The Bundy clarinets are, along with the Selmer clarinets (their predecessor company in France), among the most popular student clarinets of all time. The Bundy Resonite 1400 came out in 1948, and by 1978, a million of them had been sold. They are still sold today, 60 years after their debut. I had the French Selmer’s model of the BT clarinet, but it was made from a different material, one that revolutionized clarinet production.

The Bundy name comes from a Selmer employee named George Bundy who helped the Selmer brand in the US become the premier supplier of high quality band instruments it has been for over half a century. Bundy clarinets are very popular in school band rental programs. They are responsive, and the student who practices faithfully is quickly rewarded with a great clarinet sound.

Today, there are several brands of cheaper student clarinets, but music teachers and band conductors often do not recommend them. While some of these models can be inexpensive, getting service for them can be problematic. Woodwind experts at music stores know Bundy clarinets well and know how to find replacement parts for them easily.

But that need doesn’t come up too often because Bundy clarinets are tough. A clarinet designed for a student in the middle grades has to be difficult, and Bundy has been doing the job well for a long time. A used Bundy clarinet in good condition should only cost about $ 200. A Bundy clarinet that belongs to an aunt or cousin but is no longer played can be a great starter instrument for a band student. Most music stores that sell woodwind instruments can do a tune-up and any repairs, and an old boat shaped Bundy has been put together thousands of times for the beginning band student.