Klarinet Archive - Posting 000471.txt from 1995/05

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Dunja McKenney and the bass clarinet
Date: Fri, 19 May 1995 06:40:21 -0400

Dunja is interested in buying a low-C bass and considers the cost of
a new one to be prohibitive. So the inquiry has to do with looking for
a used one under the assumption that its price would automatically
have to be less than a new one.

I can think of several reasons why a used instrument's price would
be high, perhaps even higher than a new one. If the used instrument
has specially fine characteristics (intonation, for example) and has
been played at a professional level for a number of years, it is not
at all impossible that its value could be as high as a new one.

The fact that an instrument hasbeen used does not in itself, reduce
its value. This is even more true in that class of instruments that
are difficult to get really great examples of. Take a basset horn,
for examples. They are currently going for upwards of $5,000 new,
the list price being over $8,000 in some cases. And, in the case of
a basset horn, it is VERY difficult to get a good instrument. But if
one were willing to spend that kind of money, and if a used instrument
were perfectly in tune, would a potential buyer reject a brilliant
instrument solely on the basis of price saying, "For that money, I can
get a new one." Yes, but can you get a great new one?

Some clarinets appreciate in value, others don't. It depends on the
instrument and a variety of factors. But the assumption that a used
instrument is, automatically, going to be less expensive than a new
one is, in my view a poor assumption. Look at violins, for example!
Clarinets are not like that, to be sure, but with respect to quality,
one must be prepared to pay for it, old or new.

A pro getting a clarinet has to be prepared to pay whatever s/he has
to get the very best instrument possible. After all, one's reputation
and income are very dependent on it.

If cost were the only consideration, everyone would be playing on
Bundys.

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