hi guys, figured you were the pros so i’d ask here
i’m looking to get into playing the clarinet but really very novice so don’t know where to start…
i tried having a look on ebay and on twenga
eBay Link
http://www.twenga.com/price-clarinet-instrument.html
to get some perspective but there seems to be SUCH a wide range of instruments that i am totally lost.
would love some pointers on this one please
thanks so much in advance
L
[ Links edited. - Mod ]
you might do better going fish from this list
http://www.google.com/search?q=clarinet+forum
I bought a Leblanc V40 Bb clarinet for $244 about 3 years ago from Charl Van Schoick
at http://www.clarinuts.com and was very satisfied with it. He “remasters”, as he puts it, used woodwinds. He has a good reputation at the Clarinet BBoard that Denny referenced.
Where are you?
(I have a spare clarinet that would be okay to learn on, but would rather not ship it and CERTAINLY won’t ship to the US).
Wow… a thread I can comment on with some authority! 
Budget is always a concern, but lets assume as a novice you are looking to “try it out” and therefore don’t want to sink a lot of money into an instrument. If this is your situation, why not rent from a local music store? Rental may run about $40 a month, but the drawback is that there may be a minimum rental period (3 or 6 months is typical). The good part is that if you like is, some places will do a rent-to-own program so you can pay as you go, and then you end up owning a new instrument by doing rental “payments”.
An example of a music store rental program:
https://www.cliffgirardmusic.com/shop/shipping.php
If you consider buying used, you can get them pretty cheap on ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/vito-2nd-clarinet-musical-instrument-/280578123683?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4153c267a3
However, be aware that some instruments may require some work done to them in order to work well, and depending on the condition could need a complete overhaul. A $50 eBay bargan may end up needing $100-$200 in repairs. 
If you insist on buying used, I would recommend looking for older, student model clarinet from Yamaha, Bundy, or Vito, in that order.
(from the description, this one looks to be in OK shape…) Pardon Our Interruption...
If you want to bite the bullet and buy a brand new student instrument, check out the Yamaha YCL-250 ($800+):
http://www.wwbw.com/Yamaha-YCL-250-Standard-Clarinet-461373-i1142815.wwbw
I hope this overview helps you to narrow down your choices a bit.
If you post here or send me a message as to what you are willing to spend, I can provide you with additional recommendations as needed. - CCat
Here is a Bundy, but it clearly states “AS IS” and there is no way to tell from the photos how much (if any) work it might need:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Bundy-Clarinet-Case-Music-Instrument-/380280958247?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item588a82ed27
thanks so much to everyone, i really like the idea of the rental programme, youre right i am looking to try it out and see how i get on with it. ive had a quick search and apparently there are c aouple of shops in my area that offer that sort of thing so guess where i’ll be this weekend!! thank you all so much, if these shops arent helpful to buy il be straight back on here for buying tips in a few months!! thanks everyone