Klarinet Archive - Posting 000559.txt from 2004/01

From: "Patricia A. Smith" <arlyss1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] $1200 for your clarinet....
Date: Sat, 17 Jan 2004 17:33:08 -0500

Ormondtoby Montoya wrote:

>But if you are saying that purchasing an instrument without first
>inspecting and playing it (or buying it from a respected dealer with total exchange privileges) is as trustworthy as purchasing sight unseen (sound unheard and mechanisms unfelt).... there are simply too many case histories to the contrary.
>

Mr. Montoya expresses, pretty much, what I wished to say.

I am not saying people shouldn't buy at all from eBay for different
reasons, should they so desire. If you have the extra funds, and want
to buy something and the seller seems ok, go for it! :)

However, when I go to purchase a musical instrument, I normally do so
for one of three reasons: 1) an instrument for my own use; 2) an
instrument for one of my children to use; or 3) an instrument for one of
my students to use. I need to KNOW beyond any doubt the instrument I am
going to purchase is in playing condition, and that I am getting my
money's worth.

Sure, it's possible to try a lot of horns, get it home from the music
store, or keep your choice from WWBW (or whatever place you ordered
from) and have it die on you later down the road and have a complete
lemon. Or, if you have the financial wherewithal, and have an
instrument custom made for you, perhaps on a rare occasion, despite the
best work of a highly skilled craftsman, the instrument will still have
some problems (wood that has tiny, microscopic faults, metal pieces that
have tempering problems, etc). That simply happens. However, when
compared with the probability that an instrument I HAVE NEVER SEEN will
break down, the probability that an instrument I have done a decent
trial on is a great deal less.

Patricia A. Smith

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org