Do you always adhere to the budget you decided on in the beginning? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you always adhere to the budget you decided on in the beginning?

Astrid

Veteran

I'm in a bit of a bind about my clarinet aquisition. Maybe you remember that I started playing again last year and was saving up for my own instrument for a while. I had a specific one in mind (similar quality to the one I had before) and decided that this would be the amount I would spend on it. Then my music teacher tested some models for me (I can't play well enough yet) and suggested I still wait a bit until I could get something better. Well, he knows this will be the one I will play for the next few years, if not forever. Recently he had another look at the more expensive instruments. Second best was the more expensive Yamaha (it's the next one up to the one I had before) and I know I had no problems with my old one. I almost have the money for that one. Best one was the student instrument by a German instrument maker (real handicraft, not made in China like Yamaha). But that one is quite pricey, there's a difference of almost 400€! Of course I would try them myself after holiday's are over (if I prefer the ergonomy of one over the other for example), but I trust my music teacher that he knows what he's talking about when it comes to attributes I can't adequately test myself yet. I almost fear that I'm going to try the more expensive one and there will be a difference even I recognize... Of course coming from the more expensive Yamaha it's 'only' a mark up of 400€, but it's considerably more if you consider what I planned on spending in the beginning.

The other possibility would be to wait until the right second hand instrument appears, but who knows how long that might take. And I'm not completely happy with the one I have borrowed - my fingers are too short for that one, I'm having problems with my right hand.

I have the feeling that my teacher's not really enarmoured by Yamaha and would prefer me to wait for a second hand instrument if I can't afford a more expensive new instrument. I can understand the argument of craftmansship versus line production - on the other hand I had a Yamaha before and was fine, I'm no music genius after all.

Not sure if you can help me with this problem, but I thought I could try the YLF wisdom.

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20 replies

Latest reply was from Astrid

bj1111

Veteran

Is the instrument you have now interfering with your progress? If so, now is the time to buy a new instrument.

If you buy the yamaha, can you resell it if you progress beyond it? If so, then buy this now and sell if you surpass what it can give you.

If you can't resell the yamaha, i would get it anyway. You'll have a few years with it and will be in a better financial position to replace it with a specialty instrument in a few years.

Honestly, unless it is your livelihood, the second best is usually good enough for what you want to accomplish while balancing other needs. To me this is the crux of the decision, not sticking to a particular amount.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks. It's interfering insofar that playing for a longer time gets really difficult without me cramping my hand. The right hand holds the weight of the whole instrument and my fingers are just a tad too short, which means I tend to cramp my fingers if my hand gets tired.
The Yamaha should be resaleable (with some price deterioration of course), it's a common student instrument.

Anonymous

I would get the one that works for you now. I understand the thought of buying something to grow into, but really, in a couple years you will be able to either buy a better instrument or be in a position to snag a second hand one.

And while "quality" does play a role in making music, it's also the person playing. I know a lot of professional musicians who gigged using student level or old instruments because that is all they could afford -- it isn't until they got famouser that they could buy fancy instruments!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Ceit! You're right - I do think the Yamaha would work for my hands, the old one worked too after all. And I could afford it right at the moment with very little stretch. It IS a good instrument and would still be the single most expensive thing I ever bought....

ETA And of course it's firstly the person making a big difference. We are not talking professional instruments here of course. All are still student level instruments, professional clarinets start with 5000€. I've played on my teachers super expensive instrument during a lesson to try if it made a difference for my hand and it didn't sound half as good as he sounds on my old borrowed one.

Beth Ann

Veteran

Astrid: I'm a vocalist first, of course, but I played flute for 8 years, and I still play guitar and piano. I also am surrounded by Music Educators at the college. I wanted to pop in and say that the cramping in your hand is of primary importance. Continuing to play on an instrument that causes discomfort can lead to serious injuries that will interfere with your playing for a long time. Also, despite being line made, each individual instrument will vary slightly in ease of playing and sound. Take your time. Play in a quiet room. Even a simple crescendo/decrescendo and legato scale can tell you alot!

