Need Advice on buying a clarinet
Jamie
Thanks to those of you who helped me before. I am still looking for a
plastic clarinet for my son to play in marching band as a freshman in high
school.
I have been on ebay and don't know what to buy:
Tanaka/grand for simba products - $100
Monique Pro - $237
Jinyin - $289
Heimer - $59
Merano - $119
Steuben - $119
and on and on..
The other option is to buy a used Vito plastic but they are much more. I
am still planning on purchasing a nice wood clarinet but I need to buy the
plastic first so that he has something to play when the rental runs out and
because marching band starts practicing over the summer.
Would you recommend any of the above (which are new) or should I look for a
Vito or some other "name brand that is used? I just have NO idea what I am
getting.....
Thanks again!
Jamie
Alex Sramek
first. If an auction is in your area, contact the seller and try the
instrument first. Otherwise, I would look around for used instruments
for sale. Ask at a local music store.
My plastic Yamaha student model (~$450) has lasted 5 years of marching
and concerts and is still in great condition (I just bought a wooden one
as well). If you plan to buy an expensive wooden one ($1000 or more),
be warned that there is high potential for minor instrument damage in
marching band -- weather damage, nicks and scratches, etc. Of course,
buying a separate one for marching and for concerts is best, if it's
affordable.
I've never heard of any of the clarinets you mentioned, but then I don't
know that many brands. What matters the most for marching band is that
it plays well (and loudly), is durable, and is in good condition.
-Alex
Myers Family
purchasing a Monique off of E-Bay. This instrument has done wonders for me
(especially since it isn't name brand) With the $200 instrument I have made
all county band, all district band, ninth grade honors band and 4th chair in
my high school's top band. This just goes to show you . . . its SOMETIMES
not always the instrument . . .its whos behind it. I think that it will do
him just fine through marching band, and if necessary he'll be able to use
it in concert but this is not recommended due to all the intonation problems
that Monique clarinets have. I'm not sure which monique you're buying I
bought the one titled "Monique - Wood Grain Finish" or something of that
sort but I'm guessing they'll all do just fine. Good luck!
"Jamie" <jdmus...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
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Tom Tomorrow
After seeing a pre-owned Buffet similar to mine in a music store with
a price tag of $850 I decided to put it up for auction. I don't want
to get out of the clarinet business altogether, so I bought a new
Heimer on the Internet for $100. I'm surprised you can get one for
that much less. They are made in China.
It looks good and seems to be reasonably in tune, but it had not
received a final adjustment and some of the keys were interfering with
one another. After doing a little metal bending I got all the pads to
settle and it plays just fine.
What runs the price up on some brands is the final adjustment and
tuning rather than the material of which the instrument is made. Is a
wooden flute better than a metal one? I would not recommend a wooden
clarinet for a beginner. They are easily damaged from inadequate
cleaning and careless assembly. In the high school band many years
ago I played a one-piece metal clarinet. These are easy to care for
and are fine for this purpose. Mine even had a socket for a music
holder. Used metal clarinets can be bought cheaply. Try pawn shops
for bargains in musical instruments.
If your son's new instrument needs tuning or adjusting perhaps his
teacher could help. A good reference is "The Clarinet and Clarinet
Playing" by Robert Willaman (1949). Don't plan on fine-tuning a metal
clarinet, though.
I
mitch
break your heart when it falls over and snaps in half, gets stepped on,
dropped in the dirt, sword fights.....
Mitch, with two kids, ...seen it all.
Jamie <jdmus...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
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Razzpy
Chinese brands that sell under a myriad of names.
I just tried out a Buffet B10 yesterday and was impressed in its quality.
Great looking horn and good action and response. The plastics have come a long
way!!!
In any case stay away - very far away - from any of the chinese/korean makes.
You will lose badly in the long run.
Just be very careful. Sometimes you gets what ye pays for......
Rich R.
Sheryl Katz
"Jamie" <jdmus...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
news:EKyl8.424$s8.4...@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
> Thanks to those of you who helped me before. I am still looking for a
> plastic clarinet for my son to play in marching band as a freshman in high
> school.
>
> I have been on ebay and don't know what to buy:
>
> Tanaka/grand for simba products - $100
> Monique Pro - $237
> Jinyin - $289
> Heimer - $59
> Merano - $119
> Steuben - $119
> and on and on..
>
avoid any of these brands of instruments - most if not all of them - are
made in China.
I've seen quite a few of these and they are all plastic imitations of
clarinets. The intonation is poor, the springs are cheap, the workmanship
is sloppy.
It's well worth the difference to get a used Yamaha YCL 20 or Buffet B-10 or
B-12 or entry level Selmer (I'm not that impressed with the plastic Vitos).
