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Which 'intermediate' level clarinet?

9 replies

troutsprout · 10/09/2014 16:29

Hi ...
Could someone ( parent/clarinet teacher/ clarinet player)be so kind to give me recommendations for a good intermediate level clarinet?

Dd (11) has just done her grade 5 on her trusty student Hanson clarinet and is now ready to upgrade (so I'm told). Although the reasons seem a bit vague?!... I'm not musical at all though so perhaps someone could explain why we need to "upgrade" as they move on? Is it purely to get a better sound on a better quality instrument?
So ,has anyone got any recommendations?
I have been happy with the hanson one BUT wanted to explore other options
as well . Thanks so much.

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JulieMichelleRobinson · 12/09/2014 09:17

I can't help with recommendations as have no clue about winds other than recorders and flute, but basically a better instrument will help her to get a nicer, more mature tone. It may be something that a non-musical parent wouldn't notice - my mum couldn't tell the difference between my rubbish flute and my okay-ish one, or between my cheap violin with nasty strings and the expensive one with gorgeous strings - but examiners, adjudicators, her teacher and probably your daughter will certainly notice it.

A step-up clarinet will have a wider bore. That means it will produce a fuller sound, probably 'darker' in timbre, but will also require more puff. If your dd has been playing on a plastic one, you'll also notice that the sound is a bit different simply because she'd be moving to a wooden instrument.

As I said, no idea about woodwinds but from looking at things if you're happy with the Hanson one they seem to offer 100% 'part' exchange - so if you buy your intermediate/advanced instrument from the same company you will get back the whole value of the first instrument. Which may be too good to be true but it's how I interpret it. Ask the teacher?

(My flute is a Pearl Quantz, lower end of the range with only a silver lip-plate and the rest is all silver plate. Even that tiny bit of silver makes a difference to the tone).

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troutsprout · 12/09/2014 12:31

Thanks julie that was really helpful
Lol... No I'm not musical at all... I think you are spot on about perhaps not being able to hear the difference
Smile

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JulieMichelleRobinson · 12/09/2014 12:50

You could probably hear the difference if you got her teacher to play the same thing on both and you listened really carefully. Hopefully.

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swarskicat · 18/09/2014 14:47

My DD (12) has just done her grade 5 too. Her teacher said that she needed an intermediate instrument last year and we bought her a Buffet E11. They are about £1200 new, but lots go on ebay for around 500-700. We got hers on Gumtree for £500, and it needed a full service (at £80) as it had not be used for 15 years and the corks needed replacing.

DD's teacher was great at helping us choose. I sent her every ad i saw and she said whether or not we should bid for it.

I am completely unmusical, but was amazed by the difference in sound from the new instrument (DD had a Buffet student clarinet before). She did find it harder to blow at first, but quickly got used to it. The reason we got it a year before her grade 5 though is that it did take a little time to get used to and so we got immediately after her grade 4 exam so she could practice on it before starting the next set of exam pieces.

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troutsprout · 19/09/2014 08:36

Thanks swarskicat.. that's really helpful -Good point about getting used to the new clarinet too.She has to pass her grade 5 theory before any more practical exams so hopefully will have plenty of time to get used to a new instrument.
I looked at the buffet as it was recommended online.
It's a bit of a stab in the dark isn't it! ..we aren't exactly loaded so I'm keen to make a good choice.
I'm glad your daughters instrument is good :-)
We are going over to the Hanson worskshop next weekend.
The owner has said we can try various instruments / mouthpieces and ligatures... So I am hopeful we'll find something.

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Theas18 · 19/09/2014 08:57

DD2 has been loaned a buffet clarinet from wind band. I can check the model for you later. She's got to grade 7 standard on a £100 yamaha I got on ebay for DD1 about 10yrs ago LOL ( never been serviced since we had it either!)

Servicing a clarinet is very spendy so if buying 2nd hand budget that in.

So glad the music service loan instruments here!

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Theas18 · 20/09/2014 19:06

Dads is a buffet e11

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Theas18 · 20/09/2014 19:06

Dds!

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troutsprout · 22/09/2014 12:46

Thanks Theas18 Smile

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