Klarinet Archive - Posting 000407.txt from 2002/05

From: CBA <clarinet10001@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] To Green Line or Not Green Line?
Date: Thu, 16 May 2002 13:09:25 -0400

Joe,

If you spend $200-400 on getting to Stockholm and just
stay for the vendors, you will probably save that much
on a clarinet getting it from many distributors that
are competitively priced.

For a clarinet purchase, you are going to spend $2000
probably, give or take $200 or so. For such a large
purchase, you can't afford NOT to go where you can
test out many clarinets. The vendors will also have
models you WILL NOT see in stores to buy, since the
conference is international.

Here's also another side to this story. The Vendors
such as Buffet, Selmer, Patricola, Yamaha, Howarth,
Eaton, Wurlitzer, etc brought their BEST instruments
to the show last year in New Orleans (unfortunately
much better than I had played in the stores looking
for instruments.) LeBlanc had it's usual fare of
instruments and a saleman who didn't play clarinet
(they don't get the jist of conferences since Tom
Ridenour is not there anymore.) The quality of
clarinets are so much better, I thought of buying 7
different models to replace my Bb/A combination
Buffets that I had only had a year.

The reason they are better is twofold. 1. The
instruments are hand picked at the factory, because
they want to show the best. 2. The instruments are in
top shape, as opposed to how they are after mass
production and shipping, as they are at music stores
most of the time. Most music stores have to lose monet
by having their repairman work on the instruments and
seal the leaks, replace pad, fix bent keys, when they
get the instruments in, and can't afford 3 or 4 hours
on the instruments each. A conference group has the
time and $ to do so, since they are selling a brand
AND the instrument, not just the instrument.

You would expect the cars at an auto show would be
pristine, and be a better car than at the car showroom
in a city, since the car at the auto show was hand
picked, and fine tuned for the show.

Consider going. If you are in Europe and are ready to
invest in a professional clarinet, you really will
save yourself a lot of heartache and time (and
probably money) over the purchase.

Kelly Abraham
Woodwinds - New York City
--- Joseph Wakeling <joseph.wakeling@-----.net>
wrote:
> > And in August, if you can go to ClarinetFest
> > in Norway (or is it Sweden?), you'll be able
> > to try out almost every brand & model for 3
> > days running.
>
> Sounds good, but the cost of the trip to Sweden (I
> checked;-) would mean
> that I wouldn't be able to buy the clarinets
> afterwards!
>
> Fortunately someone recommended me a good store near
> my newly-adopted Swiss
> hometown so I'm going there tomorrow to see what
> they have. ;-)
>
> -- Joe

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