I agree with Jane, a good pair of clippers is so worth the money. I bought Andis clippers that cost about £120, but I have only needed to buy two pairs in the past 10 years, and if you worked out the cost of a clip every couple of months you soon get your money back.
We have always clipped Ben really short, as it suited his lifestyle of being out in the mud and swimming most days, summer and winter it made him easier to get dry afterwards. Now he is getting on we let his coat get longer as he is not getting as grotty. However I love to see a cocker with a 'proper' coat and decided I would not clip my next cocker, but Harry was a rescue and came to us clipped really short and he had been castrated. I tried to let his coat grow out but the texture was just a woolly mess so he is clipped too, but we leave him with more feathery legs, ears and tail so he looks more cocker like!