im getting a new clarinet when i go back to school. im going to order one! not sure which one yet but my mum said if i need a new one to continue and have a realisitic chance of doing ok at grade 8 then i can get a new one. only bad thing is that ive got to pay her back eventually......

Lucky you!! I was only allowed a new one when my other one packed in completely! It wouldn't play any notes which needed keys, and would play above G in the 2nd register!
Are you getting a wooden one or a plastic (resin i thinks the proper word ) one?

I'll suggest the R13 or R13 Prestige - both made by Buffet and you'll need about £1,400 I think.

If not, get the E13. All the above are Buffet

Natalie - it's great that you've got the opportunity to buy a new clarinet, but DON'T just order one - that really isn't what you should do, now that you are more advanced as a player!

You should go to a shop which has a good selection of different brands of clarinet (the 'Big 4' brands are Buffet, Leblanc, Selmer and Yamaha). Take your usual mouthpiece with you, and try out lots of instruments there (most music shops have somewhere where you can test out instruments).
Take a friend/teacher with you, who can listen to you play on the different clarinets and give you their opinion - but if it's your teacher, bear in mind that you should offer to pay for her time (even if she doesn't accept, she will be pleased that you offered!).
Take a tuning meter too, and a couple of favourite pieces - perhaps a slowish, lyrical one and a faster, more technical one - to play on each clarinet, to see how they respond.

Even two clarinets of the same brand and model will vary slightly, which is why you really should try-before-you-buy, so that you get what is best for you!

I've bought a lot of my clarinets from eBay, where generally you don't get the chance to try them out - by being careful I've come out of it with some excellent second-hand instruments at a very good price. But if you're buying a new clarinet, do make the most of the chance to test-run anything you're interested in!

Hope this helps,
Jo

PS The Leblanc Opus clarinets are VERY nice - but, unfortunately, very expensive too!

Hi Natalie

I have a Leblanc Sonata that I bought three years ago (£650 ish then) and it's been 100% reliable and makes a lovely sound - I found it nicer than the more expensive Yamahas and Booseys and much friendlier to play

Cat

I've got an R13 Prestige. I got it in January and it was £1800! It's great and I love it! I would recommend it - try the yamaha custom clarinet too - I didn't get on with it but some people find them good.

ok jo ill do that!!

i will probably get the R13.....maybe.......

thing is though, i can get it cheaper if i get it through my school and if i went to a shop then theyd kind of expect me to buy there and then if i was trying out clarinets all afternoon!

Could your teacher not help to 'smooth out' things for you? I presume that if you buy it through the school you will not be charged the VAT, which is great! But if you went to try some out, could she not get in touch with the shop and say that if you chose a particular one, could it be set aside and then the school would settle the bill (and then you pay the school)?
What you really don't want to happen, when you're spending quite a lot of money, is to be given a random clarinet just because that's what the school have been sent - you might be lucky and get a good one, but equally you could end up with something that is OK but not all that much better than the one you already have!
Have a chat with your teacher when you get back to school and see if you can sort something out - or perhaps get your mum to have a word, as she'll be paying for it initially!

Natalie - Just for interest, what clarinet do you have at the moment?

its a plastic one, and i want a wooden one

I was only wondering as say you have a Buffet B12, you'll probably get on better with an R13 as the keywork is similar. But if you have a Yamaha, then the Yamaha Custom may be an easier transition for you. I didn't get a wooden clarinet until my Grade 7. Remember though it takes about 6 months to "blow" a new clarinet in and feel comfortable and confident with it.

Why not have a look at the Buffet RC also. It is in the same league as the R13. I personally prefer it.

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Aug 27 2004, 08:58 PM)

thing is though, i can get it cheaper if i get it through my school and if i went to a shop then theyd kind of expect me to buy there and then if i was trying out clarinets all afternoon!

I agree, order through the school, the VAT saving at the price range you are talking about is HUGE. Similarly, at your level, consider buying online: the saving will be substantial and if the clarinet needs adjustment you will still be quids in, chances are any adjustments needed will be within the competence of your teacher anyway. It would be hard to go wrong with a Buffet (unbiased opinion here because we don't sell Buffets, in fact we don't sell clarinets at your sort of level at all, we can't get them)

In our experience as sellers, schools are happy to order from any reputable music shop, it doesn't have to be the one nearest to you, do your research and approach the school music teacher.


