Clarinet for beginner

Thurisarz · #1 10-27-2007, 12:21 PM

I have been looking around at the local shops for beginners clarinets and i wonder if any of you guys can recommend which to go for? The one's available are:

Stagg
Roy Benson
Jupiter
Hazeltone

Which should i look at?

Foamy · #2 10-27-2007, 12:41 PM

This is a general opinion from a father of a student. The student model we had was a Yamaha model with a plastic body. We switch to an older wooden-bodied unit and even at beginner levels, the difference in tone was appreciable. So that would tell me to look for a wooden clarinet.

AGTENOR · #3 10-27-2007, 01:34 PM

I play in a church orchestra and the other night they were talking about beginner instruments and said that Jupiter was making quality instruments.

Other than bass I used to play trumpet and cornet and the Jupiters that I played back in the day were quite nice.

AG

rfclef · #4 10-27-2007, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thurisarz

I have been looking around at the local shops for beginners clarinets and i wonder if any of you guys can recommend which to go for? The one's available are:

Stagg
Roy Benson
Jupiter
Hazeltone

Which should i look at?

While I suppose I do not know EVERY instrument out there, as a band director, I have not heard of Stagg, Roy Benson, or Hazeltone... (THe Hazelton says "compares favorably to Jupiter", the Benson: "Silver painted keys"?). From experience, I would bet $$ that the those are the same made in china horns with different stamps on them. Same crap (scuse me, but that word still is not strong enough) that you could buy at Walmart or Sams. While I have a made in China bass that is pretty decent (though I am upgrading pups and tuners this week), and there are lotsa folks here that will say you can get a half decent starter bass from China, In 13 years of teaching music, I have YET TO SEE a decent made in china wind instrument. Frustratingly bad instruments that will kill a kid's desire to play. This is not rhetorical... if you want specifics, let me know... I will elaborate with specific first hand examples...... I will even give you a phone call if you want...

Experience has taught me that Jupiters are good starter instruments. I have no qualms about recomending them to a student or parent... If you are looking to go less than a Yamaha or Selmer, etc... go for the Jupiter...

Here is a place that I buy from a lot (I budget for new horns, the buy 2 or 3 of their refurbs... you might want to check em out... www.1800usaband.com
Taylor Music...

rfclef · #5 10-27-2007, 02:52 PM

Refinished Major Brand plastic clarinet $188
http://www.1800usaband.com/htmls/ite...ementryid=4645

I have had great luck with these... and i will recommend them to students and parents EVERY TIME over a new walmart horn... Refinshed, major brand (not first act, explorer, Notes R Us), and while I DID have 1 student who had a defect in the horn, you would be amazed how easy and fast the replacement arrived.

Sorry if I seem semi-passionate about this whole issue... I have just had too many parents say "I'll get this and see if they really want to play", but what kid wants to stick with trying to learn on a nonfunctioning fall apart horn... OH!!!!!!!!!!!!! one more thing: Most music shops WILL NOT WORK ON First Act, and other chinese horns... (I have nothing against chinese stuff: they make good inexpensive telescope optics)... MAny music shops even have an ever growing list POSTED of pop-up brands they will not work on... shoddy workmanship and rotten materials and unavailability of replacement parts... Check out the fine print... some of these require you to mail your horn away to get it repaired for that reason.

FWIW.

Christopher · #6 10-27-2007, 11:39 PM

Go with a plastic Yamaha. They're well made and very playable. Wooden horns are preferable, but they can crack if not maintained properly.

leanne · #7 10-28-2007, 04:30 AM

I don't want to hijack your thread, but I have a related question. About how much would it cost, in general, to have an old clarinet recorked? (i don't know if that is the right word, but old brittle cork is falling off)

thanks

rfclef · #8 10-28-2007, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leanne

I don't want to hijack your thread, but I have a related question. About how much would it cost, in general, to have an old clarinet recorked? (i don't know if that is the right word, but old brittle cork is falling off)

thanks

Just the corks on the joints where the sections join together? Not much... $10-$20 maybe... All the pads that cover the wholes replaced? $150 or so depending...