Klarinet Archive - Posting 000247.txt from 1995/07

From: CLARK FOBES <reedman@-----.COM>
Subj: Re: Jim Fei on Bass clarinet buying/prices
Date: Wed, 26 Jul 1995 14:21:26 -0400

You wrote
>>
>
>Jim,
>
>I firmly agree with Dan and Clark concerning pricing for used pro bass
>clarinets.
>
>The Kohlert is also something I wouldn't even consider for sale (even
on
>consignment) in my store.
>
>If you definitely want to stay in the $1000 range I would suggest
buying a
>used Vito or Bundy plastic model (I know, I know I've heard all the
stuff
>about plastic) but in financial reality they can be made to play quite
well.
>Invest $300 in a GOOD repad and maybe some custom tuning. Another
$150 -
>$200 in a good mouthpiece and you will have 10 times the quality of
>instrument than you'd have with the Kohlert or some over the hill
wood
>instrument. You will also have a reliable instrument that should prove
no
>problem getting your money out of when it comes time to sell it and
upgrade
>to a current model pro instrument. I have known several serious
doublers who
>have used this setup and it was also an opinion held by the late
Alfred
>Zetser, former bass clarinetist of the Cleveland Orchestra for over 30
years.
>
>Gerry Evoniuk
>Desert Winds Music Inc.
>1889 E. Broadway
>Tempe, AZ 85282
>
>(602) 966-1180 Fax (602)966-1310
>
>
>Also
>
>
>******************************************
>Gerald Evoniuk
>Instrument repair technician
>School of Music, Box 870405
>Arizona State University
>Tempe, AZ 85287-0405
>(602)965-4502
>Fax 602-965-2659
>email Gerald.Evoniuk@-----.EDU
>
I agree with Gerry except that in my experience I would stay away from
Bundy bass clarinets. They do have a pretty good sound, but the
mechanism does not stay in adjustment. Does Yamaha make a plastic bass
clarinet? That might be the best of all worlds. I have been very
impressed with the quality of their student models.

Clark W Fobes