Klarinet Archive - Posting 000212.txt from 2002/08

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Buyer be Aware
Date: Fri, 23 Aug 2002 13:15:48 -0400

Having just warned of terribly damaged instruments being bought on eBay, let me tell you about a great experience I am having.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! DAN LEESON REJOICE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last week I bought a "C" clarinet that was listed on eBay.

It's a Buffet Evette-Schaefer, made in the mid 60's. What especially attracted me was that the instrument apperaed as if it had come though a time-warp!

Apparently, the instrument was played sparingly, if at all, then kept in a musical instrument storage closet for 30 years.

There is no tarnish on the keys, no wear on the pads. It has bright gold on the trademarks. In the case is the original guarantee and "Care of Woodwind Instruments" brochure from Carl Fischer and the little plastic Buffet reed holder that they used to put in all the cases. JUST LIKE MY R-13 was packaged when I got it in 1967! Man, talk about deja-vu'!

It even has that NEW CLARINET SMELL.

Needless to say, when I opened this thing up, I was ecstatic!

(On the negative side, the instrument has a few intonation discrepancies, including some bad tuning in the throat, with a sharp open G, flat G#, even flatter A and Bb. I'll be working through these issues in the next few weeks.)

Anyway, I just wanted to tell everybody how thrilled I was to get this instrument. It would never have happened without eBay (not to me, anyway).

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
Clarinet repairs and restorations

---------------------------------------------------------------------