How bad can a plastic clarinet be?

This is hands down the worst instrument I have ever played.
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[@DrQuizzler]

A couple of thoughts: #1: For knowing you were checking out a cheapo "instrument", you seemed to become pretty emotionally invested in its potential for quality, so much so that your disappointment was palpable. Something as cheap as that should come with a low-expectations warning. Of course I get it. My first oboe was a Linton brand rental, and it SUCKED, which meant I sucked when I played, especially in band. Even though I had advanced quickly through different training levels, my notes usually came out with something not right in them, then I upgraded to my Selmer Signet, and it all made sense. Any kid or newbie trying out the clarinet using that knock-off would be quickly tempted to give up on the whole idea based on the experience they'd have with that instrument. It's good that you're looking out for them. #2: They're probably onto something with the idea of a blue clarinet, if it only it were better made. I high-end blue clarinet would be perfect for the solo in the first few bars of Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue". Maybe the color could become someone's trademark, like Galway's iconic gold flute before they became commonplace.

[@SaxSon]

Hey, thanks for watching and for your comment! I think I had somewhat low expectations, but I was also quite hopeful when I first opened the clarinet and took a look. Things looked OK, and I think I started to expect too much before I initially started playing. Then, the actual quality of the instrument was so much worse than I'd even expected that it just derailed me a bit, haha! I was expecting something OK but not great... not something this bad. I think you're onto something with the blue clarinet. Why stop there. You can get pink, green, red, blue saxophones. Why not apply this to clarinets? I reckon you could have multiple-coloured joints. Red mouthpiece, orange barrel, yellow top joint, green bottom joint, blue bell! Rainbow clarinet :D

[@paulineb66]

Vito used to make Dazzler clarinets in different colors. These were student level but decent quality. I am always tempted to get one on eBay.

[@clementinelives]

I enjoy your observations

[@therealelmoenslaver1236]

i started with a really cheap one and after 6 years im up to a leblanc sernade 2

[@saxmusicmail]

Over the 60 or so years I've played woodwinds I've played a number of new, out of the case instruments. The reeds supplied are always crap. In fact, the worst reed I ever played was the one that came with my Selmer Mk VI tenor sax in 1969. The first thing you should always do is discard the reed in the case. Oh, don't get suckered into buying expensive cork grease. Chap Stick. Yes, ordinary Chap Stick is excellent cork grease.

[@glitch_57]

IVE BEEN SITTING HERE FOR 5 MINUTES WAITING FOR THIS GUY TO FRICKIN PLAY BRO

[@emmaf7802]

I started with a plastic clarinet and then was given a really nice wooden clarinet.

[@PracticaProphetica]

You are getting an "air" sound even with no keys pressed. Surely that is not caused by leaking pads? It sounds like it might be a problem with the reed also, or maybe the mouthpiece? Did you try different reeds, maybe a synthetic one? Was the reed soaked before playing?

[@marshallee]

Some people say that those cheap clarinets from Amazon need a different mouthpiece because the one that come with it is terrible

[@PracticaProphetica]

@@marshallee I can actually confirm that. I ordered 4 synthetic clarinets (Moresky) from China: G, A, Bb, Eb. They were mostly playable, and actually well built and in-tune. But I had more problems with the G...very airy, sometimes hard to get a clear tone. Then I ordered a Moresky C Clarinet in Blackwood. It was about twice the price, but played beautifully. I took the mouthpiece from it and put it on the G Clarinet. Instant difference! So I ordered a $40 Yamaha 4C mouthpiece for the G, and I think this will fix it. So yes, mouthpiece has a lot to do with the playability. Whether it is plastic/bakelite/hard-rubber or wood, makes less of a difference. You can even buy after-market wood barrels and bells for Clarinets, which some people say makes a difference. I haven't tried them. I'm not at the level where I would notice a difference!

[@PracticaProphetica]

I just got the Yamaha 4C mouthpiece and I can confirm that it entirely fixed the problem with my Moresky G Clarinet. It plays clearly and without any breathy noise now.

[@marshallee]

@@PracticaProphetica I'm waiting for my cheap clarinet to arrive in a few days. I bought a Rico mouthpiece because I just want to try and see if I like the clarinet. I did the same with a flute And is no a fun instrument to play for me. That's why I really like those cheap intruments if you are willing to take a risk and need to fix the keys or in the case of the clarinet, to buy a good mouthpiece.

[@thenamelessone8192]

I’m only a 2nd year band student, and some of my friends have clarinets that costed around that. Btw never buy the clarinets w/ white gloves. They’re cursed. Anyways, mine’s plastic because I’m only a 2nd year player. My Yamaha was like $900. :/ O h n o .

[@khr1ssypl4yz]

Same I'm in 7th grade and it's my 2nd year in the school band.

