I have been playing clarinet for four years now. About three years ago my aunt bought a Bestler Clarinet off Ebay(6th grade owning a clarinet is exciting) It is plastic and from what I am told not the greatest brand. It plays good enought for me at the moment but I know I need to get a new one soon.

What I want and What I can afford are two different things. I Have looked at several different ones. I have my eye on a Buffet/selmer/leblanc. What Are some Brands and models approiate for me (I am going into Marching band so Iw ould probably use my bestler for marching.) I dont really want to go 1000$ and up actually my parents are looking at a 300-500 range. Oh and if it has been used and is still in good playing condition would it be good to buy?

Thanks
Maggie

I would really try and go for a new one. The first one that I got was through school and it was a selmer. I would not really suggest something like a leblanc or a buffet because they might be a little to pricy depending on where you go and the level that you want. Try going to www.wwbw.com because they can give you a little bit of help. They helped me when I bought my wooden professional one even though I did not get it from them. I have been playing for eight years now and the only reason that I went the way that I did was because I am playing with a professional polka band and I went and asked other professional players before I went out and bought it. Try and stick to the better student clarinets or a cheeper intermediate level depending if you are going to continue with music as a career.

used is ok as long as you have someone who knows what they are doing look at it before you buy. I suggest woodwind and brasswind also, but they only have new.

If you really want used.,-DEFINENTLY DO NOT GO TOWARDS EBAY-there is absolutely no reason anybody would be selling a clarinet on ebay unless there is something they dont want a knowledgable person to find. Buffet is out of the price range you are looking at, i suggest going towards a used selmer siganture (hard to find used ones right now because realatively recent) look for at least a couple of months!

go to several different music stores and turn to your local professional orchestra for help, if u dont have a private teacher you should definently get one to help you get situated with a new clarinet and preferably get a teacher BEFORE buying one.

I hope i have been of some help
SEmperFI (always loyal)

-Scott Sutton
(ps i play on a buffet R13)