The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Anne Moffitt
Date: 2001-08-13 01:04
I have a Bflat Silver one piece Clarinet purchased by my parents in l948 (?) It is called the Pan American Special in honor of their 25 year. It was made by the C.G. Conn Company in Elkhart, Indiana. The only other markings on it is the numbers 76457.
I was wondering if it has any value, it is still playable but does need new pads. There is a carrying case for it. Should I make a lamp out of it or fix it up and try to sell it or give it to a school band??
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-08-13 01:11
Anne,
These instruments do not command a lot of money on the instrument market. Yours may be worth a little more if it is an commemorative model. I doubt that your school band would want it, so why don't you fix it up and enjoy it. Whatever you do, please don't make a lamp of it.
John
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-08-13 01:13
It has no significant monetary value. I would fix it up to playing condition just to have a fun working piece of American clarinet history. Pan American was Conn's bottom end student grade instrument. They were only so-so clarinets.
Schools will not accept them as the band directors believe that all metal clarinets stink. This was due to the fact that there were huge numbers of really poor ones produced and that tainted the reputation of all metal clarinets.
As far as selling it goes, I would suggest that you not sell it to a school student for the reason mentioned in the preceding paragraph. However, there are people out there who like to buy metal clarinets for fun or use in special situations.
I don't like to see working or easily restorable clarinets made into lamps. If you choose not to sell it, I would suggest using it as a display item.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2001-08-13 10:03
With the right mouthpiece, it would probably be a good instrument for jazz.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-08-13 21:08
Virtually any clarinet with the right mouthpiece would work for jazz. Flexibility, in the hands of the right player, can allow compensation for many flaws of intonation and tone.
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Author: allen cole
Date: 2001-08-14 04:00
Speaking of jazz, you might want to check out the clarinet playing of Lester Young. He recorded on a metal clarinet, but I don't know if it was a Pan American. He did play a Pan American tenor sax.
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-08-14 06:09
Actually I think the Pan Am metal model may be better than the more expencive wooden Pan Am. I repadded one about a year ago and was surprised when I put it to the tuner. It was far better in tune than some of the wooden ones I've seen. This was done using My 2RV with Harrison lig as the owners mouthpiece was badly chipped.
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