Klarinet Archive - Posting 000134.txt from 2003/09

From: Kenneth Wolman <kenneth.wolman@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Buffet A clarinet on ebay
Date: Fri, 5 Sep 2003 23:14:48 -0400

At 07:59 PM 9/5/2003 -0700, you wrote:

>I have to really wonder about the condition of the instrument, though. While
>the recent post of a $2,500 A clarinet seemed a bit steep (despite the MSRP of
> > $5,000 :-), the "buy it now" price on this one seems almost too good to be
>true for "like new" condition (though I suppose it depends on what "like new"
>means to the individual). Maybe I'm being overly suspicious, but usually if
>sounds too good to be true, it is.

Somebody (musiqueweb.com) had or still has what looks to be a Selmer
Balanced Tone for a Buy It Now Price of $455. To their credit they are
forthcoming: the keys are dirty, the serial number is not quite visible
(the latest it could have been made I think is 1949), they rave about the
tone--but they also own that there are a couple of pinned cracks and upper
joint banding. I spent a little time slobbering over this horn until Sue
herself reminded me that the instrument was indeed cracked at some point
and do you (me) want to get into an instrument like that. Which suggests
that there's a reason a BT is selling for that price when Wichita Music has
one for $1095. Musiqueweb also said they did a "play condition
overhaul"--I have no idea what this means.

Too good to be true, indeed--but I just looked and it's being bid on. Not
by me.

Ken

-------------------------
Kenneth
Wolman http://www.kenwolman.com
http://kenwolman.blogspot.com
"Sometimes the veil between human intelligence and animal intelligence
wears very thin--then one experiences the supreme thrill of keeping a cat,
or perhaps allowing oneself to be owned by a cat."--Catherine Manley

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