Klarinet Archive - Posting 000034.txt from 1997/10

From: ROBERT HOWE <arehow@-----.net>
Subj: Re: Price help on contraclarinet
Date: Thu, 2 Oct 1997 14:01:09 -0400

FOlks, can anyone help me? I am a woodwind collector, I have a chance
to buy a 1950 Eb contrabass ( or "contra-alto") clarinet by Selmer, in
grenadilla, not rosewood, Boehm, range to low E natural, not Eb. She is
recently restored and is in absolutely gorgeous condition. THe case is
original and could house a small horse; the mouthpiece is original and
marked "GJ", apparently it was reworked by a one-legged clarinet
mouthpiece refinisher on the West coast. The horn plays like a
son-of-a-gun, a wonderful big sound and a very nicely tuned scale.

THe register key is double, ie, there are two thumb touches. One opens
higher on the horn for notes above E, the other lower on the horn for Bb
through Eb.

THe seller is asking $2600, which seems a bit pricey. And he wants an
answer NOW.

Advice anyone??

THanks, RObert Howe