Klarinet Archive - Posting 000237.txt from 1995/07

From: CLARK FOBES <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Bass clarinet buying/prices
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 1995 02:34:26 -0400

You wrote:
>
>Thanks for the responses about the Kohlert I was considering. From
the
>replies I recieved, it seems that I can expect to find used
professional
>models (from Leblanc, Selmer, and others) for about $1000 and under?
In
>that case I am definitely reconsidering buying the Kohlert.
>
>I haven't been able to find reasonable deals in NYC so far, so if
anyone
>has suggestions for stores or have bass clarinets for sale in NYC I
would
>really appreciate it.
>
>Thanks again,
>
>
> James
>
I am sorry that I did not read your original posting on thr Kohlert
bass clarinet, but if it was in regards to purchasing one I would
definitely stay away from that at any price.

As far as purchasing a good professional bass clarinet (Low Eb?)
for under $1000 I think you have either been misled or have not pursued
the market. A reasonable price for a Low Eb Selmer is about $2,000 and
that will most likely need some work. Consider that a new instrument is
probably around $3600 - $3800 at one of the discount places.

I would also be very careful about purchasing an older Buffet. Test
the pitch carefully! Most of them have a wonderfully robust tone, but
the twelfths are too short. They also may play very high in general. If
you do aquire a Buffet be certain that it has the second register vent
on the neck and not the body. Buffet made a series of step up bass
clarinets that have "Professional" stamped on them that, IMO, are real
dogs.

It's harder to find used Leblancs, because there just have not been
as many sold. Again, the better models have the second register vent on
the neck.

If you want to stay in the ballpark of $1000 or less try to find an
old "Noblet". These do not have the 2nd register vent on the neck, as
they were sold mostly to schools. However, they have a very solid
mechanism and a wonderful sound.

Probably the easiest to locate will be an older Selmer. The Selmers
have proven to be very consistent and with some retuning are very fine
instruments.

Clark W Fobes