Some players swear by them, but the instruments’ response is not for everyone. This characteristic doesn’t negate the quality of the instrument, however. Selmer players can also bend pitches much more easily than the would be able to on other instruments, which is where Selmers got their reputation for jazz. This gives the player great flexibility when it comes to intonation. Selmer clarinets have traditionally been “jazz horns.” The chief difference between them and other brands is that the tone holes are undercut. The advantage is that if the student doesn’t want to go further with music, then the parents won’t have spent an inordinate amount of money for “too much instrument.” Selmer Parents usually buy one or the other for their children when they progress into high school.
Both of these excellent clarinets cost far less than their professional counterparts. Their intermediate, or “step-up” instrument, is the E11. The C12 is the student model, and the company’s commitment to quality is no different than on its professional models. The tone produced is different, with the R13 being brighter and the RC being darker and more similar to the German sound.īuffet also makes student and intermediate models. The RC bore, for example, flares more at the end than the R13. They come in varying bore sizes and shapes. They are still exceptional horns, but others have equaled them in quality in the 21st century. Buffetįor many years in the U.S., Buffet horns were the gold standard. Is this a horn for a pro? No, it’s not, but for its intended purpose, it’s terrific. Aside from the broken bell, it still played. The instrument flipped and landed on the concrete. When the bus took off, the clarinet went under the wheels, and the bus ran over the bell. When I was in the army band, one of the clarinet players left his instrument on the bumper of the bus.
Many times, they can fall off of chairs, get kicked over, or be trod upon and still play. Beginners are notoriously rough on instruments, and Bundy clarinets are made to take a lot of punishment. This is a student horn that is made from plastic. There are several brands that are recognized throughout the clarinet world, however, for excellence in their particular niche. Some have more keys than others and so on. Each brand has its own characteristics regarding response, tone, and intonation. There is no “best” clarinet brand for everyone.