Klarinet Archive - Posting 000388.txt from 2004/02

From: ormondtoby@-----.net (Ormondtoby Montoya)
Subj: Re: [kl] Investigating new instruments with no $
Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 17:52:55 -0500

Brian=A0Schuth wrote:

> am a little curious what new horns sound like.
> In part this is to try to figure out what quibbles
> I have with my playing come from me and
> which are the horn (or mouthpiece, or reed,
> yes, I know...) [snip] Is it ethical to spend
> the time and effort of shop staff when you're
> not in a position to really buy?

First, any behavior can be abusive if carried to extremes, but.... If
you truly aren't certain about your ow clarinet, it makes sense to ask a
store to both/either test other clarinets and also to give your
instrument a brief inspection to see if it may need
adustment/cleaning/repair/etc. Any store that denies you a few minutes
of 'trial' and inspection is probably not a good place to buy anything.

Second, an old clarinet does not play either better or worse merely
because of its age. An old clarinet may be in either better or worse
repair/adjustment than the shiny new instrument in the dealer's display
case. Also, the bore/mouthpiece/barrel etc of your instrument may be
either better or worse for you than the shiny new instrument in the
dealer's display case. Age by itself is not relevant. (unrepaired
wear and tear may be)

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