[@MrEVANwhat]

It’s likely so flat at 5:13 because the key heights are dismally low. But what do you want, it’s $100

[@Venus05454]

I have a SLADE USA Clarinet in B flat, the price is nearly the same as the plastic clarinet in the video, but it has less cork grease and its made of wood, the keys feel amazing, and I’m a beginner. But I need recommendations, I’m obviously not going to throw my clarinet, but are SLADE clarinets good?

[@jessiehermit9503]

Clarinet low f's are always a little flat, from what I hear. Also, concert f is when you, the clarinetist, play g, which would be an f on a c instrument.

[@louisepettersson7636]

Yes. I started to learn on that thing and I don't recommend it. The intonation is better on mine though but the amount of air it needed seems to be the same. When I found a better one I suddenly discovered dynamics...

[@louisepettersson7636]

I guess you could have good or bad luck with the amount of leakage on your copy and it might gets a bit more usable with softer reeds. I got it against better judgement as I was tired of waiting for objects on an auction site. Now I have problems with finding a good way to get rid of it.

[@howtotutorials659]

Bad enough that it’s on the title

[@chelastgamer55]

I'm currently learning on a Startone SCL-25 I got from Thomann for roughly the same price as this abomination. Even with the stock mouthpiece and reeds, I could produce sounds fine pretty soon, even without any prior woodwind experience. I didn't have the chance to compare it to a "proper" instrument yet, but I would claim, that it feels and plays "alright" and that it is possible, to get an actually usable new beginner instrument for that price.

[@SaxSon]

Absolutely! Some more affordable beginner instruments are actually quite good, and can make a decent sound. I'm assuming everything seals properly and the intonation is closer to what you need to play a melody reliably. Sadly, there are also a wealth of not-so-good beginner instruments, like this. Stick with it and you'll get a beautiful sound out of your Startone in no time :) Thanks so much for watching!

[@MoonlightBeethoven]

I think you could even make a good sounding clarinet with the same material. But only if you know what you're doing

[@paulineb66]

There are decent quality plastic clarinets if you get one from a reputable brand.

[@ajmasaya9300]

Yeah, that clarinet does suck. Regarding the Low F, most good clarinets actually have a low F that is flat. One Clarinet Shop even made a video explaining why such is the case. It's mainly because the Clarinet has a lot of engineering compromises to it, and the Low F (and E) when you get the overtone to the Higher C (and B), the distance won't be pure, so they can either make the Higher C (and B) in tune or the Low F and E in tune. They chose the High C (and B) because most Orchestras and Bands would require tuning to those notes (in concert pitch) and keeping those notes in tune, allows them to be in-tune with the rest of the instrument. If they made the Low F (and E) in-tune, the Higher C (and B) won't be in tune, and if you decide to adjust your instrument to tune those notes in that case, the rest of the instrument will be out of whack, except for those two notes. Some of the better manufacturers have added a vent-key for Low F and E so that way it would come out in tune. Just wanted to put that out there.

[@grantkoeller8911]

plastic mouthpiece not hard rubber

[@Mizai]

squidward

[@jessiehermit9503]

No.

[@darryn4567]

DON'T PUFF YOUR CHEEKS!!!!!!

[@Ellie_Will]

It's so bad he has to

[@chrisperyagh]

That's definitely not an ebonite/hard rubber mouthpiece as they're usually black and smell like sulphur to some degree or other. I bet this blue plastic one smells like petrol as do most Chinese instruments. The tuning problems you're having with it are exaggerated because of the poor build and finish quality and for £100, quality is out the window. Low F and E are normally flat on most clarinets to some degree (even top level pro models) as they're designed that way as the upper register C and B would be too sharp otherwise. More intonation problems are due to the barrel being shorter than normal, so the LH notes will be on the sharp side compared to the RH notes. Stuffiness in the low register is due to the poor venting. I've seen some of these cheapo Chinese clarinets with toneholes that haven't even been drilled through to the bore. I've got a couple of Vito Dazzlers I bought off eBay for £50 (a blue and a red one) and they're built like tanks. I've fully overhauled them with synthetic pads (Pisoni Pro CLS) and they play like a dream, but that is around £400 worth of work which is justifiable on a quality product, but not a cheapo Chinese clarinet-shaped object which is either going to be turned into a lamp or end up as landfill. I've even had pro clarinettists come over and try them when they were having work done on their pro level clarinets and they remarked how well they play for what they are - all entry level plastic clarinets should play as easily and as well as these Vitos.

[@grantkoeller8911]

Your tuner is set to A=439 instead of A=440!!!!

[@olive4naito]

Get a refund and buy some groceries.

[@glitch_57]

i’m sorry for being american but why would they make a clarinet 100lbs?