Klarinet Archive - Posting 000256.txt from 1996/11

From: "Joie Canada , Jcanada713@-----.com>
Subj: Re: question!?!
Date: Tue, 12 Nov 1996 12:54:04 -0500

Hi Serge,

I have great sympathy for financial considerations and good instruments--the
prices for new instruments are out of sight especially for those considering
the cost of tuition and room and board for school. If your teacher can help
you, you can do some shopping for used instruments and often find good ones
reasonably priced, especially if they show some wear on the plating of the
keys or slight cosmetic nicks and scrapes that don't affect the instrument's
playing capabilities. Players with money tend to "move up" in instruments
even if their ability is not stretched by their new instrument and there are
"status" considerations in many groups about who is playing what brand or
level of instrument. This puts many good instruments on the market.

Instrument repair companies often have good rebuilt instruments available at
reasonable cost, and ads on notice boards at music schools are another good
source. There are many good orchestra level instruments out there, and no
need for you to pop for a new horn. Ask the person who advised you to get a
better horn (I agree, by the way, that a Rico school instrument will not be
best for college) to suggest brands and places where used instruments of that
sort might be available. If both you and your teacher find the "new"
instrument is a better sound and easier play than your old faithful and the
price is right, go for it. If you have time and patience, as well as some
knowledge, you can shop in pawn shops and garage sales. I have a French
Selmer--a very nice instrument--that I found in a Gun Shop for $30! I am
very proud of my "find" and the cost of re-padding the instrument was still
less than any new instrument, even a very inexpensive student model. It
requires a knowledge of what brands are considered good, an ability to play
well enough to test the instrument, and someone to listen to hear whether the
prospect is fatally flawed in some way.

Good luck and happy hunting!

Joie