Decent Cheap Clarinet

[CodyW]

I want to buy a cheap clarinet beacause in some songs im playing in for jazz i need to double on clarinet. I see on ebay i can get a fair amount of clarinets for around 100 dollars. I can get like plastic bundys, selmers, yamahas for this price. I only need to play clarinet on a few parts of some songs, so i don't need a good one. Out of the ones that go for this price on ebay, which ones are the best quality?

[Dr G]

Two schools of thought, it seems, regarding doubling...

1) Since one doesn't play as many notes or frequent parts, don't take it seriously - don't invest any time, practice, money, etc.

2) The audience shouldn't know which is your primary horn and which is your double. If you are going to take yourself and your music seriously, only perform on instruments on which you have reasonable competency.

Either way, I suggest you consider transposing the parts for now.

[SuiZen]

I've owned a few Yamaha YCL-20s, liked them, and they get good reviews. I think Yamaha is a good choice, if you get one in good condition.

I didn't want my 10 year old, who recently started clarinet, to use my expensive horns. So, I let her get a rental from school. It's a Selmer 1400. I can't believe how good it sounds. I'm going to buy it.

I think the important thing, assuming the inexpenive horn is in good condition, is to get a good mouthpiece - very, very important.

Bill

[Gordon (NZ)]

A Yamaha plastic, in leak-free condition, even with the original 4C mouthpiece, can be played darn well. It won't be your limiting factor. If I was playing a plastic Yamaha in the doubling pit instead of my YCL62 wooden model, I don't think the audience would notice.

[SuiZen]

I agree with Gordon on the 4C moutpiece.

Bill

[JPrince]

I am kinda in the same predicament as CodyW, but for a different reason. I auditioned at Northeastern State U. in Oklahoma on saxophone, and he loved my playing and asked me do you play any other horns. (I auditioned on Bari Sax). I said well, I also play Tenor Sax pretty good, Im fair on Alto Sax, and I also play Contrabass Clarinet. As soon as I said that he almost forgot I was a sax player but was more interested in using me as a clarinet player. I am pretty good on a ContraAlto, and am good on a Bass, but I have never even attempted to play a Bb Soprano clarinet, yet it seems I have about 4 months to figure out how. SO a YCL-20 is a good choice hrm? Well, I don't want to pay a lot, as I don't mind playing clarinet too much for concert band, not at all or marching bands (It sure as heck beats carrying a 20lb Bari Sax), but I am still a mainstay sax player. I play saxophone, not clarinet. But I do recognize that as a jazz sax player (what I prefer to do) doubling on clarinet is pretty much a necessity.

[Bootman]

Be careful with the 4C, there is only so far that this mpc will go. There are various limiting factors built into this mpc to make it easier for beginners to play the clarinet. The Vandorens and other mpcs do make a difference but it will require consultation with the teacher and the student. You will know when it is time to move on to a different mpc.

[woodwindmaster06]

I would recommend for a unexpensive clarinet, a selmer usa signet. For mouthpieces I would recoommend a vandoren.

[knighttrain]

You might be able to get a decent used Noblet Clarinet (Leblanc's intermediate level wood clarinet) for $100 on ebay. I did, then paid about $140 for a deluxe repad - excellent results.

[bari_sax_diva]

Here's my two cents:

- For an inexpensive clarinet, you're probably in good shape with any *well maintained* Yamaha. I've also owned a Selmer Signet that was quite good, and I sold it only because I stumbled on a great deal on a Series 9. I've also heard people say nice things about the Buffet E-11, and the Noblets. Whatever you get, make sure it's been well-maintained. If it's made of wood and was owned by a student, be careful--wood clarinets don't, generally, cope well with marching band duty.

- A good mouthpiece for a doubler (though I don't know how easy it is to find) might be a Jerry Hall. It seems to be free-blowing for a sax player, and I was using it a while before I learned my teacher was recommending it to his sax students. Great jazz piece!

-If you have always played sax and are new to clarinet, expect a bit of a learning curve--even something as simple as keeping holes properly covered can be a challenge at first. The register break isn't impossible, but it takes getting used to. Practice scales slowly at first, and hand out earplugs to family members--this horn has a squeak that can peel paint off the walls!

Good luck and let us know how it goes...
-Leanne

[David Spiegelthal]

I have a number of inexpensive, restored older clarinets for sale. daves@boblight.net

[Ritchie]

I second (3rd, 4th..?) the Yamaha plastic clarinet, in a good condition of course. Just keep practising scales and arpeggios over the break again and again, up and down, slowly and as legato as you can. Get a Vandoren mouthpiece, they are not too expensive but quite good.

[CodyW]

I'm not giving much time for response, my fault..but it ends in 5 hours:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2540067251&category=10 182&rd=1

Would it be a good deal?

[woodwindmaster06]

that is a good deal under 100 dollars!

[CodyW]

i'll probably buy it then...any other opinions?

[woodwindmaster06]

good luck hope it suits you well!

[CodyW]

Got it! Any opinions on whether i got a good deal?

[retread]

You got a screamin' deal if it doesn't need on overhaul. If it does need one, you got a good deal.

[Wicked Good]

Here's another take on the subject of cheap clarinets: don't count out a used Vito. My symphonic/chamber music Bb and A clarinets are both Buffet R-13s, but my spare/outdoor Bb clarinet is a late 1960s vintage Vito Resotone 3.

I'm personally partial to the more compact Buffet style of key placement rather than the more spread out Selmer style, and the Vito feels more like my Buffet than the 1970s vintage plastic Bundy I have. The Vito is certainly no Buffet, but it doesn't have to be.

Plus, the intonation on the Vito is miles better than that of the Bundy. YMMV.