Your teacher wants the best for you, and a second hand instrument has been around long enough to show all its features and flaws. Going out of your budget however, can make your music more a burden to you than it should be.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I used to play piano and got a cheaper apartment one when I really should have waited for a concert worthy one. I felt at a disadvantage at competitions because that would be the only time I could play a grand piano while my competition would practice on them at home - if you are serious about your music, I think waiting to get the second hand model of a better clarinet may be in your best (competitive) interests.

DeclawedJaguar

Veteran

Astrid, I'm in total agreement with Beth Ann: under no circumstances should you ignore discomfort or pain caused by an instrument! It can lead to so many problems down the road. I play violin (as a hobbyist only) and know several professional musicians who are really struggling with the injuries they got earlier on in their music careers.

So in short, get what you can afford, but please make sure that it is very well suited to your hands. If the Yamaha is more comfortable than your current clarinet, and you can afford it now, go for it, while continuing the search for a good second-hand instrument. And then when you find it, trade the Yamaha in.

Caro in Oz

Veteran

Is there a compromise here? I'd be looking for a good second-hand instrument that your teacher approved of & that was within your budget.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I think until you try them all, it's impossible to say. If none of them is any better in terms of comfort than your current one, then you might need to wait for one that is. If they're all more comfortable, and you like at least one, then at least you'll know what you're deliberating about.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Beth Ann! You're right that caring about the cramping is important. I'm not ruining my hands and playing when it's uncomfortable, but it's annoying because I can't practice for a time without taking a break. Until two or three months ago this problem wasn't as obvious because I didn't need the right hand so much yet, but with going into the higher register that hand now gets a constant workout. And my teacher does know that it doesn't make sense to wait much longer, he has acknowledged the problem. The borrowed one isn't a bad instrument at all (it's an old Uebel clarinet made in the GDR), it just doesn't work for me. I agree that trying out different clarinets of the same line made model is helpful, the store normally has at least two or three of the same model on hand so you can try them.

Thanks Lyn! I'm in now way competitive about my music and clarinet is less of a solo instrument anyway. There's a wind section ensemble at my music school that I could join when I'm better again, but it's more about playing together anyway. A secondhand instrument would mean getting perhaps a semi-professional instrument for the same price, which would probably mean a better sound impression all in all and perhaps the e/f correction (important if you play with others). Everything else is probably not something I need - more keys mean more fingering options, but you can play just as well with less if you only play for fun.

Thanks DJ! And you're right. I will have to try all the instruments of course, but getting one that works now and maybe upgrading when the right second hand one comes along is a good idea, it's definitely sensible.

Thanks Caro! I think this is a good idea in theory, but we've been looking at second hand ones for the last half year and there wasn't anything suitable so far. I'm not sure how long it would take if I decided to wait. Either they were lower quality student instruments (for kids) or professional ones that were way over my price limit. There hasn't been a lot choice in between.

Thanks Suz! And you're right of course, I can't make a decision without really trying them and I would never do that. I'm just a bit unsettled because those budget plans changed a lot already and I don't want to make a wrong decision with so much money.

Glory

Veteran

Astrid if you can swing it I would get one now that you can soar with. Start looking around, take guidance from your teacher. Each day counts!

Carla

Veteran

If you are really committed to your instrument, get the best instrument you can afford--but more importantly, the best instrument for you. You shouldn't have to deal with pain and discomfort when you play. If you do, you won't be doing it for very long.

Is there a music store that rents instruments, or has a rent to own option?

We've gone the new and the used route for instruments for the musicians in our household--a trumpet, two saxes (alto and Bari), a piano, and 3 guitars!

As far as adhering to a budget...I have started with entry level gear when testing out a sport, but jumped past middle of the road to high end gear once I've committed to the sport and am able to tell the difference the better gear makes. I've usually saved the $$ for what I want though. Of course there is always something better, and next year's model to tempt me!

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Glory!

