want to start doubling

[bandman08]

Ive been playing sax for around 5 or 6 years, and i wanna start doubling on flute and clarinet. I was wondering what good brands to start on. I dont really want to start on a student horn, because i wanna stick with these to. Thanks

[bpimentel]

So are you looking for step-up instruments? Or going straight to professional quality?

Brands have been discussed here over and over, in detail, so make sure you read some of the other posts.

Here we go:

The four major makers of non-student clarinets are Buffet, Leblanc, Yamaha, and Selmer (Paris). The Buffet R13 clarinet has been the most common choice of pro players for decades, but a good argument could be made that clarinets by the other makers are as good or better. These makers all make student models, too. A recent thread in the SOTW clarinet forum picked out Yamaha and Vito (by Leblanc) as good student instruments, as well as the Forte clarinet.

Flutes are a little harder to pin down specific brands. Yamaha and Pearl do a brisk business in the step-up to advanced price range. Jupiters seem to get mixed reviews. Gemeinhardts were a standby for years but seem to have fallen out of favor lately--I think it was Gordon (NZ) who mentioned in a recent post that they have failed to keep up with other companies in updating their line, but I can't seem to find the post now. In the pro range, you add to Pearl and Yamaha possibilities like Haynes, Muramatsu, Prima Sankyo...

Good luck!
Bret

[Gordon (NZ)]

Why not start with a student Yamaha, properly adjusted. These play better than top professional instruments did only a few decades ago. To get something better you have to pay megabucks, and unless you are a seriously accomplished player, playing advanced music, the difference is in the way they play is not much.

[Benny]

As well as not being able to really notice the differance between a student model and a high-end instrument, you will probably find a professional model harder to play, not easier. Student instruments are easier to play for a reason. Professional quality instruments have the potential for more colours and flexiblilty but you need to know how to bring these out. If not, they are just harder. I still remember when I first went from a plastic clarinet to my first wooden clarinet. and when I went from my student model yamaha sax to my first Selmer. The positive changes I expected from these instruments was not immediate and much required work, although it was worth it in the end.
Student yamahas are a great place to start.