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What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?

Posted by Newbie to the band world on 12/23/2020, 9:27 pm

Hi there,
I need a bit of help with the brands of beginner instruments that you use in your beginner band programs.... I'm particularly interested in which WOODWINDS you use.

Thanks ahead of time!

Re: What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?

Posted by 2A HBD on 1/4/2021, 10:41 am, in reply to "What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?"

Flute - Yamaha YFL 262

Clarinet - Yamaha 400AD - Vandoren 5RV Lyre mpc

Alto Saxophone - Yamaha 300AD - Vandoren AL3 mpc

I use all three of these in my program and they work very well. We provide all instruments for our students from 5th grade - 12th grade. They hold up and work well for all grade levels.

Re: What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?

Posted by JeffH Bandwagon on 12/29/2020, 9:34 am, in reply to "What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?"

Most beginner line instruments regardless of brand are manufactured in China, Indonesia, or Taiwan. Even the ones that say USA are most likely having parts made in one of those countries and assembling here. This includes a lot of background instruments. Yes even buffet is manufacturing some instruments in China.

Arrange for a test play of all instruments before recommending them or refusing them. You need them at least a week. Contact schools who already use the brand in question. The manufacturer should have a list of references. Next, whoever you buy them from should provide free maintenance for at least a year. And the manufacturer should offer a manufacturers warranty. The longer the warranty, the more confidence and pride the manufacturer has in their product. Make sure parts are available.

Most reputable brands say their instruments have a 10 to 15 year lifespan in a public school situation. Things happen and all will need to go to the shop at some point. Many repair shops that are attached to retail stores will not repair something if they don’t have a source for parts (a good independent shop can make many parts). Even if they can get the parts they still may not repair something they don’t sell so look for them to talk the instrument brand down regardless of how good you think it is. Find another store.

Finally, don’t forget to go back and test new versions of the “accepted” brands with the same scrutiny...you may be surprised.

Re: What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?

Posted by Duh on 12/28/2020, 4:41 pm, in reply to "What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?"

I was a big fan of almost all Yamaha instruments. Except for the flutes... never liked them all that much.
Then, one day, I was at my district repair shop with an alto sax, and happened to notice that, even though it was a Yamaha, it said, "maid in China." Hmm, why is that? And why was I at the repair shop with it? dunno... but I was wary of some of their stuff after that.

Re: What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?

Posted by Sandhills on 12/26/2020, 2:43 pm, in reply to "What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?"

A couple of thoughts...
I know that a lot of people keep saying not to discount Jupiter as an option. They are definitely better than they were when I began teaching in the mid 90's. They are definitely better than certain other brands. But as a whole I still don't care for them. Even beginner instruments are an investment. I would choose something better if given the opportunity.

Here is what I have found: you will never go wrong with Yamaha on anything. They make the most consistent instruments at every level. There are other brands that can be as good, or even preferred (I still love Conn 8D Horns). But if you buy a Yamaha anything, it will be a quality instrument. And many of their instruments really are the best. To this day, nobody can touch their saxophones, especially the beginner lines. I have also grown very fond of their clarinets and trumpets. LOVE their euphoniums. Marching instruments are great also. Percussion is solid.

When parents ask, I almost always recommend Yamaha if they can swing it.

Re: What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?

Posted by Yamaha everything on 12/28/2020, 3:29 am, in reply to "Re: What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?"

You used to not be able to say that about Yamaha and "every instrument". The Yamaha horns used to take a clear backseat to the Conns and Holtons. Now they're kind of seen at the same level and it just boils down to the individual horn and one's preference. Same with Clarinets. Yamaha have made a lot of progress in an industry that used to be led by Buffet and Selmer.

I don't really have any experience with Yamaha Bassoons and Oboes? Are they any good?

Re: What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?

Posted by hmmm on 12/27/2020, 8:27 pm, in reply to "Re: What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?"

Valve guides on Yamaha brass are terrible. Also, the Yamaha sousaphones play very out of tune. I guess it's whatever brand works for you. I took a band to the state marching contest years back and made the finals using all Jupiter woodwinds and brass and Mapex percussion.

Re: What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?

Posted by Count Bubba on 12/24/2020, 7:28 pm, in reply to "What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?"

Clarinet - Buffet E11
Flute - Yamaha 262
Alto Sax - Yamaha 26

Re: What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?

Posted by DesertJazz on 12/24/2020, 4:10 pm, in reply to "What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?"

Flutes:

I know a lot of people like Yamaha... I'm not a fan of Yamaha flutes (never have been as a flute player). They do alright though.

I've been having my kids get Di Zhao flutes the last couple of years if they can afford a little bit more as a step-up. (They're making some good instruments that have great features for the price point and seem to be holding up pretty well) The Pearl 505RBEs have been my other favorite over the years.

Avoid Gemeinhardt (used to be good) and although Armstrong does seem to hold up, I prefer other brands.

If you ever have a parent looking to spend a bit more on the front side I really like the Azumi AZ2s.

Clarinet:

Yamaha Advantage clarinets work well, or the step-up wooden model. Buffets are asking more than they're worth to me, but they'll hold up well. Jupiter also has come a long way on these. My big thing is get a step-up mouthpiece if possible. Vandoren M13 lyres are what we try to get the kids on if we can.

Saxophones:

Yamaha, Yamaha, Yamaha... Cannonballs can be okay, but the Yamahas are tanks forever. Selmer USA horns can be okay for beginners too. Jupiter isn't my favorite, but again they have come a long way.

I try and get the saxes on Optimum AL3 (TL3 for tenor) mouthpieces.

Your mileage may vary with these instruments, and you're going to find every woodwind person has a strong opinion on these. This is just my own. Best wishes!

Re: What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?

Posted by Me on 12/24/2020, 2:20 pm, in reply to "What brands of instruments do you use for beginner Woodwinds?"

Many people may disagree with me, but hear me out.

You have really two situations with beginner woodwinds.

1. Your kids' parents will buy an instrument for them, but won't buy them a new one in late MS/in HS. One is "fine" and it's all they'll buy - or realistically be able to afford.

2. You have flexibility and can buy a product for them to use for a year or two, but parents will accept a trade-in or trade-up at some point.

For either, you want a decent quality instrument, but you can back off a bit on #2.

For flute, Yamaha IMO is the way to go. Offset-G and B foot. I think it's the YFL-362. You want an open-hole flute with an offset G 100% of the time for beginners if you can manage it. There's no acoustical reason to have inline G, and the offset is much easier to hold. There are other companies that make this type/style of flute, but make sure you get a good one playtested. Gemeinhardt isn't what it was. Pearl can be great too.

My go-to Bb Clarinet is the E11-B, but those have seen a marked dip in quality in the past ten-fifteen years. Yamaha makes a quality intermediate to advanced model as well, but they tend to play a bit more "stuffy" than a Buffet.

Don't overlook Jupiter - lots of people knock them but the WARRANTY alone makes them worth looking into. A decent intermediate-level Jupiter is affordable and will have options an E11 won't (left-hand Eb key, anyone?) They also make a much better clarinet than many people realize.

For saxophone - I'm simply not a fan of Conn-Selmer anymore. They make a GREAT product but the cost is not in line with the quality. C-S's prices have more than doubled in the past fifteen years, and the quality simply isn't as good as it used to be. Yamaha makes a great mid-line saxophone (YAS-480) as do some boutique brands (Cannonball), but again Jupiter is worth looking into here.

I don't start people on low clarinet or low saxophone, and the school issues oboes and bassoons.

Avoid Eastman for all instruments. Your district may get a "deal" on them but they're simply not worth the money.

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