Liz

elidatrading- although im going to try to work things out so that i can order through school, i do think i need to try out the clarinet first- read jo.clarinet's reply-sha gave good advice.

and i dont mean to be rude but i would never buy a new clarinet online at "my level" because if there was something major wrong with it, then id be a bit stuck. not all teachers are going to be able to fix everything possible on the clarinet.

i know schools are happy to order from a reputable music shop, ive done it before but ive thought about it and listened to good advice, and really the best thing at "my level" to do is try them out first.

QUOTE (clarinetlover @ Sep 6 2004, 02:26 PM)

and i dont mean to be rude but i would never buy a new clarinet online at "my level" because if there was something major wrong with it, then id be a bit stuck.

Well, it's people like you who keep the bricks and mortar shops in business so good luck to you

But you are wrong about one thing: under UK law, you have seven days in which to return an instrument bought online from any trader (not a private seller but any trader including on ebay) for ANY reason AT ALL. So "getting stuck" with a major problem just isn't going to happen. This is a common misconception and it needs correcting.

Liz

I have just bought a new clarinet. I started on a Buffet B12 but wanted something better as i am starting a music degree. A good thing to do is to go to a music shop and try all of their clarinets. If you have started on a Buffet i think it is best to stick with buffet. I tried all of the other makes but i dont think anything compares to a Buffet.

If you do buy a new clarinet get it on approval and ask your clarinet teacher to try it out. This way if there is anything wrong with it or its just not that good it can be returned. In the end i decided upon a RC prestige.

Btw Natalie, Dawsons in Chester have a soundproof room and an expert-in residence on a Tuesday (I think) and they don't mind how many you try

thaaaanks Catrin! i didnt know that!!

my gosh i learn sumthing new everyday!!woohooooo!

oh and another thing!!

does Dawsons have all the good clarinets available to try out. like the clarinets people have mentioned and suggested in this topic?! although i live there i usually live more in the sheet music part of it LOL!!

They have quite a lot but I'm not sure about the top ends of the range - they did have more than most people. Why don't you ring them and ask? I've always found them super-helpful

ok will do soon!! do i just ask which advanced clarinets they have available to try?!

Have you been to the shop yet, Natalie? And what did your teacher say about it all? Will you be able to get it through the school?

to be honest, i havent had chance to even think about it recently let alone go to the shop! im going to have to get a move on really!

went to dawsons yesterday and tried some clarinets! it was between the buffet R13 and RC, im probably going for the RC

dats alway da way wid parents

but just tink how much better u could play [COLOR=blue]

I ordered my piano and viola thorough school and so i'm sure your school wouldn't mind! Its worth saving on the VAT!

I'm surprised that you managed to order your piano through school. When I wanted to order my new piano, the school would not let me do it through them as they did not teach the instrument in school. But I managed to get my clarinet through my county music service, and I saved about £200.

Very good choice with the RC, i much prefer it to the R13.

I have a Buffet E11 B flat clarinet I think, which I choose when I was school age. I needed an A clarinet for ensemble playing but as I was a poor student I bought one through my teacher which played poorly even though I had it overhauled. Cringingly out of tune over the break. Turned out to be unknown belgian wooden. At 6th form college I played and rehearsed Mozart Clarinet Quintet and borrowed a excellent professional pair of clarinets from a friend. I loved this clarinet but can't remember what it was called. I has a smooth wooden tone and is easy to play. I've seen other orchestral players use them but its not one of the makes shown in music shops. I know they are one of the best clarinets. Anyone got any ideas?

I have a Buffet E11 B flat clarinet I think, which I choose when I was school age. I needed an A clarinet for ensemble playing but as I was a poor student I bought one through my teacher which played poorly even though I had it overhauled. Cringingly out of tune over the break. Turned out to be unknown belgian wooden. At 6th form college I played and rehearsed Mozart Clarinet Quintet and borrowed a excellent professional pair of clarinets from a friend. I loved this clarinet but can't remember what it was called. I has a smooth wooden tone and is easy to play. I've seen other orchestral players use them but its not one of the makes shown in music shops. I know they are one of the best clarinets. Anyone got any ideas?