 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-08-14 20:40
OK, if YOU were going out to buy a R13 from someone/a business, who would it be?
Who would that one person or few people be that would sell you a very good clarinet- the clarinet was ACTUALLY inspected, adjusted, etc. You know this person wouldn't sell you anything below par.
Is this person a clarinet specialist?
Was their service reliable, quick, friendly, affordable, etc?
Why did you choose that person/people?
I'm trying to make a list of people that I could possibly buy a very good Buffet from. Also just want to know who you all would trust purchasing your clarinets from. Thanks for your help and I'm very interested in to what you all have to say!
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Author: Nathan
Date: 2005-08-14 20:47
I believe Walter Grabner now sells Buffet's that are set-up and play tested by him.
http://www.clarinetxpress.com/Newway.html
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Author: jangjiman
Date: 2005-08-15 00:44
wwbw.com? I've never ordered an actual clarinet from them but I know a whole bunch of people do. If you're unsatisfied you can always return it and they don't hassle you about returns.
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Author: clarinetmaniac101
Date: 2005-08-15 07:23
well if you go to Buffet's web site they have a list of authorized dealers for their Buffet clarinets and their webpage is http://www.Buffet-Crampon.com
and they have a full list of their authorized dealers good luck in finding your perfect buffet clarient.
Rashad
*clarinet
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-08-15 14:59
I would second the mention of Walter Grabner because he does what you otherwise would have to do. He will play-test and set-up the instrument and that's worth quite a bit in my books. When I'm buying an R-13 for someone I have a bit of a handicap because I'm not a dealer and I have to work with local music stores and wait until I've found a good one (a bit of a time delay for the anxious future owner) or buy several at a time from online sources like wwandbw to get a good one.
But, if I were looking for a new one I wouldn't hesitate to call Walter because he's also got good prices on them. Next time I buy one it'll be through him.
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-08-15 17:57
Thanks for the opinions! Yeah, I have been checking out Walter's webpage and I was just confused a little on his terms. What exactly does "set-up" mean? And what exactly goes into play testing? Does he just play it, or does he play it and then try to make it sound better? Walter seems like a way better source to me than say WWBW, Brook Mays, etc.
Has anyone bought a clarinet from Walter Grabner yet? What are your opinions of the clarinet?
Also, I noticed he's in Illinois...not too far from MO (but I highly doubt my mom would drive me up there!). Isn't there a Buffet place in Chicago? I don't know if I'm correct or completely off on my memory.
WWBW seems OK, but my mom really doesn't want to deal with lots of shipping back and forth to try to find a good clarinet. We've already spent a good deal of money on shipping...
Thanks again!
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-08-15 18:38
I can't answer for Walter, but you could send him an email and ask him to elaborate on his set-up technique. Normally, it means they take it from the original box and play it to check for leaks, bad intonation, etc. It's not unusual for an instrument to have some leaks when right out of the box due to changes in atmospheric pressure and temperature during shipping. So, a few adjustments are often necessary. Once it's "set-up" it should have no leaky pads or other undesirable quirks and should arrive ready to play. This is a valuable thing to offer a buyer, because when you get it from most online sellers you don't get this option.
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Author: DEC
Date: 2005-08-15 19:29
I have been reading this forum for about six months but this is the first time that I had anything to post.
I bought a Buffet 1193 Low "C" bass from Walter about a month ago. When he got the instrument in, he play tested it and made some adjustments to make sure it played well. I took it to my bass clarinet instructor and let him play test it and he was very pleased with the instrument.
I believe that if it doesn't play well, that Walter wouldn't send it out.
I was very pleased with his service and support before and after my purchase. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another clarinet from him in the future.
Just my opinion.
Regards,
Don
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-08-15 21:18
OK, thanks Brenda and Don! I think that Walter will probably be the way that I'll go to get a clarinet.
What do you guys think about his clarinet of the week feature? Would you purchase a clarinet of the week, or would you give him qualities in a clarinet that you are looking for and have him find one that meets your specs?
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-08-16 02:40
Myself. OK, in all seriousness, I'm a dealer so I'll recuse myself from lobbing in recommendations.
However, in answer to Carrie's last question, I would heartily endorse, regardless of the dealer, being clear about your requirements up front. Even if you have to wait for an instrument, or have to pay more, or have to travel to try it, or contract with a pro to select it, the added investment is entirely worth it for something that is going to be stuck in your face every day, may be the source of your livelihood, and will last you 5 - 10 years or more.
Good luck with your quest!
