 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: B911b
Date: 2013-07-30 15:18
First and foremost I want to say what a great community you have here. I've been lurking for a little while and decided to post my own question.
Just a little background. I've played the clarinet throughout elementary and high school and later as an adult in a Church group. I was proficient with it, but never reached a level beyond an amateur player. I always played the same clarinet an Artley Bb I received in fourth grade. Unfortunately, it was destroyed when I lost my house due to Hurricane Sandy.
I have an 8 month old son that I want to slowly introduce into music and I want to be able to introduce him to create sounds as he gives me weird looks.
Basically, I wanted to know if I should buy a beginner Clarinet or look for something more advanced. It's not something I plan to buy right now, but something I want to save towards in the near future.
Your feedback is appreciated.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2013-07-30 15:34
Really depends on what you wish to spend. There are decent Clarinets for $600 (Backun makes a really good plastic Clarinet), and of course a lot more depending on what you wish to invest in.
Whatever you get, make sure to have a repairman have a good look over, as even brand new high quality Clarinets have problems right off the bat.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: hgp_atx
Date: 2013-08-05 03:48
When I started playing clarinet about 4 years ago, I rented a Intermediate wooden Yamaha YCL-450N clarinet. Another good model is the Buffet E11, which is also an Intermediate wooden clarinet. But if you are an amateur but an experienced player, an Intermediate model would be good to start with because some student models are not very good at all. And if you wanna try getting a professional model, the Buffet R13 is amazing. I just got one and it's an incredible instrument. However, the mouthpiece is more critical to the tone of the instrument. If you just want a good mouthpiece, the Vandoren M13 Lyre is good. But if you wanted something a little better, look up Brad Behn Mouthpieces and he makes really good mouthpieces. Also if you used Brad Behn's, the best reed to use with them is the Vandoren V12s.
Hugh Pauwels
Austin, TX
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Author: Orlando Natty
Date: 2013-08-05 13:19
As a returning adult myself (I've been back at it for about three years now), I would recommend getting a used pro horn. I still had my (German) Buffet E11 when I came back to playing and I was able to play that for a while. However, just as I had gotten frustrated with that horn's limitations in my college days, I again got frustrated and began the hunt for something better.
You can get some great used pro horns from the 60s and 70s (sometimes older or newer) for good prices on "that auction site". Many times you can even get them for way less than you would pay for a newer student or intermediate instrument. Vintage LeBlancs, especially, go for very reasonable prices on the auction sites.
You could get a student horn for relatively little, or even a decent older intermediate such as a Noblet or Normandy, but for a bit more you'll enjoy your experience much more with a pro horn. If you go into it with the assumption that even a decent horn will still need some attention by a repair person, you won't be disappointed.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-08-05 15:11
The further from your face something is, the less it matters.
Your embouchure, tongue and soft palate position and way of blowing are 80%. A good mouthpiece is 10%. A good, well-balanced reed is 5%. A good barrel is 4%. The rest is 1%, unless it's something really bad (like an old Artley).
Buy a good quality student model plastic clarinet, such as a Vito, Yamaha or Buffet. A used one is fine. They're built to take abuse and can be refurbished inexpensively. With a good mouthpiece, one of them will take you back to where you were when you stopped playing and a lot more.
If you start to feel the instrument's limitations, get a hand-made barrel. I've put my handmade mouthpiece and barrel on a Vito, and nobody could tell the difference from my R13. Even I was surprised and how similar they played.
Welcome back to the land of the living clarinet.
Ken Shaw
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