 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ruben
Date: 2026-01-27 13:24
A recent topic made mention of a new clarinet that has been made by Fox, the fine American bassoon maker. Has anyone out there tried one out?
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: m1964
Date: 2026-01-30 01:32
IF I were looking for a new instrument, I would want to try it first but none of Fox dealers around me (1-1.5 hr drive) show it in stock.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2026-01-30 08:54
Music and Arts is listed as a Fox dealer. In past experience I had luck asking a Yamaha dealer to bring in a Yamaha clarinet for trial. Perhaps Music and Arts would be willing to do the same for the Fox clarinet. I would assume there are not that many out there so sending them around will probably be the accepted way to have folks see them.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: ruben
Date: 2026-01-30 18:22
I see that its price -just over 4000 dollars-is quite reasonable; well below Buffet and Selmer's. Are these clarinets entirely manufactured in the US?
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-01-30 19:40
Yes, they are only manufactured in Indiana.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1Ool42gji8
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #5 reeds
ATG System and Cordier Reed Trimmer
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Author: m1964
Date: 2026-01-31 09:26
Ruben wrote:
"I see that its price -just over 4000 dollars-is quite reasonable; well below Buffet and Selmer's. Are these clarinets entirely manufactured in the US?"
The R13 can be bought in the US for about $4200-$4500.
I see Selmer Presence (an equivalent of an R13 in Selmer's world) selling for about $4500 or $4800 with left Ab/Eb key. Selmer has their Evolution system bore too.
Fox, at $4200, needs to be at least as good and probably better than the two models above, since its re-sale value and long-term reliability are unknown.
And, as Donald noted, will they make an A?
If they lowered the price, maybe there would be more buyers...
I've spoken to many community bands/wind symphonies player who told me their band mates use R13 mostly (it's like a gold standard), or Selmers 10/10G, or play cheaper instruments like Bundy or US Selmer.
At $4200, I'd be looking for a used Prestige or Festival.
However, one cannot underestimate feel of a new (and unique) instrument, so I suspect there will be Fox buyers at some point.
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Author: donald
Date: 2026-01-31 12:35
Apparently no plans to make an A clarinet, but that could change (that could BE changed with some pressure/interest maybe?)
I suppose they want to see if the Bb is competitive... the best way to do that WOULD be to lower the price- but the cost of French instruments will probably rise pretty soon so maybe they are banking on THAT happening...
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2026-01-31 13:28
If I were Fox, I would need to show what we're capable of producing first. You make a 'splash' with your potential at a given level and price point.
Then you expand your product offering. An intermediate and student level Bb would be obvious followed by a matching A to their initial offering.
While oboe makers can make great clarinets, there isn't necessarily a great track record for sales. Howarth made a really nice pro-level clarinet and stopped making them some time ago. I'm sure there are other examples.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Ridenour Homage mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren Traditional #5 reeds
ATG System and Cordier Reed Trimmer
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2026-01-31 20:34
The nice thing is they use actual real mechanical improvements in their advertising.
Statistically, how many clarinetists who are playing and/or are in the market for a $4,000+ clarinet need an A clarinet too?
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Author: kilo
Date: 2026-01-31 20:48
I thought the Fox video on the Sweetwater site was very informative.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1Ool42gji8&t=4s
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Author: donald
Date: 2026-01-31 23:29
David Kinder - Oboe maker Marigaux also made an excellent clarinet. The Howarth clarinets maybe sold more than you thought, just outside your "sphere of awareness", did that occur to you? After all, they did keep making them for decades....
clarnibass- high school kids buying a clarinet so they can get into all-state might then want to get an A clarinet when they go to Uni, without having to replace their Bb to get a match... Also, probably a great number of pro players won't even bother considering the Fox clarinet UNLESS they know there'll also be an A clarinet.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2026-01-31 23:52
For years, hardly anybody playing Selmer series 9 or 10 or 10S played a Selmer A clarinet, which was considered substandard. So a Fox A clarinet could wait and people could go on playing the A clarinet they are now using. For years, I played Selmer 10S and Buffet A clarinet.
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
Post Edited (2026-02-01 00:26)
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Author: graham
Date: 2026-02-01 02:11
Why not just go for it? No need for the “nobody got the sack for buying IBM” approach. An A of a different maker will do fine or Fox may launch one. Have one on approval. If you don’t like it, return it.
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