The buffet Crampon B12 is a very well made beginner clarinet. I recommend this clarinet to most of my beginner students as it is well made and can produce a nice mellow tone. I have tried many other clarinet makes and have always preferred the Buffet clarinets. When I needed to upgrade for my university studies I tried lots of different makes of clarinet but Buffet won every time. I still play on a Buffet and have stuck with them for years now. If you are able to buy a buffet for a beginner then I really would recommend it. Yes, you can purchase cheaper instruments but sooner or later something will go wrong and students may loose interest as they feel that ...  Read the complete review