Hello everyone !
First post on this forum
So I'm trying to add Bass Clarinet to my instrument list as it's both a fun instrument and a rather marketable one for pit jobs.
I've been reading posts over the internet basically for the whole weekend (!) as buying new instruments is a rather stressing experience.
I'm looking for an instrument that does its job. But obviously, I don't have the money to have professional versions of all of my horns, especially for the more expensive ones (eg the Bass Clarinet), so I'll have to compromise and get at most an intermediate-level Bass. Unfortunately, from what I gather you either have student or pro horns, so I guess my wallet wants me to buy the student version.
Anyway.
I narrowed down the possibilities to what was available here (Belgium) and what was in my budget and then looked at some recomendations from all over the internet.
So in my current state I'm still unsure, hesitating between 2 horns. Either the Yamaha-221 II S (what does the 'S' mean by the way ?), or the Bundy BBC Series. I read great thing about both. Many times I have heard that the Yamaha was the best plastic one out there but I also heard it had tuning issues (playing sharp). But here in Europe, tuning standard is 442 and not 440 like the US so maybe it's less of an issue I don't know.
I've also read very good things about the Bundy but mostly as used horns, I don't know what current ones are worth ?
Also there's the price : the Yamaha is nearly twice as expensive as the Bundy. 1000 for Bundy and 2400 for Yamaha.
1000 sounds very cheap for a new Bass and that's what is kind of putting me off right now.
What are your recomendations ? Is the Bundy still a great choice nowadays ? Why is it so cheap ? And is the Yamaha worth it ? What about its tuning problems ?
I'm ready to pay the 2400 for the Yamaha if it is indeed the best plastic horn out there, but I want to be sure I can't have the same or maybe even better with the Bundy.
Thanks all for your help,
Also, while I've been playing the clarinet for many years now, my Bass Clarinet experience is next to nonexistent, so trying them out would mean nothing I believe ?
Pierre
First post on this forum
So I'm trying to add Bass Clarinet to my instrument list as it's both a fun instrument and a rather marketable one for pit jobs.
I've been reading posts over the internet basically for the whole weekend (!) as buying new instruments is a rather stressing experience.
I'm looking for an instrument that does its job. But obviously, I don't have the money to have professional versions of all of my horns, especially for the more expensive ones (eg the Bass Clarinet), so I'll have to compromise and get at most an intermediate-level Bass. Unfortunately, from what I gather you either have student or pro horns, so I guess my wallet wants me to buy the student version.
Anyway.
I narrowed down the possibilities to what was available here (Belgium) and what was in my budget and then looked at some recomendations from all over the internet.
So in my current state I'm still unsure, hesitating between 2 horns. Either the Yamaha-221 II S (what does the 'S' mean by the way ?), or the Bundy BBC Series. I read great thing about both. Many times I have heard that the Yamaha was the best plastic one out there but I also heard it had tuning issues (playing sharp). But here in Europe, tuning standard is 442 and not 440 like the US so maybe it's less of an issue I don't know.
I've also read very good things about the Bundy but mostly as used horns, I don't know what current ones are worth ?
Also there's the price : the Yamaha is nearly twice as expensive as the Bundy. 1000 for Bundy and 2400 for Yamaha.
1000 sounds very cheap for a new Bass and that's what is kind of putting me off right now.
What are your recomendations ? Is the Bundy still a great choice nowadays ? Why is it so cheap ? And is the Yamaha worth it ? What about its tuning problems ?
I'm ready to pay the 2400 for the Yamaha if it is indeed the best plastic horn out there, but I want to be sure I can't have the same or maybe even better with the Bundy.
Thanks all for your help,
Also, while I've been playing the clarinet for many years now, my Bass Clarinet experience is next to nonexistent, so trying them out would mean nothing I believe ?
Pierre