Klarinet Archive - Posting 000074.txt from 2000/07

From: "Dee D. Hays" <deehays@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass Clarinet/EBAY
Date: Mon, 3 Jul 2000 09:11:29 -0400

----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Hobby" <jhobby@-----.net>
Subject: [kl] Bass Clarinet/EBAY

> ... Some time ago, it was suggested that I look on EBAY. I have done so,
> periodically, but am unnerved looking at prices for BCLs at $275, and so
> forth. I understand the principal that you get what you pay for, but from
> anyone who has dealt with this service, what can one realistically expect?
> The person that told me about EBAY bought a wood Leblanc for about $400,
and
> spent $100 fixing it up. (I've seen student line BCls advertised for
under
> $1000, new.)

First of all, eBay is an *auction* not a service. You need to keep this
difference firmly in mind. There are some good horns and there are some
real dogs. The general rule of thumb is to assume that any clarinet for
which you are the winning bidder will probably need a complete overhaul
unless the seller can provide documentation that this was recently done.
Some of the sellers will be instrument dealers or will have had it checked
out by a technician and in those cases they might not need much work but get
more detail from the seller. Sometimes the seller will be willing to take
it back if it proves unsatisfactory but that is not the norm. Beware when
they say that they don't play but can get some notes out. To them this is
playing condition but as we all know, a horn can be basically unplayable but
still able to hoot out an open "G" or maybe a couple of other notes.

Dee Hays

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Unsubscribe from Klarinet, e-mail: klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org
Subscribe to the Digest: klarinet-digest-subscribe@-----.org
Additional commands: klarinet-help@-----.org
Other problems: klarinet-owner@-----.org