You'll get an instrument that you can actually play for years, that will
play in tune and stay in adjustment.
There's no inherent reason why a plastic clarinet is any less good than a
wooden one. I've seen these Chinese instruments (a Monique) where the
springs have literally popped off and keys fallen sproing to the floor in
the middle of playing.
These really aren't even suitable for beginning. It's really worth a couple
hundred more to get a real instrument.
Dru
fine. The quality of the metal work is the key issue - mine has lasted
fine. All in all I have no problem recommending Vito. The tone wont compare
with an Eaton or Howarth, mind!
I would suggest that whatever you buy, add in the price of a good full
service as soon as the instrument is delivered.
If you still have money burning a hole in your pocket, splash out and buy a
reasonable mouthpiece.
Dru Spork
Tim Roberts
>I have a Vito that is around 20 years old - bought new. I think it plays
>fine. The quality of the metal work is the key issue - mine has lasted
>fine. All in all I have no problem recommending Vito. The tone wont compare
>with an Eaton or Howarth, mind!
I would dispute that last statement. I play a Vito as principal clarinet
with the Tualatin Valley Community Band. I get a very sweet tone out of my
Vito.
--
- Tim Roberts, ti...@probo.com
Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.
Dru
[SNIP]
> I would dispute that last statement. I play a Vito as principal clarinet
> with the Tualatin Valley Community Band. I get a very sweet tone out of
my
> Vito.
> --
> - Tim Roberts, ti...@probo.com
> Providenza & Boekelheide, Inc.
Fair enough - total agreement that Vito is a good horn.
I'd still swap for a tuned big bore though.
Dru
Doug
<ti...@probo.com> writes
I have played since before the war. I have had, mostly, Leblancs and
others of well-known manufacture. All , - except for one I bought in
Khanpur on the never-never during the Big Conflict, (A Rupee down and a
rupee when you catch me!) - second-hand and I did well with them, -
partly because I looked after them myself, - and they played
moderately satisfactorily.
About five years ago I got a second-hand B&H 1010 Symphony and it was
all to cock. The tuning and intonation was wild. (£360 quid.)
Sent it to Howarths and they refurbished it for me and found that the
trouble was the barrel which was from a normal-bore B&H clarinet.
Played it a lot but it is temperamental, which I think is due to the
auxiliary key on the lower (tube) section. Sometimes the notes will not
produce on the bottom half of the instrument when going up into the
upper register (starting at middle C, - using right pinkie finger).
This occurs if I try to keep the finger-holes in line and has something
to do with the off-plane spatula at the bottom of the upper tube, which
operates the auxiliary key. This key is, I'm told to give a better
sound on the F fingering.
Then I had a bit of luck. The local rag advertised a new Vito Resotone
USA 3 clarinet, owned by a young schoolgirl who had completely lost
interest. Most of the Schools around here have an arrangement with the
suppliers and get discount for bulk buying.
I visited the parents and bought it for 100 quid. It is as new. I
Upgraded it with a new metal-ringed bell (75 quid) - to make it look
more nice, and I also bought the shortest barrel which I shortened by
1mil to bring it into tune. (27 quid).
It is the best clarinet I have ever had. It plays smack in tune and the
top C is a little flat but as good as 'spot-on' when warm and in full
flight. Otherwise the self-intonation is a delight,.
Here's the best part!, - the tone is solid, deep and full, and
satisfying over all its range.
I asked Ed Pillinger to make me a mouthpiece to suit the instrument and
I play a 2-and-a-half Vandoren reed.
Right! -That's me sorted out after all those years and you can talk
about your grenadilla wood and your 2800 quid instruments as much as you
like but please don't come the old high-falutin' bull about Symphony
folk not being seen dead with one, - if you please.
It's like cameras, the more advanced the model, the better it is. Modern
techniques have improved everything.
I have no connections whatsoever with the Firm who build or distribute
them.
Background features, :-
The Vito clarinet is associated with Leblanc.
In April 1989, Mr. Vito Pascucci assumed control of the G. Leblanc
American effort.
Vito Pascucci was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He played cornet and
trumpet and became the Technician with the Glenn Miller Army Air Corps
Band, and has been, in his time, under the tutelage of Leon Leblanc.
The Kenosha effort was a two-man shop but is now a quality control
station inspecting and reassembling musical instruments from France
serving a world market. It is now an eight-brand corporation.
Mr Pascucci, CEO, and his son Leon, Company President, boss the job.
Doug.
JMcAulay
<d...@yarlside.demon.co.uk> wrote, in part, about his Vito:
>It is the best clarinet I have ever had.
>Background features, :-
>The Vito clarinet is associated with Leblanc.
>In April 1989, Mr. Vito Pascucci assumed control of the G. Leblanc
>American effort.
