The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Joe W
Date: 2017-06-19 04:23
Hello,
When cleaning out my childhood home when my mother decided to move to a smaller place, I found two old clarinets, one of which I had played in elementary and junior high school in the late 1950s and early 1960s. One is an Artley 18s. There is a very faint number on the upper end of the lower joint that looks like 6032 or 6082. The other is marked "Supertone" on the barrel, the upper joint and the bell. Both the upper and lower joints are marked with the number "4103 Made in Italy" at the lower end. I'd like to have one or both reconditioned and would like to know if they are worth the cost. From what I have read about the Artleys, they are plastic and mostly made after 1971, which would make me believe that I played the Supertone, since I had quit playing by 1965. However, I have not been able to find much information on the Supertone. Can anyone enlighten me on these instruments and whether it is worth reconditioning them? All of the keys seem to be intact and functional on both.
Thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2017-06-19 04:51
Welcome!
Unfortunately, both instruments are lower quality student clarinets so they aren't worth much. Despite this I would definitely hold on to the Supertone for its sentimental value. I personally don't like Artley clarinets as much as the more well known brands of student clarinets (Yamaha, Buffet...) but IMHO they are still better than most Chinese instruments. If you are looking for an instrument to play it may be more cost effective to look for a used Yamaha or Vito.
-Jdbassplayer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: toffeeman3
Date: 2017-06-24 18:25
I have been buying and selling clarinets for a while now. If I was starting out I would look at e bay as an option.
You can buy a new clarinet but please avoid the cheap Chinese "mugs eyeful" brands.
if you are on a buget then go for a Buffet or Yamaha. Oddly new Yamahas are more expensive than Buffet equivalents but Buffets comand a higher used price.
If you can't overhaul a clarinet yourself then look for a good/very good condition one on e bay.
For a buffet you will need to pay about £85/90, for a Yamaha you should pay about £60/75
The best value is to be found in the Yamahas but if you are prepared to pay a bit more then the Buffet is a bit better in my view
John
07469847273
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Joe W
Date: 2017-06-26 04:24
Thank you Toffeeman3 and JDBassplayer for your responses.
Not so much interested for an instrument to play myself, but I have a 4 yo grandson that I'm hoping might want to play when he gets a little older. What I was really trying to determine is whether either is worth refurbing and what it might cost. From toffeeman3's estimates on the used Yahama and Buffet it sounds like it might not be worthwhile refurbing either if the refurb cost was more than $100.
Another thought, would either be worth donating to a youth music program, assuming the program has someone who could refurb them.
Joe
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sean.Perrin
Date: 2017-06-26 04:30
I would not recondition these, not really worth it. If you want to get playing again there are a lot of affordable options today. If you're just looking to sell these probably aren't worth much unfortunately.
Founder and host of the Clarineat Podcast: http://www.clarineat.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
|