Klarinet Archive - Posting 000710.txt from 1996/08

From: Gary Van Cott <mccmis@-----.COM>
Subj: R-13 Shopping
Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 23:51:59 -0400

This questions is directed at pros and adult amateurs who, in the
last year or two, have shopped for an R-13 for themselves or
assisted someone else in buying one. These questions are very
subjective, but this process is all about making relative judgements.

I will be embarking on this project with, in addition to my
checkbook, a tuner and what I believe is a good used R-13 I bought
(for my son) earlier this year for comparison.

Question 1. Roughly what percentage of R-13s are really quality
instruments? Another way to ask this is how many instruments did you
try before you found one you really liked?

Question 2. While any instrument I select should be mechanically
sound and play well in all registers, I expect to make my selection
based primarily on tone quality and intonation. Is this reasonable
or are there other factors I should be looking for or watching out for
(see next question)?

Question 3. What kind of defects can be expected in new R-13s? Which
should be cause for immediate rejection and which can be easily
fixed?

Thanks for your time,

Gary Van Cott
Las Vegas, NV
mccmis@-----.com