 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: okonomiW
Date: 2013-08-23 18:38
Attachment: clarinet.png (19k)
Hello, first time posting on a BBoard 
I'm going to be learning (Bb) clarinet this school year and I need help on deciding what brand clarinet to rent. The store I'll be renting from carries the following five student clarinets:
1) Vito model 7212
2) Buffet B12
3) Selmer model CL301
4) Jupiter model JUP637N
5) Yamaha model YCL255
I've been doing some research and reading forum posts on them and it seemed to me the Vito, the Buffet and the Yamaha are the most favoured.
Unfortunately, I am unable to contact my band teacher (who plays clarinet) to ask him for his opinion, so, for anyone who reads this, I'd like to ask:
-In what order would you place the five (from top choice to last choice), and why?
-When I go to the store, what should I watch out for when I try the clarinets?
Sorry if this question's been asked a lot before, I just need to know!
Thanks for reading this!
*I've attached a screenshot of the store's catalogue listing of the clarinets just in case. Don't know if it works, hope it does.*
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-08-23 19:21
I don't know that I could rank order all 5. In my experience at school with 4th grade clarinet beginners (I haven't taught a private clarinet student that age in a long time), I always found Yamahas, whatever the model of the year was, to be very serviceable and reliable. Although I'm told Jupiter brass instruments have become quite good, I have never had a high opinion of their woodwind instruments and would avoid them. I have no real feeling about ranking the other three.
Karl
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2013-08-23 19:38
Is there a different rental fee for each brand? Also, is this a straight up rental situation or is there a rent-to-own policy?
Honestly you would probably be better off just buying a used Vito 7212 as they are often available in good shape for <$200 which is probably not much different from what the cost will be to rent a clarinet for a year.
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Author: Barry Vincent
Date: 2013-08-23 21:59
The Jupiter JCL-631 II is excellent nowadays. Big improvement on this clarinet from 20 years or so ago.
The same apparently with all their woodwind. I have a Jupiter all silver flute (JFL-711E) and it is also excellent.
But you can hardly go wrong with any of the 5 clarinets listed above.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-08-23 22:17
I'm not familiar with the Jupiter, but apart from that any of these would be a good choice. If you have the opportunity to physically examine them at the same time, go for the one that is the best fit for your hands. Some instruments are more comfortable for people with smaller hands. Other than that, I'd personally choose the Yamaha or the Vito, only because they are almost indestructible and play well. The Buffet and the Yamaha will hold their value best if you choose to dispose of the instrument in the future.
Tony F.
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Author: hgp_atx
Date: 2013-08-24 00:29
You know if you can afford it and you think you might get more interested, you might consider a rental purchase on an intermediate model. If you lose interest, you can turn it back in and not lose much. However, if your interest stays, you have a better instrument. As far as intermediate models are concerned, there are two good ones I know of: the Buffet E-11 and the Yamaha YCL-450N and they are used quite a lot by beginners. However if you are just starting to learn the instrument rental purchase is logical. I've been playing Clarinet for about 4 years, and I started on the Yamaha YCL-450N intermediate on rental purchase and I retained interest so I bought it out. However I upgraded to a Pro Horn (A Buffet R-13) last month and kept my 4-year old Yamaha for marching.
Hugh
Post Edited (2013-08-24 00:54)
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Author: feadog79
Date: 2013-08-24 00:42
I haven't personally played each of the five models listed, but each of the five models listed are decent choices. Check rental prices and see if that matters. If it doesn't, play one of each and get the one that you like best.
Many student model clarinets are actually quite good. My wife is a flute player, and got ahold of a good Vito 7212 for doubling in theater pits. When she got it, I tested it for her with my mouthpiece and barrel. It played very well when I tested it (I could have played it myself in the next show we did, and nobody would have known I was using a "student" instrument).
Make sure you get a good mouthpiece, though. Clark W. Fobes makes a great student mouthpiece, but it's not the only one. Ask a teacher in your area for advice. The mouthpiece really is that important!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2013-08-24 22:56
Just buy a used Vito or Bundy plastic on eBay and have a Tech go over it.
Bob Draznik
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2013-08-25 01:42
I'm glad to read all the good reports about Jupiter clarinets. I know (and said earlier in this thread) that the band teachers back when I was responsible for buying instruments for the school district where I worked found the Jupiter trumpets, trombones and baritone horns quite good. At the time, no one liked the flutes, clarinets or saxes - mostly because they were badly out of tune with themselves and were mechanically poorly made. Apparently, much has changed since then.
Karl
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2013-08-25 01:54
They got better in the mid 90's. mid 80's, I didn't like them at all.
When I was at Backun in the early 2000's, Jupiter was what instruments were popular with the schools there.
I like them equally to the Yamaha, and Buffet for the plastic models.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: okonomiW
Date: 2013-08-25 20:15
There are two rental options:
1) Rent for a school year ($129 for any student clarinet and $215-$245 for intermediate ones)
2) Rent-to-own ($15-$22/month, depending on brand, so for example, the Jupiter clarinet is $16/month for 32 months and the Yamaha is $22/month for 36 months)
I'm debating on whether I should rent for one school year ($129), see if I like it and then rent on the rent-to-own option, or just rent on the rent-to-own program. So far, I'm thinking about just renting for a school year and see how that works out.
Unfortunately, the notion of getting a used *anything* doesn't sit that well with my parents, even though it would probably be more economic.
Thanks for posting!
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Author: okonomiW
Date: 2013-08-25 20:20
Yeah, I'm seeing a lot of different opinions on the Jupiter clarinets - some people are like "Just stay away, they suck!" and others are going "They've improved so much during the past years, they're well worth a try!" so that's interesting. I'll see how the Jupiter compares with the rest when I try it out.
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2013-08-26 11:28
There are differences in the sizes of the open finger holes. You didn't mention your age. If you have very small fingers, some models might be harder to start out with.
Steve Ocone
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