 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Debbie
Date: 2000-04-10 18:37
I have a 1976 wooden b flat Buffet clarinet and am interested in finding out its value. It has a serial number of 163161. It has no marking of either RC or R-13 or anything else around the Buffet logo. Thanks in advance for any info.
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Author: brian
Date: 2000-04-11 00:02
Since I have a hard time remebering where I put my car keys, its seems remarkable to me that I still remember what my folks paid for my R-13 in the mid to late '70's--$435. According to the serial number though it was actually made in 1975 which would make it about the same age as your horn. I have been curious about the value of my horn today too. The answer to your question about the value of your horn is "whatever people are willing to pay for it." You might watch the e-bay auctions to find out the "going rate" for a horn like our's. Seems to me that horns of our vintage have been going for about $8-900, maybe a bit more. Before you think about buying a new one, if that is what you're considering, it might be worth getting overhauled like I did mine when I decided to pick it up again. It plays great now. Hope this helps.
brian
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Author: Debbie
Date: 2000-04-11 12:06
Thanks for your reply, Brian. My folks actually paid a lot for my clarinet back in the 70's -- $700. Actually, I'm not really sure it's a 1976 either, could be a 1975 or even a 1977. Thanks again!
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Author: Alec Thigpen
Date: 2000-04-11 15:35
I bought mine in 1979 and it was $800.00. I think it is still worth that price. It seems the longer you keep it, the more it is worth relative to the actual price paid. Of course, the inflation of the 70's and early 80's had a lot to do with that. I think you would see a real dollar depreciation on a new clarinet as long as we maintain the low inflation of the last 15 years. But, that is not why we buy these things.
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Author: larry
Date: 2000-04-18 20:22
I had a Buffet of same vintage (#16xxxx) that I bought "used" (never played apparently) for $250 in New York City shortly after the black out back then. It was itself stolen from me in 1985.
I recently helped a friend shop his 1976 Buffet around and learned that there wasn't a lot of demand for such used "Bb" instruments - people tend to buy new Bbs. However, used "A" clarinets are in demand, since they're viewed as a second instrument. Personally, I'm starting to think that the "A" should be the primary instrument, given that the greatest music written for clarinet is written for the "A" (with a few exceptions). Think about it - if you were stuck on a desert island with just one piece of music and one appropriately keyed clarinet, what would you choose?
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