen, but the woodwinds (flutes, clarinets, saxes) are great, and great value.
I've had the chance to compare the 631NT model to the Buffet B12, Armstrong 4001, Selmer CL301, and Yamaha YCL250. I'd list the Buffet, Jupiter, and Yamaha as my top three picks for playing quality; part of that is probably because I've always played Buffet clarinets, so they're the most familiar feeling to me. However, at my store, the price of the Jupiter is $200-$300 less than either Buffet or Yamaha, and that makes a lot of difference to new students, especially since a lot of students in my area are from low income families. They're my top recommendation to schools for the same reason. However, I do always let both teachers and parents know that Jupiter is the younger, less established company, and let them decide if they'd rather pay more for the longer standing name.
I'll add that the Jupiter 731NT (their intermediate grenadilla clarinet) is my favourite playing intermediate instrument--for me, it easily outstrips the far more expensive Yamaha YCL450 and Buffet E11 or E12.
All personal opinions, but hopefully this helps!
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The Clarinet BBoard
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