I have been learning the clarinet since September and having joined a local training band am now looking to upgrade from a student Yamaha to an intermediate wooden one, does anyone have any recommendations? What sort of things should I be looking for?

The best thing is to try as many as you can and to take someone with you to listen.
If you can't notice quite a difference then you'd probably be better to wait.
Less than a year might not be quite long enough to have gained a good solid technique which will help you to choose an upgrade. It might be worth upgrading the mouthpiece first. This is what I did.

Good advice again SBHOA

A good plastic can see you through many years - my 20+ year Yamaha 26ii has only just been traded in (last year). I upgraded to a Vandoren 5RV mouthpiece pretty early on though on my teacher's advice. I love it soo much I've stuck with it after my recent upgrade.

I'd ask your teacher's advice if I were you.

edit: plus what suits you now might not suit you so well as you progress and unless you've money to burn ....... Probably better to wait.

Hello louise1712, and welcome to the forums - nice to see another Yorkshire person here... I'm in Leeds

I got a Leblanc Esprit about 18 months ago after I'd been playing for around 3 years and I was working towards Grade 4 ABRSM. At the time I was told that it wasn't normally "done" to upgrade until maybe around Grade 5 when you're normally more secure with your sound, but I was having difficulty with the finger positions on my old clarinet. What made the most difference though was getting a new ligature - I'd already got a new mouthpiece (the Vandoren 5RV) but when I tried the Rovner and BG ligatures, there was a huge difference with both of them, and I eventually got the Rovner.

When I was choosing my new clarinet, the deciding factor for me was how comfortable/convenient the keywork was, particularly the register key, the A key and the F#/C# key, and the position of the thumbrest (and how adjustable it was).

If you can wait until September (which is only 5 weeks away ) and can get to the Yorkshire College of Music in Headingley, you can have a go on my clarinet if you want and also try my ligature

And as one illustration of the fact that what works for one doesn't necessarily work for all is that the 2 previous posters upgraded TO a Vandoren5RV mouthpiece while I upgraded FROM one.

Yes. certainly we are all individual but apparently so are the mouthpieces.

My teacher recently told me a tale about someone who he worked with in a theatre band was real excited about getting a special type of mouthpiece (a Height maybe??? sp?) having borrowed one he loved. When his finally arrived he put it on, played it and asked my teacher what he thought. Turned out the agreed opinion was that it was ok but not such a huge improvement as the one that he'd previously borrowed.

Apparently whilst the bulk of a set model will be very alike there can be slight differences meaning you can get a particularly good one or conversely a particularly bad one too.

My teacher seems to think my clarinet and mouthpiece, lig and reed is a perfect conbination. he loves my sound. As do I (when I'm playing well of course )

I too am from Yorkshire.

Louise

It's Hite... I know because I have a Hite D which was a bit of a surprise for Barry who took me through the testing process.

Thanks sbhoa I don't really know anything about them. Good mouthpieces then???

P.S. hope my post last night did not in any way come accross as not agreeing with you. I was very and wondered later if it might seem a little short? disagreeing? dunno Hope not anyway. You make some very good points.

M30 also seems to be another popular mouthpiece for those who prefer a closer mouthpiece and B45 for those who prefer more open.... (in my experience anyway)

But Louise. Best to try out some and don't buy if not entirely happy. If it's a good shop they may be able to point you in the right diredction of one which'll suit. There are just so many out there it's all a bit daunting isn't it??


If you go for a new clari a yamaha 650 possibly might be the way to go. or Buffet E11 or E13???? Depensing on what standard of instrument you want and if you intend to upgrade again or not?

The leBlanc Esprit did not suit my hand size/shape at all but was great for Skylark but is another good instrument in the same ball park as the othes mentioned.

I found the Buffet Keywork slightly different to the Yamaha but preferred the sound of the Buffet. To be honest I am still getting used to the lower keywork and occasionally miss them i f concentrating too hard on the notes. Just shows that those slight differences do make a difference

Also, just a suggestion but if you could find a more advanced player to take along with you and they could play the instruments too at a level beyond your current capabilities it could show you the sound each is capable of. Plus a second opinion from someone "in the know" is always useful.

Good luck and happy choosing. Let us know which direction you go in won't you.

It works for me.

I had no problem with your post. Read ok to me.
Thanks for the compliment, I'm always a little wary with posting clarinet stuff.

Why? If you know the/an answer then why not post? After all I feel that the forum works best when many people put in their 2pennethworth.

Confusing it may be/get at times but one can create a more balanced picture from other people's experiences if multiple people post regardless of whether their experience was positive or negative and regardless of their own standard/ability which is rather subjective anyway. You opinion/experience has as much worth as anyone else's.

BTW didn't you join the ranks of the more advanced clarinettist recently anyway..... ???

Hi Louise - welcome to the forums

If you've only been playing since Sept I'd wait a bit before upgrading. Assuming it is in reasonable condition the student Yamaha should be good for a while, most teachers start suggesting an upgrade to an intermediate model at about G5 standard (I didn't upgrade until G8 but by then the instrument was restricting my progress). If the student instrument is on loan and you are wanting your own clarinet (and can afford it of course) then yes an intermediate wooden one would be worth considering.

All of the advice you've received so far has been good. All clarinets/mouthpieces are different and what suits one player may not suit the next.

Don't hestitate to ask loads of questions here, we are a friendly bunch.






I've never played a Hite but they are popular mouthpieces especially in the States. I've only heard good things about them.

I tend to wonder whether I'm talking sense or not. Though I'm sure somebody would put me right if I wasn't.



Barry made me do it......
Recent form would probably have me evicted.

I'm sure there's no worry on that front here


Surely not.......

Many thanks to everyone that has posted, your comments have been extemely useful. Following what seems to be popular opinion, I have decided to look at changing the mouthpiece and ligature for the timebeing. Will keep you posted on how I get on

Argh, the thumbrest! That is the one realy pain about my old buffet, which came before adjustable thumbrests and where the thumbrest is positioned appallingly.

I should really get it moved, I might then play the clarinet occassionally...

Good luck with mouthpiece & lig experimenting, Louise have fun!

Once again thanks to all those who have posted suggestions. After quite a while!!!!!!!! deciding which one I liked best, I finally came away with a Vandoren 5RV mouthpiece and a Rovner ligature - can't believe the difference it has made. Practice today has been extremely enjoyable , not sure whether my neighbours will agree though. Definately the right decision to try the different mouthpiece and ligature - thanks everyone

It's amazing isn't it! I remember posting a while ago about how my teacher and I had looked at each other in astonishment when I tried her Rover and BG ligatures. Really glad it's worked out for you

And congratulations for discovering this at a much earlier stage in your playing career than I did - I still can't believe I got right through to 2 years past G8 before I even realised that there was more than 1 mouthpiece available for a clarinet. If only these forums were available then I might have had an easier time.

I'm glad you found something you are happy with Enjoy