 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: aguynamedjoebob
Date: 2009-10-07 02:05
I'm an adult self taught Clarinet player who started over a year ago and feel I've out grown my beginner plastic Vito. I'm wondering what are the Major differences between the Normandy 4 and the Yamaha YCL34. I'm looking at 2 in particular from Clarinuts.com
http://www.clarinuts.com/clarinuts/pages/C743.asp#
http://www.clarinuts.com/clarinuts/pages/C775.asp
They're both the same price. Which would serve me better? the Yamaha has been repaired in places.
OR Which clarinet on there for $288 or under would serve me best?
thanks in advance.
Joebob
Post Edited (2009-10-07 02:21)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-10-07 02:48
Joebob,
Why do you feel you've outgrown your Vito? What kind of playing are you doing and why do you need a new clarinet?
HRL
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Author: aguynamedjoebob
Date: 2009-10-07 03:12
Truth be told, I had to sell it to pay some bills and I'm finally financially able to get my clarinet again. I had gone all the way through the first 2 Essential Elements books and was working on some personal sheet music. I've been a musician since 5th grade. I play a multitude of instruments, but after my dental surgery, I've found clarinet to be much easier to play and enjoy then any other. I just can't play trumpet like I used to. I'm looking at Clarinuts.com trying to figure out which clarinet would be best suited to me and my ability and I would be able to enjoy for a long while to come. This will probably be the last one I buy, or at least the last one for a long time.
Joebob
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-10-07 11:11
Joebob,
That explains a lot. I would think either of those clarinets would fit your requirements. I play a LeBlanc L200 and Yamaha CS as well as a YTS 475 tenor sax and have great respect for both manufacturerers. Lots of Vitos around for pretty cheap prices though.
I have no experience with clarinuts so I do not know about their reliability and the condition of the instruments.
HRL
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2009-10-07 13:32
Joebob --
Have you called the shop to ask them their opinion of the instruments?
I just took a look at the instruments you linked above, plus the others at that same price point.
Is there some reason you are not seriously looking at the Selmer Signet they are offering? http://www.clarinuts.com/clarinuts/pages/C730.asp
To my mind, that is far and away the best instrument they have at that price. It is a classy instrument, and very well-constructed.
Look at what they say about the "if perfect" value. This is a lot of clarinet for the money. Might want to give them a call and ask about it.
The Normandy would be my second choice. But again, get all the information you can from the seller.
Susan
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Author: aguynamedjoebob
Date: 2009-10-07 14:11
Thanks alot for the advice Suzan! I was just under the impression that Selmer clarinets were inferior instruments! BTW, If your IP is accurate I grew up right near Coshocton Ohio. I'm originally from Senecaville Ohio. Which is near byesville and cambridge if you're not familiar with Senecaville. My high school used to play football and do band competitions with Coshocton.
Joebob
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Author: aguynamedjoebob
Date: 2009-10-07 14:30
On the website they listed the Selmer Signet Special as better, but the Yamaha YCL 32 as best. Not sure which is truly the better instrument being as I've never played either.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2009-10-07 15:10
Hi Joebob --
The "big three" of top clarinet manufacturers were traditionally Selmer, Buffet, and LeBlanc. Yamaha is now also on most peoples' lists, but is a more-recent entrant in the field.
Look carefully at the photos and descriptions of these clarinets. Note the design of the tenons -- the Signet has metal tenon ends, which is a feature you usually find only on higher-end instruments. It's an older instrument, but newer does not equal better when it comes to clarinets! In fact, in some cases, the reverse is true.
The repaired bell crack is a non-issue, IMO. I played all through high school with a cracked bell on my clarinet. For a time, I also played a much older (borrowed) top-of-the line Selmer with a non-penetrating crack down the back of the first joint from the register key. It was a wonderful instrument. But my folks bit on the "newer is better" meme, and bought me a totally inferior wooden student-grade instrument because it was new. (That's the one that developed the bell crack. It also had screws that had to be checked every time I played it, because they fell out with great regularity. And it sounded awful.)
Did you notice that none of these instruments comes with a mouthpiece? You'll have to purchase that separately. Check around on older posts on this board for recommendations.
Yes, I live in Coshocton, and I do indeed know where Senecaville and Byesville are. I've even been there! I did not grow up here -- I grew up in Licking County, Ohio. And we won't be here long -- we are moving to Durham, NC, at the beginning of next month. But I love this area, and will miss it -- even though I know there will be more opportunity for music-making in Durham.
Good luck to you. Let us know what you end up with.
Susan
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Author: aguynamedjoebob
Date: 2009-10-07 16:34
Thank you very much for the advice and the information. I will take it all into account before I make a purchase. Anyone else out there have any information or opinions they'd like to share about the seller (Clarinuts.com) and/or the models on their site for $288 and under?
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2009-10-07 18:14
Joebob,
Susan's advice is right on track (but can an oboe player really be trusted?). LOL
My best in-tune clarinet is an old Selmer 9* with two pinned cracks in the upper section. Selmer making inferior clarinets, indeed not. The classic instruments including the Signet are very good.
Another issue though is what kind of MP are they including? You may want to ask that question as there are lots of classic MPs that they might just swap out. I know I'm going to "shelled and seriously flamed" for this but perhaps a Selmer HS** or a Vandoren B45 might be a nice place to begin. I've never had a lot of luck with the Selmer HS* since I am doubler that uses pretty open sax MPs.
HRL
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Author: GBK
Date: 2009-10-07 18:42
Hank Lehrer wrote:
> I know I'm going to "shelled and
> seriously flamed" for this but perhaps a Selmer HS** or a
> Vandoren B45 might be a nice place to begin.
"shelled and flamed" ? Perhaps not, but I would recommend going the other way, to a less open mouthpiece.
I have all my beginner/younger students play mouthtpieces with less resistance (Fobes Debut, Hite Premier, 5RV, etc...) since it teaches them have a firm, but relaxed embouchure and NOT to bite to make up for the wide tip opening of the B45.
...GBK
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Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-10-07 19:25
joebob,
Merely a word of consumer caution. Clarinuts is a reputable business and the clarinet models that have been discussed are all worth your while to investigate and/or play.
And yes, older wood instruments can be better than newer ones.
But please do take advantage of the very fair return policy. Have the instrument checked out carefully before you buy it. Used instruments, even those that have been overhauled, may have quirks in the key work or fail to play in tune with the barrel that accompanies them. A $288 deal can easily become more costly.
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Author: old999
Date: 2009-10-07 19:54
If money is still an issue, the Vito is still a very playable instrument. It was recommend by my woodwind repairman a few years ago when I asked about a safe-for-outdoors backup to my Buffet R13. I found a V40 for $65 on eBay, had my man clean/lube/adjust and buff the keys for under $100. More recently I swapped my Buffet for a soprano sax and am glad to still have the Vito. As you might have guessed, I'm more into sax than clarinet, but I've been playing the Vito quite a bit lately and am very pleased with it.
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