I am looking to purchase my own alto clarinet before summer and am looking for some advice in what brands of alto clarinet are higher quality?

I am not looking for professional quality, but something nice enough to play in symphonic band in University.

I currently rent an aging vito & C* mouthpiece. Are C*s generally good alto clarinet mouthpieces?

I love playing the alto and will be sad if I can`t find a replacement

I think more people should look into playing alto clarinet. I really have a blast and enjoy it much more than my soprano (not that anything`s wrong with the soprano, but the alto is just so much more "obnoxious", plus I`m sure my classmate enjoys having first chair Bb soprano now that I`m gone). It can get a bit dull doubling up on parts in pieces, but when you have the opportunity to show your "voice" so to speak, it`s great.

If your looking for a good Alto then disguard all the new ones. New Alto`s just don`t have the charricter that they used to. Try looking for a second hand Selmer, or even a Conn (there rare!), they tend to be about the best that you will find, and because their second-hand there cheaper anyway. I agree with you, it is a fun instrument although often the band parts aren`t the most exciting ever. (Apart from Gallimaufry)

As far as new ones go, Selmer makes a very nice one. And Buffet has a very very nice one. I don`t know much about old ones, but these new ones will definitely handle what you`re asking about.

I`m gonna try the alto clarinet sometime in the future. I love the sound. It actually was the instrument that inspired me to take up the clarinet. I originally played the flute, but I found an old and cheap, but good sounding Bb clarinet and taught myself how to play it. Right now, I`m being tutored on the bass clarinet.

Alto was the sound that brought you to clarinet?! I actually don`t like the sound of alto clarinet too much. I much prefer Basset horn (in F instead of Eb), though music is less common. But, to each his/her own, I guess.

The alto clarinet is probably the black sheep of the clarinet family- I think it`s the hardest to get a good sound on!

It is harder to get a lovely sound on the alto (at least for me) and I love it.

I have to work a bit more to achieve just as much as I did on the soprano Bb and it keeps my mind engaged.

Thanks everyone for your replies and keep them coming if you have comments.