Well I like me Buffet RC quite much though some people would say, that it's the one that everyone has. But if I was going to buy a new one, I would probably buy a Buffet Tosca instead. Or festival like my e flat clarinet.

If money is not an issue, there are a lot of possibilities just within the top brands (Buffet, Selmer, Yamaha, Leblanc). Go to a music shop that allows you to try as many clarinets as you can (in my country that´s almost an impossible task because music shops have very limited stocks). Don´t rush into a decision, after narrowing your choices, get a second opinion from someone that you trust musicwise. Nevertheless, ultimately the decision will be yours. Look also for used clarinets, you might find very good instruments at reasonable prices.

OOO OOO Get a Yamaha CSGH. I fell in love with mine the instant I started playing it. Before I got it my tone was pretty awful, but that clarinet is like magic. I LOVE it!!


If you don't get one, at least try it.

Like Ida said, Buffet RC is really good. I have one too. But is not a real professional instrument, it's something in between intermediate and professional. And, like she also suggested, the new Buffet Tosca is a really good choice (though quite expensive). It is used by many conservatory students.

I would advice you to try out a Selmer Signature. They are nice instruments to play on and they have a really warm sound. I hope to get one in a few years myself.

My teacher plays on a Buffet R13. She said that is the clarinet that most professionals play on and she let me play it for one of my lessons and I fell in love with it! I can't wait to get mine!

-Amanda

My teacher plays on a Buffet R13. She said that is the clarinet that most professionals play on and she let me play it for one of my lessons and I fell in love with it! I can't wait to get mine!

-Amanda

Buffet is the way to go. Obviously, there are a great deal of clarinet brands out there, so I would suggest that you try as many of them as possible, even though I feel Buffet is the best. There is the Buffet R13, which is the most popular pro model on the market. It's been Buffet's primary pro model for years, but they did come out with the Tosca and the Festival. I've never played them, but I still stand with the R13. Go to www.wwbw.com (The Woodwind and Brasswind), where they have a complete range of clarinets for wholesale prices. You can order there catalog or go through their site. I would recomend the Buffet R13, the Selmer Signature, the Leblanc Opus II, or the Yamaha CSG Series. All of them are wooden pro models. Good luck.

Buffet R13, totally.

Those can get pretty pricey though,
So I suggest the Buffet E45.
That is what I play on.

They're made almost the same, but E45 is made in Germany... so it is priced less.

Look, we get it, Amanda. Please don't try to get your posts more recognition than everyone else's by repeating them.

Ida, you have a festival Eb? There has never been a festival Eb. Take THAT BACK!

Look, we all know that our teachers are pushing us to get Buffet clarinets. .

The best clarinets for the money are Vito. You can look at my more detailed posts by doing a search on the 8notes forums or looking on my profile page where I have posted more information about my instrument collection and the reviews of such instruments. You wioll probably want to print it out in case the internet goes down and you need to review again.

Vintage Vito clarinets are and have been the choice of professionals around the world. If you do your homework, like I have, you will come to the same conclusion.




Edited by Forum Admin at 13:15 on Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Reason: edited for potential libel]

I still stand by Buffet. Lera, the choice is yours, really, so go to your music store and ask to try all brands available. Oh, I've never heard of a Buffet E45? Is this something like the E11? Personally, I stand by the Buffet R13. You can try the Woodwind and Brasswind try and return program if your music store has a limited stock.

So the prevailing and final suggestion is that this BEGINNER go out and purchase a Buffet Tosca, the most expensive clarinet on the planet. Long live the Buffet conspiracy!

Hey Phil-McCrevis

The second post was a mistake I didn't mean to post twice and I'm sorry!

-Amanda

Mistakes are for the weak.

Ignore the phsyco man who won't forgive a double post.

Buffet, all the way! Trust me, they are quality clarinets. I play on a plastic begginer's clarinet made by Buffet (I think it was a... B13? I've had it since I started playing), and it's barely ever failed me. Don't worry too much about what 'tone' sounds like. My teacher was telling me in a lesson that tone can always be changed by embochure, and getting a different tube of vibrating air won't change it in any large way. I would go for a clarinet that has great keys, and is said to last a long time. In otherwords, bufft r13!

Is Lera a beginner? I was under the impression she was beyond the beginning level. Oh, by the way, I do believe Phil stated in an earlier post:

"The best clarinet is the most expensive. We all know that. The more you pay - the more you get. I paid $7000 for each of my four clarinets and I haven`t been prouder. I show them to my friends and they say that I am pretty cool. If you buy a clarinet you will need to buy some reeds to make it work. I found that Rico Reeds work pretty well on Buffet clarinets and Zonda Reeds work well with the Selmers. Your local music store will supply you with these items. They can also sell you the clarinet for slightly above retail price. This is where I got mine."

The Tosca is not the most expensive clarinet on the planet, but it must be really nice...