 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: AndrewDRJ
Date: 2016-12-06 00:42
I've been playing the clarinet for many years now, borrowing my schools clarinet. I am just working towards grade 6 as far as my playing level is. I am looking for a clarinet of my own ( preferably wooded) for around £500. Can any one help me?
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Author: SarahC
Date: 2016-12-06 01:08
Hi Andrew.
Many clarinets will do u to grade 8 and beyond.
Despite not being wooded, I think the ridenour lyrique is the best value for money for the tone and intonation u get. I have a buffet e11 and an Amati 671 and while I think the tone of the other two is slightly better, the intonation and pleasure to play factors are much to be desired, and if I was buying today I would go straight for the lyrique or the libertas.
I hear good things of Hanson's which is local to u, although have never actually tried one myself. Don't know how close they are to you, but definitely worth trying.
And I don't know what prices are for Yamaha's in Britain, but the Yamaha 650e has the extra key which is absolutely to die for! And a really nice tone... Although possibly a brighter tone than what is the rage in Europe??
My Amati is a very nice clarinet for what I paid (1000$ and, but not sure what price they are regularly). It has that extra key, and the dark German sound. But I wouldn't say it is a pleasure to play. It is heavier to hold, and feels like it takes more effort to get the same result as the ridenour. But my friends who have Amati's and love them are male. And we know men are generally stronger and have larger lung capacity than women... Particularly middle aged women like me!
And while I hear u on preferably wood... My buffet developed a crack quickly, and an evening clarinet could be left set up on the stand without fear of cracking.
For that money u would be unlikely to get a decent buffet. And while I would say the r13 was nicer to play than my Amati.... It wasn't $3500 nicer, which was the price difference! Similarly for the ridenour, the ridenour was easier to play in tune than the r13, but the r13 didn't sound 3000$ nicer... If that makes sense.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-12-06 03:04
The Buffet E13 is a very popular model with many teachers and should be available used for around £500- £650.
However a highly underated clarinet is the Leblanc Esprit. Sadly no longer manufactured but occasionally found on the used market and "that website".
I sold an Esprit A clarinet about a year ago to a music student on a specialist music course whose Bb was an R13.
She, and her teacher, both rated the Esprit as being better than her R13.
The Yamaha 650 is also a well regarded instrument.
There are also some beautiful older Leblanc professional level clarinets on the used market, such as the LL, L7, L200.
These are wildly under-rated and hence often remarkable inexpensive.
I've been playing my pair of LLs for over 50 years now and would not change.
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Author: AndrewDRJ
Date: 2016-12-07 00:39
Thank you for your great and detailed responses :D
I'e looked into most of the clarinet's you've suggested and have come to the conclusion that I should probably spend a little (lot) more, so I will be saving for a while now :P
Unfortunately, although the lyriques look amazing, I couldn't find any that I will probably have enough money to purchase one. I also couldn't actually find any Amati's online, or in one of the more local music shops (Which had a very limited range to start with)
However, I did find a well priced Buffet e11 which I am considering, but still not sure on.
The E13 I could not find at £650 pounds unfortunately, and I couldn't find a Leblanc Espirit at all D; Yamaha again was just a little expensive.
I loved the idea of the older Leblancs, but could only find some fairly sketchy looking "Self refurbished" ones from America, and with shipping and no warranty I didn't deem it worth the risk.
While I was looking for the Leblancs, I did stumble across a "Leblanc Bliss 310s" but I couldn't find much about it online, although it would be in my price range.
Thanks again for your help
Andrew
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Author: BbMajorBoy
Date: 2016-12-07 01:06
Of the choices mentioned here, I would recommend any of the intermediate Yamaha models from the 450 upwards, they also crop up fairly regularly online and in shops. An E13 would also be good but at your price point it is likely to be a bit older and maybe need some work done to bring it up to playing condition.
Hanson instruments should be avoided and are just expensive student instruments masquerading as professional ones.
I've just checked some second hand retailers and Woodwind and Reed in Cambridge currently have a second hand Ridenour Lyrique for sale. I suggest giving them a call and maybe trying this instrument. I have played the ridenour A and liked it a lot.
Leonard Bernstein: "To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
Post Edited (2016-12-07 01:20)
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Author: jthole
Date: 2016-12-07 14:42
Agreed about an older E13 potentially needing a bit more work (and cash) to get it in optimum condition. However, my very limited experience with the E13 clarinets is that I liked the older ones better than the newer ones. This is based on a sample size of only three, by the way.
Another option, which also probably requires a bit more money, is to look for an older professional instrument in good condition. I would factor in the costs for a check-up into that.
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