Klarinet Archive - Posting 001391.txt from 2000/04

From: "Aaron Hayden" <haydenmusic@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Whatsit?
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 18:24:19 -0400

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There the $99.00 specials from China.

Aaron Hayden Band Instrument Repair
http://www.haydenmusical.com

----- Original Message -----
From: <LeliaLoban@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Whatsit?

> Three or four times during the last year, at flea markets, I've seen a
> peculiar type of clarinet and wonder if anyone can identify it. Although
the
> examples I've seen all looked brand new, none of them had any maker's mark
or
> serial number. I've never seen one with its own case. Usually they're
sold
> naked. (Today I saw one for sale with a used trumpet case. Almost bought
it
> for the case....) They're made of matte finished black plastic, with cast
> pot-metal keys (very shiny silver color) and tenon rings. They're lighter
> weight than typical clarinets. The pads are bright red and look like
> plastic, rather than skin. Instead of cork, the tenons are wound with
bright
> red string. These clarinets , though clearly modern, look similar to
Albert
> system, with wraparound register key, only two trill keys, only two keys
each
> for left and right pinkie fingers, and no thumb ring. Only the third
finger
> has a ring on the upper section. Long B/E is articulated.
>
> These clarinets look and feel tacky, cheap and strange. The first couple
of
> times I saw these, I thought it someone might be importing them as wall
> ornaments. Today I examined one closely for the first time and concluded
> it's a marginally real clarinet (for young children?), not just a
decoration
> or a toy. Flea market asking prices have ranged from $25 to $400 (!). A
> price range that extreme translates to: dealers clueless. I've asked
dealers
> about these clarinets and received answers ranging from shrugs to extreme
> creativity.
>
> I don't want one of these ugly puppies, but it bugs me not to know what
they
> are or what they're really worth (assuming near-mint condition). Are these
> the Kinder Klarinets?
>
> Sweet dreams on Walpurgisnacht....
>
> >:-)
> Lelia
>
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