i think armstrong is pretty good
i have one its 20 years old and it playss great im only level 2

I have an Olds clarinet.It works really good for me and has never came apart.

On ebay they get good reviews about this brand. Is it worth all the effort to purchase one?

I have two professional clarinets that I play on. I prefer the Rossi for intonation and flexibility. I also have a Buffet R-13 Prestige for a backup. I have to say it is not how much you spend, but the better end clarinets do tend to cost a bit more. It really depends on your preference on sound quality, intonation, and resistance. Of course I know that many of you will disagree and claim that Buffet or LeBlanc puts out a better clarinet, but that might also be how you play. If you are a professional player you need to check out each instrument for at least a few hours apiece. I start by playing long tones from E-C (5 1/2 lines above the staff), chromatically, with a tuner. After that I do all of the scales with the tuner. Then I play the Nielsen Concerto and Copland Concerto. Nielsen is a very technical piece, and Copland is very lyrical calling for some very soft E`s and F`s above the staff. Lastly, I might do the solo from Rhapsody in Blue if there was a tie. For some reason there are clarinets that I can NOT do the glissando on, and it`s definitely not because I am not doing it correctly. My setup is as follows:

-Rossi Bb & A (Buffet R-13 Prestige backup for Bb)
-Vandoren B45 Mouthpiece (I also like the Crystal mouthpiece by Vandoren especially on Eb clarinets) with the vinyl patches, not the rubber ones.
-Mitchell Lurie Premium Reeds size 4 shaved down to my personal preference. (I believe that the shaving the 3.5 size down doesn`t work for me. I think the heart of the reed is different in length, width or just maybe I am crazy LOL)

This gives me a very clear response without fuzziness, and the Bb mechanism on the Rossi takes care of the fuzz on the throat Bb. If you are going into college for Clarinet Performance Major, you definitely want to check out the Rossi Bb and A set on Rossi`s website:

http://www.rossiclarinet.cl

You can also get them from Muncy Winds, but I prefer ordering directly from the manufacturer rather than a company that buys them in bulk (kinda).

Those were my $.02 also. Hope that helps anyone looking for a professional clarinet.

I have a related question. Why does everyone say that the Buffets made in France are better than the Buffets made in Germany? Also, is the E11 (Evette by Buffet) only made in Germany? Are these German clarinets any good? Thanks!

Excuse me mam-

In response to your question about the clarinet get for a 12 year old child. I don`t believe that children should be allowed the privilege to play the clarinet. Would you let a 12 year old drive your car? Children sound terrible when they play and hurt everyone`s ears.

Why don`t you just leave clarinet playing to the professionals? Get your child a motorcycle and a six pack of beer - it will be safer.

Phil McCrevis

I have an old Maitre clarinet, made in Paris. Any of You guys know about this model

you make me laugh phil. cheers to one of the oldest-running disscussions on here.

ok well i guess ill reply.... the best horn is whatever works for you. for years, mine was a selmer USA (hehe) but now its my beautiful R13. hey, if a SKY (not the vodka you sillies) works for you, then be it. dont let anyone tell you a brand is BAD or THEY ALL SUCK if you have indeed found, a horn that has worked for you.

may you share the gift of music unto all you listners

I enjoyed reading through this long thread. The personalities often shine through rather vividly, and most of the advice is reasonably good.

I most appreciated the person who apologized for appearing pretentious, then gave excellent advice--the best instrument is the one that works best for you.

I`d add to that, the best instrument is also the person holding the clarinette. The hours of practice make as much difference as the cost of the instrument. I know artists who can make a resin Vito sound like the opening of heaven...and some new players who could make an R-13 sound like a goose with stomach pains.

What many people fail to realize is that there are subtle, and sometimes not so subtle, differences between any two instruments that come new out of the factory. Sometimes having an excellent technician set up a new E-11 can produce a better-sounding instrument than an R-13 right out of the box. (The same can be said about all brands, but I happen to like Buffet.)

As for what instrument to get a young beginning student, go for something reasonably cheap and made of resin. Chances are that it`s going to be dropped a couple of times anyway. It the little chap does turn out to be interested and motivated, reward her or him with a better horn--a birthday present that they`ll remember forever.

I have two Buffets, a Selmer, a couple of Bundys,and an Artley Prelude.

That Artley Prelude is sentimental. But damn it sounds nice. Maybe it is the custom mouth piece. I thought the Buffet was my favorite. But I love this Artley. It is an old one. It was my Dads. The action is great, the tone is like butter.

students...like me...do deserve to play music!! Why leave it to the proffessionals?? i am 15 yrs old and i can out do all of my fellow 17 and 18 year old grade 12`s in clarinet. I think everyone should have the right opportunities to music.

You have to play a few to decide what you like. We can all say this company is better, this company sounds better. I have a Yamaha YCL61, a professional model valued at $2400, but honestly, I`m not a fan of it. Intonation is iffy, my A is constantly out of tune no matter how many adjustments I make to the key, my upper and lower joints are randomly out of tune; but for ease of play, I can`t fault it. However, I also own a Selmer USA model (everyone groan now). Really not a great made clarinet, but the tone is to die for. Its even through the lower through the break through the upper. Would I own a Buffet? Absolutely. A Selmer Paris? Without question. Each clarinet has its own characteristics and each different clarinet with complement its owner. Try a few and see what you like. Yes, without question some are made better, but like it was previously stated: anyone can sound good on a Strad, the key is to sound good on any instrument.

Re: "I`d add to that, the best instrument is also the person holding the clarinette"

Is a "clarinette" a clarinet made especially for women--in some anatomically abstruse ergonomic way?

i will tell you right now and i would put my life on this, Buffet R13 are the best clarinets out there. you have one of those and your golden. i wouldnt trust anything else. festivals are appealing as well, but the R13 sound is just brilliant. i wouldn`t play on anything else.

I would say that Buffet makes the best clarinets out there. Selmer makes good ones too. I just bought a buffet, its amazing! I have played on a selmer for about 8 years, and I have loved it. I also think that in order to sound good on any brand of instrument you have to have the talent in the first place. I think that different brands are better for different people, (personal prefrence) but I also believe that there are definatley some that are a lot better than others.