I've just ordered an Amati clarinet in C from Woodwind & Reed in Cambridge. I scoured the websites throughout Europe and was surprised to find the cheapest offer in the UK!

I've been hankering after one for a long time, mainly because I quite like playing along with our youngest when he's on the piano, and my sight transposing is*&#^% awful!

It's only the plastic model, because two people who have Amati clarinets told me that they felt there was little or no difference between the cheaper plastic vs cheaper wooden models, and having quite a collection of clarinets myself, I can well believe it. Since I really only want it for messing about with, I wasn't interested in a more expensive make.

So anybody else ever played one?

Steve

PS If I use the C clarinet upper joint with the Bb lower joint, will I be playing in B? Furthermore, if I try this at Band practice, what are the chances of me coming through it alive?

Yep they are usually used to teach kids with little hands as starter clarinets. My experience with them is not good they sound awful and are extremely difficult to play in fact for the child very disheartening. Amati I believe is czech and they are usually of poor quality, but there are exceptions Im sure

In answer to your Ps is nope dont think the mechanics of it work like that and I think death would be slow and painful

I've not tried one myself but have heard good things about the Amati C clarinets. I believe that a little work is needed to improve the intonation of some notes (and probably a different mouthpiece) but that overall they are respectable instruments. I've contemplated purchasing one a couple of times - but car tyres or something equally mundane have always stripped away my available funds.

Yes, they are Czech, but their instruments improved dramatically when their markets were opened to the west. I have corresponded with people from UK, Switzerland and USA about Amati and have heard only positive things about them.

Re. teaching kids, are you not thinking of the Lyons C clarinet? It may be okay, but it looks awful! There is also a 'Kinder clarinet' which I think is a cheap Eb.

CJB - I have the same problem with tyres. I was talked into buying our car 5 years ago fitted with wider tyres. One year later I had a puncture somewhere in Austria and learned just how much these wider tyres cost to replace!! Never again!


Steve