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where can i buy a super cheap clarinet?

i really want to learn to play the clarinet but i cant seem to find anything anywhere besides ebay and most of the bidding is on an automatic setting. please help and i will be forever grateful!!!! where can i buy a cheap clarinet online for less than 50 dollars? i have looked on ebay but i would like another resource

Public Comments

1. A local music store should sell cheap plastic models.
2. Look in the paper and local shops for adverts of people selling or on the internet and you could get it for free but have to go pick it up. If you are in the UK or maybe other countries do it as well gumtree might be worth a look. Get a cheap second hand one but buy some new reeds for it!!
3. try ebay
4. In all honesty, your chances of finding a clarinet for $50 or less are nill and none. Even if you find one on eBay for $20, you pay for shipping and insurance (add another $20)... then I GUARANTEE you will need new pads and cork- add another $150... reeds, $25 (for a box of 10- and yes, you will need that many to start with)... and accessories like swab and cork grease, $20... it starts to add up quick!!! You can find new student model clarinets for about $300. Yes, I realize it is more than $50. BUT- with instruments, you get what you pay for. There ARE cheaper clarinets for sale that you can find at WalMart, Target, Cosco, etc... but there are several problems with them which translate into a waste of money: they break right out of the case the keys often shift during shipping so it won't play NO REPAIR TECH will work on them there are no parts for a tech to order for them The good, reliable, and reputable brands of student models to look for are Selmer, Bundy, LeBlanc, Vito, Yamaha, and Buffet. Like I said before, you can find these for about $300... and here are some options for you to afford one: Try your local music store. They will rent one for around $25 a month, which often includes accessories (swab, etc), insurance for discounted maintenance, and often can be done as a rent-to-own. In the end, you'll usually end up paying a little more (they retail for around $500 at most music stores). You could try pawn shops or Craigslist... but again, you may have to have new pads or cork replaced to make it play- you don't REALLY know what you're getting from these places. Also, you need to make sure that a mouthpiece and ligature are INCLUDED (many times previous players lose or keep these things) or else you will need to buy them new from a music store. Try http://www.wwbw.com or http://www.musiciansfriend.com They both have financing options, are fairly cheap compared to store retailers, have warranties and return policies, and have REAL customer service numbers to help you out. If the clarinet gets damaged in shipping to you, you send it right back at THEIR cost and they will replace it. The downside, is that once you enter into the agreement for financing, you are stuck. You pay it off til it's yours (unlike a rent-to-own from a store, where you can return it if you decide you don't want to play anymore). On the plus side, depending on which model and payment option you choose, you may end up spending only $10 a month... you also aren't paying for an insurance or maintenance program, so all of your money goes to paying off the instrument. However, if you need maintenance (accidents do happen), that will be out of your own pocket. And one last option, if you are in school, ask the band director about joining... they usually have student instruments that they loan their students for free or a SMALL fee. This would be great too, because then you would have a little bit of instruction to get you started and help you learn much faster! If you're older than high school age, try going to your local college to speak to the clarinet professor- they may be able to help you. College kids are always looking to sell their old student model horns (they had to upgrade to pro models) and many times they will sell them cheap... they're hungry, after all! LOL Also, you may be able to get very cheap lessons from the college students- many are music education majors and need the experience. Anyways, I'm sorry I can't be more help, but you should be realistic about the pricing. Instruments are not cheap... and when they are, you can tell by the way it plays (or 90% of the time, DOESN'T play) and the way it sounds. This makes for a horrible learning experience... if a key is broke or a pad is leaking, there is no way for you to know- so then you think YOU suck and become discouraged until finally you chuck the thing out the window and never play again. Do yourself a favor and try to get a decent clarinet... you don't have to spend a fortune, but it will likely cost you more than $50. Good luck and best wishes. :)
5. Hi Luna, If you are looking for a clarinet for $50.00 or less... recommending brands and models that cost hundreds of $$$ is not going to give you the advice you are really asking for. Of course, you can find cheapy clarinets on eBay... but alot of them are also crummy - no name brands - exported from third world countries... and put together by teen aged kids.... not what you will want to be learning on. There is another classified site you may not have heard of .... if you like online auctioning... but, you would have to join. The site is Shop Goodwill.com. I will add the link below. They have plenty of musical instruments but remember it is an auction and the instrument may need adjustments or repairs. You will be better off by looking at the plastic models which would at least not have cracks that happen on wood instruments. Also, you could look at CraigsList.org in or near you city to see who is selling clarinets... There are always bargains there. Finally, you might take a couple of weeks and check with your local pawn shops. You may have to go to several... but you ARE going to find musical instruments in a pawn shop, especially now that the economy is so bad. In any case, take whatever instrument to buy directly to the musical instrument repair shop. Have the repair tech look at it and check to see that everything is ok.... otherwise, you might have problems with playing... that are not actually your fault. Name brands ONLY to consider: Buffet, Buffet Evette, Bundy, Yamaha, Selmer, Vito, LeBlanc, Normandy, Noblet Thanks for reading. Music Teacher and Instrument Consultant. Source(s): http://shopgoodwill.com/