Thanks Runcarla. You're right, it has to be the best instrument for ME. I won't be able to do some testing until the end of August, but I will have a look at the instruments he suggested then. And then decide if I want to get one of them or wait. As for the rental (or rent to own) - that's often possible, but only for starter instruments for kids, not the more expensive ones. And you are a musical family! We have done the same at home too, buying new and used instruments (trumpet, transverse flute, cello, two violins, piano and my old clarinet). I can relate to your sports analogy. That's why I only borrowed an instrument to start with, I wanted to see if I was going to stick with it. I've played clarinet before, so I know how good it is if you have an instrument that suits you! If I would decide to spend more that would probably mean waiting for December and putting my Christmas bonus into the instrument budget. But I won't, in any case, spend more than the most expensive one he suggested, that wouldn't be sensible at this point.

rachylou

Veteran

My boyfriend worked as a musician back in the day (sax, and also flute). If all things were equal ergonomically, I think he'd tell you to stay as close to original budget as possible without sitting around just "hoping" something will come along. You can buy and sell, buy and sell.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I'd get the Yamaha for now Astrid. I played for years in school. I now have a clarinet I bought at a garage sale for $15 or $20 and though it's no masterpiece, I can still play as much as I want for my hobby purposes -- and if I run into a better used one I will of course get it. I don't feel you have to have the "best" instrument to play great music.

Eliza

Veteran

DH plays the sax regularly (now for fun, but earlier as a career to give his mom grey hairs in his post-college years) and has been at it long enough to own a few. His favorites were made 5 or 6 decades ago, You are getting good input here to take care of your comfort first, then be sure you like the tone and action of the particular instrument. If you are devoted to this pursuit and planning to play regularly, investing in a used instrument a step up from a student model may make you happier for a longer period of time.

Conversely, if you aren't sure or budget constraints are paramount, you could get a used student model that ups your comfort/tone now, and save the bigger investment for later. Talking to local places that rent to students and sell instruments could help you do the math in more detail. Also, play as many instruments of varying vintages as you can get your hands on as they are highly variable and it will help you narrow your search.

Good for you for pursuing this- best with all of it.

Irene

Veteran

Astrid, I am always amazed at how good your English writing skills are.

As for the clarinet, I would go for the best you can afford -and wait some time, if needed. I would even ask someone else for economic help and return the money gradually if I needed the instrument right now.

No music expert, but when I got my first (and only) SRL camera, I didn't go for the cheaper ones in the market. I know myself and I knew I would outgrow them fast because it had already happened before with my non SRL cameras. So, while I couldn't afford -nor had the knowledge- to have a professional camera, I did go for a semi-pro. It is an old camera -6-7 years old, which for a digital camera is some time- and I wish it was more advanced in some aspects, but it is a good camera and I haven't been disappointed -as I was with the former ones.

My advice is to go for the clarinet your teacher is suggesting. You don't want to regret buying something that is not good enough.

As for second-hand instruments, I would be careful. You never know what you are getting, and there are no guarantees. Something might look fine on the outside and be not so fine in the inside.

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Rachylou.

Thanks Texstyle! Yes, of course you don't need "the best". I'm thinking of going with the Yamaha too, if there's no really discernible difference to the more expensive one. It already is one step up from what I planned to get in the beginning.

Thanks Eliza! I do have budget constraints (I'm a student), but the clarinet money has been slowly accumulating over the months. I also get the Christmas bonus I've already mentioned, it's almost a full monthly salary. The last one went into the clarinet budget too. I agree that playing the right second hand instrument can be fantastic. My mum's violin is really ancient, made 1789 in Paris. We call it the "French Revolution instrument".

Thanks Irene! You English is fantastic too. Some part of me agrees with you, the other tries to be sensible. I think I would get the more expensive one if it's love at first sight and everything fits. We will see. I could ask my parents for a loan, but I don't really like to. They do support me so much already that I feel uncomfortable with it. And my mum already put some money into the clarinet budget that I don't have to return anyway. As for buying second hand instruments, I would never just get one on Ebay or something like that. But instrument makers sell them in commission and they check them beforehand and also give you an estimate if repairs are needed and how much they would cost.

rachylou

Veteran

Oh, my bf has just pointed out that, if possible, it's helpful to try out two of the same make and model instrument. Because each instrument is unique.

You're not a music major, are you Astrid?

Astrid

Veteran

Thanks Rachylou. And yes, that is normally the practice in music stores here, they have normally at least two or three models on hand to try. And no, I'm not doing anything with music professionally, only for fun in my spare time.

Anyway, I wanted to thank you all again for your input. I'll keep you up to date.