Whcich clarinet to buy

[fever28]

10 year old wants clarinet for Christmas, has been doing lessons for over a year has taken to it, currently using a school provided one, but would like there own.

B clarinet but the price range is huge from 50 to 3000. To be honest price not that important, but what are deciding factors, should I go for a really good one or due to age and skill level just get the same basic on as school?

Wood v resin, music teacher is on leave before you suggest asking them just budgeting for Xmas

Cheers

[The Builder]

I don't play clarinet, Fever, but I guess it's the same as with saxophones. Stay well clear of the dreadful, cheap Chinese ones often seen on Ebay. Always take advice from the teacher, or a well established instrument dealer.

I can recommend anything from this company. Choose from Student/Intermediate/Professional.

http://www.johnpacker.../Clarinet/Bb-Clarinet

[Buenchico]

I don't play clarinet either but I was best man at a clarinet teacher's wedding (where he and his bride left the church under an arch of raised clarinets!) and I remember the make which he always recommended: Buffet (with Boosey & Hawkes's student clarinets also being praised).

[saxy_jag]

I play the clarinet, so I can speak with some experience, albeit not expert.

I was lucky enough to pick up a secondhand wooden clarinet at a very cheap price, which I still have and which sounds as good as any £1000 jobbie on the market.

I wouldn't suggest wood for a ten year old. With the best will in the world, they aren't always gentle with them and wooden ones are easier to break and harder to get good replacement parts for. If you spend between £200-£300 (new) on a good quality plastic/resin instrument now, it should take your child through to around grade 5, at which point you can then upgrade to a wooden instrument in the semi-pro bracket if the child wants.

Yamaha instruments are good. They are of good, consistent quality and sound, if a little sterile in character. They have a range of models from student to pro, and also have the advantage of holding their resale/trade-up value when the time comes. Parts are readily available, so if the child does manage to damage it, there won't be a lengthy wait to get it fixed.

You may also want to look at the Jupiter and Trevor James instruments, and there's a company in Yorkshire called Hanson, who make some very good instruments at very reasonable prices. Two people I know have bought saxophones from them and been very pleased with the quality.

[scrummyyummy]

My daughter started clarinet around 10 yrs old and I was recommended the Yamaha 250 for a good starter to intermediate level. I would agree with what Saxy has said regarding wooden ones. The Yamaha 250 is resin but it is completely fine for her needs. At one stage, it seemed she wanted to quit because she was getting bored of playing so I was glad I hadn't spent loads on a wooden one. However, she persevered and had a change of teacher and has joined the school orchestra (which is what she really enjoys) and has decided to carry on. I have asked a mum whose daughter is doing grade 8 if this clarinet is still good enough for my daughter and she told me it is still fine up to perhaps grade 6 which is when she upgraded her daughter's one. My daughter is working towards grade 5 and if she decides she wants to do more grades, then I will probably look to upgrading.

[old-wos-is-name]

Sorry to come in late, but my grandson came round today with a clarinet. He played three notes ( just learning) A G B. I switched on the keyboard and when He played the G it was in tune with my D. So, is this because his clarinet is not in concert pitch, but in a different key? or was he playing a bum note? need to know, as he has talent, and want to start Him on the correct road.