 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ellebrosseau
Date: 2014-07-11 20:07
Hiya. My clarinet has sustained a crush-injury and can not be fixed. (Let's not go into details. I'm still grieving.) Anyway, would you folks recommend an intermediate or professional clarinet for college? I'm not a music major. I'm just a hobbyist playing in the concert band. Thanks.
ADD NOTE: I've been playing for about 10 years.
Post Edited (2014-07-11 20:09)
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Author: nbclarinet
Date: 2014-07-11 21:15
A Buffet r13 is pretty standard at least here in the states. If that is out of you're range I have heard really good things about ridenour clarinets but I haven't used them personally.
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2014-07-11 22:58
In your situation, I would highly recommend the Ridenour Lyrique or Libertas. Wonderful clarinets at a very reasonable price, and I enjoyed the Lyrique way over my hand-selected R13. Can't imagine what the Libertas would feel like.
There's no reason a non-major should feel the need to get an R13. Professional wood clarinets belong to the collegiate and professional market. However, the Ridenour clarinet is a very good professional instrument- it's just not made of wood. I don't see why so many clarinetists have such strict brand or material bias when these instruments knock so many out of the water.
Just my two cents.
P.S: I am now a non-major too. I majored in music for a year and made a career change. Trust me, I don't need to have my R13 for concert band or auxiliary lessons. I play the clarinet because I enjoy it, not because I have sold my soul to it.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2014-07-11 23:29
Libertas you could get with the payments spread out over 12 months at no interest cost.
I have a Libertas that is very good! Long time ago I tried an Arioso, but it wasn't for me.
They are quite affordable too, and built very well.
disclaimer: I'm good friends with Tom and his William.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: as9934
Date: 2014-07-12 00:52
For a non-major the New Buffet E12f is wonderful. Backun Protege is also superb. Both are cheaper than a new R13 and sound IMHO just as good if not better than the R13. Leblanc Bliss is also quite good.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Wind Ensemble
Buffet E11 clarinet , Vandoren Masters CL6 13 series mouthpiece w/ Pewter M/O Ligature, Vandoren V12 3.5
Yamaha 200ad clarinet, Vandoren B45 mouthpiece, Rovner ligature
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Author: GeorgeL ★2017
Date: 2014-07-12 01:29
To use your words: Be Reasonable. Spend as little as you can now to get a clarinet you enjoy playing. Judging from one on-line catalog, you can get a decent intermediate clarinet for about $1500; a 'professional' model is at least twice that amount. The $1500 you save might buy you a semester's worth of books.
If you are like many of us, you may not play too much for the first few years out of college while you concentrate on one or more of grad school, family, and job. (It was 15 years for me, and I have played in enough community bands to know that is not unusual.) When you do have time to start playing again, hopefully you will be earning enough that you can buy any clarinet you desire.
George Libman
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Author: pewd
Date: 2014-07-12 03:26
"A Buffet r13 is pretty standard at least here in the states."
Yup.
FWIW, where I teach (Dallas, TX suburbs), we usually recommend an upgrade to an R13 in 8th or 9th grade, for the better students. Almost all of the students moving on to college have 2 instruments, an E11 for marching, and a R13 for concert band.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: tylerleecutts
Date: 2014-07-12 07:24
Paul- I would LOVE to teach in your neighborhood. . I would love to meet a 9th grader that actually needs an R13. . That would be a good player indeed!
Anyhow, the R13 is standard because of market share and brand bias- not because its the best for the price. The Recital, Yamaha, Leblanc and Ridenour clarinets are ALL better, but many haven't caught on yet. . When you have to try 10 or more of a mass-produced product, how do you know the "good" one is an accident, or they're that inconsistent?
Not saying the R13 is bad. . It's just highly overrated and almost always requires 100s of dollars in work to get it just right, no matter if it has been shipped or is bought as direct as it gets.
It's amazing how most studios where the clarinet professor is not a Buffet artist the emphasis is put on the quality of the instrument, rather than the brand. I know at USF this had been the case throughout, and I was very appreciative of it.
I would still recommend the Lyrique or Libertas- you can't beat that it is professional quality and still will hold up to the elements much better than any wood clarinet would.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2014-07-13 02:17
I don't think you need a professional instrument for what you want to do. On the other hand, you should be able to find a fairly recent (post 1990) professional model in good playing condition for $1,100 - $1,500. A used Yamaha YCL450 or Buffet E11 should be available for under $500, possibly under $300. Either would be plenty of clarinet for what you want to do in college and should serve you well as an adult amateur afterwards.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: ErezK
Date: 2014-07-29 23:12
Another perspective: a clarinet is not a laptop or a car, you don't replace or upgrade that often, in fact, it very well may be the last one you ever buy. The price difference amortized over decades is not that big. Also, just like good tools, it is not an expense - it is an investment, in this case an investment in an aspect of your life that means a lot to you.
Buy the one that makes you the happiest.
Post Edited (2014-07-31 21:53)
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2014-07-30 19:53
Seems like Selmer and Yamaha have entry level pro models that are decent. The Yamaha 650 if set up well certain works and sound decent. I remember the Omega Selmers were not so bad.
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Author: Siq
Date: 2014-07-31 17:33
"in fact, it very well may be the last one you ever buy"
That's how I convinced myself to buy a (entry level) professional instrument. I haven't yet, but I'm leaning towards the Backun Protégé.
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Author: rtmyth
Date: 2014-07-31 18:03
Try before buy, starting with used instruments. Many are available on the internet.
richard smith
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2014-07-31 21:28
Buffet E13 or Backun Protege will be the best intermediate instruments if you are in an amateur concert band. When used with Moennig or Chadash barrels, the sound becomes even better.
For myself, a student aspired to be a music major in a conservatorium, I use an E13 with B40-88 mouthpiece, Moennig barrel and Backun Protege bell. These 2 latter aftermarket contraptions significantly improved the sound of an intermediate instrument. In fact they(yes, the Protege bell too) could improve the sound of an R-13!
Josh
Post Edited (2014-08-01 11:23)
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Author: TomS
Date: 2014-08-01 01:26
It was very common in High School (45 years ago) for the "better" players to own top of the line clarinets. However, with a much better economy in those days and R13s/Leblanc LL/Selmer Series 9s and 10s going for about 400 bucks (list price!), it was easier for most families to afford.
I vote for the RCP Lyrique Libertas ... but I've owned and played many others. You will pay more for a really good used R13 than one of Ridenour's instruments. But, try several brands and models ... just get the one you like.
Some of the new wooden clarinets have resorted to tone hole inserts and actually sealing/painting the wood to assure better reliability under age and changing conditions. Seems like a small step to just go with a non-wood instrument.
I'd move to the best clarinet you can afford and keep it forever, if it holds together and doesn't limit your progress.
Tom
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