i wanna buy a clarinet

musicdave

Hi,

I am a clarinet teacher and teach woodwind in local schools for a few music authorities in the north east. I thought I would just reply as I work with clarinets every day. The best make in my opinion is Buffet with their B12. This is a really good learner instrument, which took me up to my grade 5 before I then changed to a Buffet Prestige for my A levels and Degree. Other makes can be ok, such as Yamaha but it would never be an instrument I would recommend. Just a quick note on the Netto and other cheap imported instruments, I have a few children where the parents have bought them for their lessons and they are not great quality at all. They have all developed faults, and it has even came to the point that musical instrument repairers are told not to repair them as they can not guarantee their work as they will break again in the near future. There are 2 main places which I would trust, one is called John Packer which is a music shop in Taunton, they have a website, and the other is a musical instrument shop and repairer in Darlington which I visit if I ever have a problem with an instrument which is called George Gladstone's. He has a website too. He will give you the best advice of anyone out there as he is working with the instruments every day.

Hope this helps a bit

evilsheep

I'd just like to agree with nomorespending & musicdave. Normans' after-care is abysmal (and most brand new instruments DO need aftercare, don't be fooled by their low prices) and AVOID Stagg, Odyssey - any instruments from non-music shops basically. I've lost count of the amount of times well-meaning family members have bought cheap, barely playable instruments only for them to become irreparably damaged through normal wear-and-tear within months (sometimes weeks) resulting in desperately disappointed child. You generally can't go wrong with Buffet & Yamaha instruments as they're built to last. Established, reputable shops like Myatts, Packers are usually open to a bit of haggling if you're buying outright and often have special offers or second-hand stock.

Ask your school or LEA about the Assisted Musical Instrument Purchase Scheme which enable you to buy an instrument VAT-free (I believe this is only an option if you're child is being taught by an LEA Music Tutor and/or attends an LEA maintained school). Don't try to buy an instrument first and then claim back the VAT as it doesn't work that way!

I wouldn't avoid eBay completely as most instruments on there are nearly-new, being sold by parents whose child has decided clarinet isn't the instrument for them after a month or so. I've bought several instruments online over the years and haven't experienced any problems (so far!) - just do as you normally would and check feedback, ask plenty of questions to establish condition, reason for sale etc.

Might be worth buying a pair of earplugs too for those 'early years' of the learning process

Personally, I'd recommend the Yamaha YCL 250 for younger learners - more robustly built and generally more ergonomically shaped. Buffet B12s have varied in quality lately and thumb-rests are prone to breaking.

mccristo

Whoa. Don't go to Normans they are rediculously overpriced!

I'm a Saxophone/Clarinet and Piano teacher based in Derbyshire. The best thing you can do is get a second hand Buffet B12 clarinet for around £70 on ebay, take it to the teacher you choose to try it out, any problems can be repaired for around £30 at any reasonably priced repairer. The Buffet B12's as mentioned before are fab instruments. All the Yamaha's are worth a go. The second hand Yamaha 26 models are really good and often a similar price to the B12.

There is little point in buying a brand new B12 clarinet for £180+ from anywhere, little difference between new and second hand ones.

ahenry

I bought a clarinet from Netto in Newmarket today for £19.99. There was one other one left. I'm sure they will be clearance stock, and there might not be many others left in shops, but its worth keeping an eye out for them. They are packaged in a plain cardboard box around the case.

There are some OK reviews for them here:
http://cafesaxophone.com/showthread.php?2170-Netto-clarinet&p=19532&viewfull=1#post19532
http://cafesaxophone.com/archive-breakfastroom/index.cgi?fid=01&topic_id=1206807202&page=2

headintheclouds

ahenry wrote: »

I bought a clarinet from Netto in Newmarket today for £19.99. There was one other one left. I'm sure they will be clearance stock, and there might not be many others left in shops, but its worth keeping an eye out for them. They are packaged in a plain cardboard box around the case.

Sorry to disappoint you, but this really won't be a good buy. There is no way a properly crafted clarinet can be this cheap. It's not a bargain. If a beginner learns on a "fake" instrument like this, they will learn bad technique and it just won't make a decent sound. It will be harder to learn and play than a decent beginners' model from a geniune supplier. A couple of years ago there was a plastic model at £99 that sold from places like bargain bookshops. It was made in China and it was just appalling. People bought them and ditched them pretty quickly.
If you're going to buy a musical instrument, you have to pay the going rate. You can get good second-hand deals but it really is worth going through a reputable supplier.
I'm sorry to sound negative, but I am a clarinettist and this sort of "deal" really worries me.

ahenry

headintheclouds wrote: »

Sorry to disappoint you, but this really won't be a good buy. There is no way a properly crafted clarinet can be this cheap. It's not a bargain. If a beginner learns on a "fake" instrument like this, they will learn bad technique and it just won't make a decent sound. It will be harder to learn and play than a decent beginners' model from a geniune supplier. A couple of years ago there was a plastic model at £99 that sold from places like bargain bookshops. It was made in China and it was just appalling. People bought them and ditched them pretty quickly.
If you're going to buy a musical instrument, you have to pay the going rate. You can get good second-hand deals but it really is worth going through a reputable supplier.
I'm sorry to sound negative, but I am a clarinettist and this sort of "deal" really worries me.

I realise that its the musical equivalent of a Bike-Shaped Object
http://www.southcoastbikes.co.uk/articles.asp?article=NO_BSO

However, in this case, I wouldn't have spent £75 on a second hand clarinet on the off chance that it would get used, persuading my kids to blow on someone else's mouthpiece. I certainly wouldn't have spent £180 on a new instrument. Perhaps I will if I like this one.