craftyhunnypie Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 A clarinet? I don't want to spend a fortune (as it's a new hobby) & I don't want a rubbish one. What do I look out for..(makes, model etc). What would be a good price? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 You say it's a new hobby...I take it you haven't played before? I got given a standard Buffet B12, which is described as a student one. I find it very good ...but I'm only Grade 3 I got mine free from the council but I think that generally, they can be quite expensive...I am really not an expert though You would probably get cheaper ones second hand...but....not the most appealing idea if you know what I mean...given it's a mouth played instrument Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Webmuppet Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 A lot of music shops offer a rental scheme, that way you spread the payment and you can give it back if you don't get on with the instrument. Benslow Music Trust in Hitchin also do rental instruments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 16, 2009 Author Share Posted September 16, 2009 Ahhh I hadn't thought about rental. Both hubby & myself are very musical already, so it's not really a new hobby as such. We have & play all sorts - but I just fancied a clarinet for the collection. Would like a saxaphone really - but have heard various reports that they are tricky to get a sound out of. Can't be any worse than a flute surely? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scramble Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 My teacher reccomended that you should play the clarinet then move on to an alto sax because it's easier to get a sound out of a clarinet and once you've got used to the mouth piece it's the same on the sax, just different buttons.....I have no idea about flutes, but I can make sound from a sax but nothing with a flute. I think it may just be different to every player. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 You can't go wrong with a Buffet B12 - cheap enough for a starter and gets a good enough sound to be rewarding. And they hold their value if you want to move on to something better afterwards. I started with a second hand Buffet B12 that I paid £90 for. I resold it for the same price 2 years later. I upgraded to the wood Buffet E13 for £800! There is a bit of a knack to getting any sound out of it - you will develop very muscular lips! The muscle is gradually returning to my lip, but it will still be a while before i can play for any length of time. As soon as your lip starts to tire, the sound starts to wobble and you get all sorts of wonderful squeaks and squeals Very rewarding though if you have the patience to practice every day. I taught myself the basics, then had a few lessons to polish things off, but didn't do any grades. I just wanted to be good enough to join the church music group (can't say I was ever really good enough but they put up with me anyway! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I freecycled a clarinet last year, I could have given it away twice on here in the last year - typical Good luck with your search, I agree you cant go wrong with a Buffet The one I gave away was an ebony one and had a lovely tone to it but I just never played it really after I left school Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 Don't know whereabouts in Cheshire you are, but Dawsons on Sankey Street in Warrington do a rental scheme. We bought DS's clarinet from there a couple of years ago, however no idea on model etc - I think it cost about £300. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I bought an ex-rental Yamaha clarinet which was quite reasonable. It had been rented out for three months and returned. It's a lovely instrument. Try ringing round local music shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 16, 2009 Share Posted September 16, 2009 I have bought 3 clarinets all from eBay. 2 Buffet B12's and a Regent (got dropped by teacher at school and broken ). All have been in great condition with no work needed and each under £60 (1 was £35!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted September 17, 2009 Author Share Posted September 17, 2009 Thanks for your help - I was originally thinking of a Yamaha one, but will now search for a buffet. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 My ED has a Yamaha which we bought second hand from a local shop that deals in second hand woodwind. It has a lovely sound. Have you checked where the schools in your area rent them from, because in our area they also rent to the general public. We had an alto sax for a while that my husband was playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missuscluck Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Emma , there is a man in Stoke called Dominic Ball who has a little shop doing servicing and repairs. He also sells refurbished Clarinets. We got one for my daughter from him last year. She is grade 4 and needed a better clarinet as her first one that we bought from her music teacher for £90 was beyond saving and really not worth spending the money on to get it back up to scratch. He had plenty in at the time at varying price levels. We were looking for something better so bought her a Buffet E11. It cost us £459 with a brand new case and lots of extras chucked in. I think they retail at around £700. It might be worth giving him a call to see what he has in stock. His number is 01782 744405. I use these people for sheet music in Manchester and they are always very helpfull. They sell Clarinets. http://www.forsyths.co.uk/ These people have some good prices. Dont know much about them though. http://www.normans.co.uk/c-92-clarinets.aspx I have friends who have used these people and they are supposed to be very good http://www.howarth.uk.com/ We were going to order one from here before we found the second hand one at Dominic Ball's. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Cash converters nearly always have one in the window if you have one near you. They usually go for about £100 though - much cheaper on eBay. They often have them in the free ads too as parents buy them for their children who then give up so you can get them for a good price. My music teacher often has one that he has been asked to sell by a student that has given up so it is worth asking a local teacher too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BocBoc Posted September 17, 2009 Share Posted September 17, 2009 Ebay or Freecycle would be my first ports of call. Maybe an advert in a local shop window?? Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
