 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Titus
Date: 2016-12-03 06:22
Hi guys,
I was evaluating a clarinet to possibly buy... a new one from a highly reputable shop. It plays well and tuning isn't bad either. However, it's strange because the serial numbers stamped on the upper and lower joint are not the same (the first four digits are, but one ends with 64, and the other 72). Is it still worth keeping as it does play well or should I just go for return that and go for a new, "pure", one? Thanks.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2016-12-03 07:12
It depends on what model and how much you paid for it. If it plays well in tune and you didn't over pay for it then why not play it? Of course you have every right to return it should it have problems.
-Jdbassplayer
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Author: Titus
Date: 2016-12-03 17:59
It's an R13 silver at msrp price. It's weird, it plays better than the other 2 they sent with me matching serial numbers at both joints!
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2016-12-03 21:20
Consider that this may in the future affect the resale value of this horn. Does the reputable shop have an explanation for the number mismatch?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-12-04 04:12
They may have either done a top joint transplant with a used top joint from a similar age clarinet or someone accidentally mixed the joints up on two instruments.
So long as the joints are the same make and model and it plays well, there shouldn't be any real cause for concern. I've seen an oboe with three different serial numbers (a Howarth XL) but it played great - plastic top joint, blackwood lower joint and cocobolo bell. So a real mix'n'match - but if it works, it works.
If you think about it, all clarinets are made up of different billets of wood anyway, so the joints were all made separately and then only came together to form a single instrument just before the factory number or serial number was stamped on.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Titus
Date: 2016-12-04 11:13
That relieves my fear a little bit. The thing is, it is the same model (R13 silver keys) but it is only 8 serial numbers apart out of tens of thousands of them (again, first 4 digits are the same, final two is 64 vs 72).
I had heard something about instrument joints coming together and being tuned together, which was why it was essential to have the same numbers.
@chris m if it's the resale value the only thing affected, not too worried about! Although I am going to ask them how this happened.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2016-12-05 00:31
Technically an instrument should be tuned with the exat joints that will go with it for the rest of time.
In a truly handmade craft instrument the maker selects the joints that best match visually and acoustically together and then completes the final tuning and adds the serial numbers.
However the amount of fine tuning that takes place at the R13 level is probably debatable.
The mistake sounds like a simple logistics error at the retailer and you have to bear in mind that there will now also be another R13 outthere with mismatched numbers.
When I bought my Leblanc pair from Bill lewingtons in 1960 exactly the same error had occured and on the Bb instrument the serials of upper and lower were just 2 apart. This was quickly fixed by going back to the shop.
It would certainly affect resale value.
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