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-16 15:36
Well, you didn't say "a new R13" so that opens up the possibility of eBay I guess. If you want to know eBay people I trust that I've bought from write direct. I do not mean to imply here that I wouldn't trust Walt, but I've never bought anything from him.
Bob Draznik
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Author: DougR
Date: 2005-08-17 03:13
Just to be clear about going the WWBW route (which I did when I bought my R-13 Bb):
they send you 3 horns. If their stock is low or depleted, they send what they have, picked-over or not. If you insist on waiting for a new load of R-13s, as I did, they'll ship you fresh ones. Whether the fresh ones have been looked at before being sent out, I have no idea. I was sent was three fresh R-13s that were as different from each other as three 10-year-olds from different families. (they all looked alike, but everything else was different.)
As luck would have it, they sent me a really cruddy one, a KIND-of cruddy one, and a really really good one. If they'd sent me another really cruddy one instead of the good one, I'm not sure I'd have had the experience or discrimination at that point to realize all 3 of them were dogs and send them back. I might have bought a crappy one without knowing it!
So for my money WWBW is priced rock-bottom, but the selection is luck-of-the-draw. Grabner undoubtedly charges a premium for his services (and well he should), so if I were doing it again, and factoring in Mr. Grabner's service charge over the life of the instrument (and my life as a player), plus the certainty of getting a good instrument, I'd go with Grabner.
In fact, thanks for the idea!
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-08-17 03:21
Beware if you go with WWBW. I one only one buying experience with it and that was enough. I don't think I will deal with it again. They sent me an obviously used Vito Bb contrabass, when I have specifically requested a brand new instrument, and to top it off, it was way out of adjustment and utterly unplayable, after I have emphasized that I wanted it be fully setup before shipping. Ending up spending several hundred dollars on setup and repairs. I kept the instrument but not my confidence in doing business with them ever again for valuable items.
If you have time, energy, and patience on your hands to deal with beauracracy, WWBW might be an option to look into. Otherwise, avoid it to save your sanity.
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Author: ZCClarinet
Date: 2005-08-17 14:59
I too have tried to deal with WWBW through the mail with no positive outcome.
If you want to deal with WWBW and enjoy the experience, you'll have to actually go to the store in South Bend, Indiana. I did that for my Bb (and recently my A). They'll give you access to everything they have in stock and a practice room large enough to have 7-8 clarinets/cases out at once. There is a rule that you can only have 3 instruments in the room at a time (they leave the rest in a pile outside your room), but if you show good care and respect for the instruments, the staff wont care how many you have in there. I was able to try anywhere from 5 - 10 professional level instruments from every brand (so around 40 total) and was able to pick the one I liked the most. At the moment they are going through the process of moving to a new warehouse, and inventory is slim in some brands. They do price matching as well.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-08-17 15:14
If Walter's clarinet of the week is the kind you're wanting, go for it! If not, ask him about what you want.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2005-08-17 19:30
Yeh, and the charge for the 3 horns will show up on your credit card right away and you'll wait a long time for the credit for the returned horns.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Clarinetgirl06
Date: 2005-08-17 21:10
Bob- Yeah, we've had to do the whole credit waiting thing a couple of times now and my mom hates it! It took this last one about 2 months to finally come back on the credit card.
Thanks for the replies!
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-08-18 16:41
My advice is don't buy a clarinet by mail ordering no matter who you order from. If I lived in the USA I would even travel to different states to try many clarinets, or just go to one store but make sure in advance they have plenty to choose from.
Good luck,
Nitai (who flew a total of 24 hours and drove a total of 26 hours to find his bass clarinet)
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Author: Michael McC.
Date: 2005-08-19 00:58
I would second Muncy Winds. I bought my R13 Bb from them about 5 years ago by mail order; they sent 3, all of which were good, and were quick (as far as I know) to recredit the returned ones.
Last week I drove there to purchase an R13 A, which was better still. You have to call and get an appointment, but when I arrived there were 8 of them set up for me. Phil is very helpful, and I spent about an hour playing them, and the one I finally picked he tweaked for me, undercut a tone hole, replaced the register tube, etcetera. Altogether a pleasant experience.
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Author: clarinetmaniac101
Date: 2005-08-19 03:16
I would like to third mucy winds a very excellent place to get your clarinets from I just bought and R13-Bflat clarinet from Muny Winds two weeks ago and I got three clarients they were fablous had a hard time picking out the one that I wanted I finaly picked out the one that I wanted and I had certain pads replaced with corks and it was even better and I would recommend buying clarients from Mucny winds for anyone who is looking for a good quality buffet clarient.
Rashad
*clarinet
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Author: diz
Date: 2005-08-19 03:48
I wouldn't buy one ... full stop.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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