Klarinet Archive - Posting 000034.txt from 2006/05

From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] Ebay basset horn number 7412237168
Date: Thu, 04 May 2006 12:36:27 -0400

This one is to be wary about. It may be a very fine instrument
but without assurance that it could be returned if it has
intonation difficulties, one would be very foolish to buy it
simply because it has a good price.

It is clear that the owner has no idea what he has or what it is,
saying, for example, "I have no idea what key it is in." In fact,
his description of the instrument still retains the erroneous
designation of a bass clarinet.

The two bocals are problematic. I suspect (but do not know) that
one is made for the European market while the other for the
American market. But I had extra bocals made for my basset horn,
one longer and one shorter. Neither tuned well. A basset horn
bocal needs to be made for that instrument and just getting a
longer one under the assumption that it will work may be a very
bad assumption.

On the hand, one never knows. This may be a real treasure. You
just can't tell from the description. Anyone interested in
buying it should get an agreement from the owner that s/he will
take it back if the intonation is a problem.

If you simply put the name "basset horn" into the ebay search,
you will also get two or three Chinese instrument that look like
euphoniums which are also being sold as basset horns.

Be patient, my friends. My instrument goes up for sale on ebay
in December of this year. But save your money. You will need a
lot of it. You will also get a guarantee that if you don't find
the intonation professional enough, you get your money back!

Dan Leeson
DNLeeson@-----.net

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