[retread]

There are some nice Malerne clarinets on the market now and then. They can be good players and real bargains.

[David Spiegelthal]

I agree with 'retread' about Robert Malerne clarinets. I've restored probably eight or so Malerne Bb clarinets and about an equal number of Malerne or Malerne-stencil bass clarinets, and all have been of very good quality. I have at least one Malerne "Standard" wood Bb clarinet at home awaiting restoration, as a matter of fact.

[michaelbaird]

I would get a wooden Selmer, Evette Schaffer, or Boosey and Hawkes off of e-bay and get it overhauled.

[Gordon (NZ)]

It is easy to recommend bujying second hand on Ebay, However some people have no idea about just how bad a condition a second hand instrument can be in. There may be little that is immediately apparent visually.

Complete repad can be a very small part of the necessary overhaul, and the final result can be a clarinet that is worth much the same, or even less, than the cost of purchase plus the overhaul.

So buying blind on Ebay has a considerable associated financial risk.

[michaelbaird]

That is true. I do check them out and I know what to buy. It would be risky for someone who doesn't.

[sinkdraiN]

I had great success learning on a Yamaha student clarinet. Eventually I bought a cheap Leblanc LL and all is right in the world! Leblanc LL is a pro horn that sells used for around 400 dollars. I love mine

[David Spiegelthal]

I have a number of inexpensive, restored older clarinets for sale. NEW EMAIL ADDRESS: dspieg@boblight.net

I apologize for my earlier post which had a non-working email address --- I had to abandon that one because of an enormous onslaught of spam (about one junk email message every 5-10 seconds!) --- ain't the Internet grand!

Anyway, I have an eclectic mix of lesser-known but high-quality older clarinets, including:

-Couesnon
-Thibouville Freres
-Edmond Chedeville
-G. Pruefer
-Robert Malerne
-Triebert
-Penzel-Mueller
-Carl Fischer
-Auguste Buffet
-Cab`rt
My prices for these, fully-restored with leather pads all around range from $275 to $450; as with all the instruments and mouthpieces you would get a one-week trial with full refund (less shipping) if not completely satisfied.

[MARTINW]

I BOUGHT A YAMAHA YCL26 WITH A YAMAHA 6C MOUTHPIECE NEW ABOUT 3 YRS AGO. COST ME £400. SOUNDS GOOD - NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT. WITH THE RIGHT REED DOUBLE TOP C IS EASY.

[michaelbaird]

There you go. David just solved the problem. I would definitely prefer an older wooden overhauled clarinet as opposed to a plastic student one. Or find a good older one and get it overhauled.

[Sigmund451]

I have 2 clarinets, both need some pad worK:

A Doucet
A Boosey and Hawkes Edgware

Will let them go for a resonable offer. I just dont have the time to do the repadding and I hate messing with clarinets anyway...those teny parts are a pain.

[Gordon (NZ)]

There you go. David just solved the problem. I would definitely prefer an older wooden overhauled clarinet as opposed to a plastic student one. Or find a good older one and get it overhauled.
I have seen enough older, somewhat obscure-brand clarinets that are pretty disappointing, even after overhaul, to think that by comparison a YCL26, operating correctly, is much underrated.

[mbarnard]

Also don't forget the Selmer Series 9. These go for approx. $400.00, and were at one time Selmer's top of the line clarinet.

[michaelbaird]

My problem is that I don't like resonite. It is a predjudice I'm sure. I should keep my mouth shut ( keyboard quiet). I had a resonite bundy bass clarinet. It played very well but it was resonite. I wasn't happy until I was able to find a wood one that I could afford. It didn't have "The Tone." My first clarinet was a old wood Boosey and Hawkes. I became very attatched to it; I had to make myself put it down and start playing my Leblanc symphony clarinet which is a better instrument. I think alot of those old wooden clarinets still have life left in them.

[saxmanglen]

I was able to pick up an older Noblet clarinet on eBay. It had been fully repadded and recorked and was in great shape for $300. Plays incredible for a horn in that price range. The same seller may have some others he's selling. This particular auction didn't make reserve but I was able to work out a deal anyway. Here's a link to the item:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2556405795&category=10 182&rd=1

[David Spiegelthal]

Gordon (NZ) wrote:
"I have seen enough older, somewhat obscure-brand clarinets that are pretty disappointing, even after overhaul, to think that by comparison a YCL26, operating correctly, is much underrated."

Gordon, I'm sure you're correct in most instances and I don't want to sound paranoid or thin-skinned, but speaking for myself, regardless of the brand or age of a clarinet I've restored, I won't let it leave my basement if it doesn't play well --- even the very cheapest overhauled clarinets I've sold were decent players --- my reputation is all I've got and I'm not about to ruin it by selling junk. 'Nuff said --- end of indignant response. I'm sure the YCL26 is a fine clarinet if you say it is, but there are many viable alternatives also.

[Gordon (NZ)]

I think I would trust a clarinet done up by your good self, David, from what I know of you, without meeting you, and from never having seen your work.

I was responding to michaelbaird's blanket statement of preference, with no intended specific reference to any particular instrument or repairer.

I certainly had no intention that my comment be taken personally by yourself. I regret any misunderstanding.

[JfW]

I bought a Selmer Bundy Resonite clarinet from a garage sale for $40

the keywork looks good, but needs some new pads and all new tenon corks. My Tech quoted me about $75 bucks for the necessary work.

sounds like a good deal to me anyways.

[michaelbaird]

I can be rather opinionated. I hate to see musical instruments become disposable, most old clarinets in good shape I've seen still had lots of life left in them. My repairman lives 15 min away, and his charges are reasonable.