Klarinet Archive - Posting 000004.txt from 1994/01

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: Tom Ascher's request for pricing in France
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 1994 21:38:09 -0500

Tom, I am not current as to what one would pay for an instrument
at Selmer or Buffet today. I lived in France in 1962 and, at that
time, they practically gave them away. A new Buffet was about $100
in either A or B-flat. A Selmer was about $95 case and mouthpiece
not included. A bass clarinet down to low C was less than $300.

But I have not tried to buy anything in France (other than reeds)
in at least 10 years, perhaps longer, so I am not current.

Sorry I can't help.

A friend of mine bought a clarinet in a music store in France. It
was a Buffet and he walked in off the street as you might do here
in America. The price was said to have been lower than the same
model in the US but he did not give me exact amounts.

However, if you do buy such an instrument, you can get a refund
for taxes as you leave France. It is some paperwork and you might
check with the French counsulate in your nearest large city, but
it works for heavy duty items like perfume, cars, etc. So it also
works for musical instruments.

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Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
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