>Vito Pascucci was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He played cornet and
>trumpet and became the Technician with the Glenn Miller Army Air Corps
>Band, and has been, in his time, under the tutelage of Leon Leblanc.
>The Kenosha effort was a two-man shop but is now a quality control
>station inspecting and reassembling musical instruments from France
>serving a world market. It is now an eight-brand corporation.
>Mr Pascucci, CEO, and his son Leon, Company President, boss the job.
>Doug.
That's the brief story about the family, except that Vito Pascucci
became fast friends with Leon Leblanc (founder G. Leblanc's son) after
The War. So close that Vito's son was named after Leon Leblanc. I'm
quite sure the plastic instruments are manufactured in Kenosha.
I have a Vito V40 which is one of the easiest blowing Clarinets I have
ever had in my hands. I suspect it may even be better than Doug's,
although I wouldn't want to say that around him.
And by the way, keywork has been mentioned as a prime quality concern
with Clarinets. That is absolutely true, and this is a major area of
complaint about cheap Chinese Clarinets: keywork may break easily. I
have never had one in my hands, but I have heard accounts of really
not-good materials and fabrication -- such as cast, rather than
forged, keys. I would *MUCH* rather buy a used instrument of more
reasonable quality.
Regards,
John
Doug
<jo...@mcaulay.net> writes
>On Thu, 21 Mar 2002 23:24:20 +0000, Owld Doug
><d...@yarlside.demon.co.uk> wrote, in part, about his Vito:
>
>>It is the best clarinet I have ever had.
>
>>Background features, :-
>>The Vito clarinet is associated with Leblanc.
>>In April 1989, Mr. Vito Pascucci assumed control of the G. Leblanc
>>American effort.
>>Vito Pascucci was born in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He played cornet and
>>trumpet and became the Technician with the Glenn Miller Army Air Corps
>>Band, and has been, in his time, under the tutelage of Leon Leblanc.
>>The Kenosha effort was a two-man shop but is now a quality control
>>station inspecting and reassembling musical instruments from France
>>serving a world market. It is now an eight-brand corporation.
>>Mr Pascucci, CEO, and his son Leon, Company President, boss the job.
>>Doug.
>
>That's the brief story about the family, except that Vito Pascucci
>became fast friends with Leon Leblanc (founder G. Leblanc's son) after
>The War. So close that Vito's son was named after Leon Leblanc. I'm
>quite sure the plastic instruments are manufactured in Kenosha.
Almost certainly, John., which explains the U.S.A stamped on them.
Have just relooked at the brochure and I see your V40 is the flagship
plastic model and confirms your enthusiasm about free-blowing. Price on
application.
Every time I look at the brochure and see the Pete Fountain horn I tell
myself I'll stop the wife's gin money for a fortnight and send a cheque
for 641 quid at once. His guitar/banjo pal comes from my town.
Then I look at the 7214P and have a little cry to myself. 845 quid ,
but it is a plateau model. - it has covered keys. I've always wanted
one.
Another hero of mine who has unfortunately left us, Sid Philips, played
a covered pad (plateau) simple system clarinet and boy!, could he play
it!.
I see the Vito wood-bodied 7820 VSP France and the 7810 Vito France have
'France' stamped on all sections. Price on enquiry.
Doug.
Doug
<d...@yarlside.demon.co.uk> writes
De-dah dit, De-dah-dit John. Got your e/m but made a mistake, like the
local barmaid I pulled the wrong knob and got stout.
All received and understood, though. I take notice of all you said.
I've just done an hour on scales and chords, - working up speed.
The tone and delivery gets better as you get stuck into it.
Also I am practising Mozzie's Clart Concerto No.1, Weber's First
Concerto and Weber's Grand Quintetto.
Just for fun and to improve my facility and reading.
It's hard going at first, but I take it slowly and am surprised how soon
I have improved. Best of all, - I was a little hazy about the top up
to G and the sight reading the bottom round about low E, but now I am
becoming more fluent and much faster. It's a great feeling when those
notes flow out like magic after years of being hazy about them!.
Best part is that the pieces make musical sense, and the whole procedure
is more amicable.
All the best!
Doug.
Forest E. Aten Jr.
Best to go with a student line plastic/synthetic clarinet from one of the
"big four" clarinet manufacturers. Buffet, Selmer, Leblanc, Yamaha........
You can often find used instruments from these manufacturers, in good
condition, for sale almost everywhere.
The basic design of the instruments you listed are not great....add to this
the fact that the materials used are often questionable. This combination
makes these instruments almost impossible to play "in-tune" and poor
material use and construction make it very difficult to keep the instrument
in proper regulation.
F. Aten
"Jamie" <jdmus...@earthlink.net> wrote in message
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