 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: linloyd
Date: 2006-06-06 23:23
I've been recently "bequeathed" an "A" clarinet. It's a Buffet--which I know is good. (I'm a saxophonist who dabbles in clarinet...)
Here's what I know about it:
-The serial number is 411R1, which according to all the information I've found dates it to 1925.
-The wood is in great shape; no cracks. The pads are in good shape (must've been redone not too long ago).
-The horn plays well over the entire register, and doesn't have the wrap-around octave key (someone asked about that).
-I don't have a bell for it currently; any suggestions as to whether or not to get a new Buffet bell, or go with another type...? I'm using a plastic Bb bell on it now... (that's probably bad!)
My questions are: A) If I insure it, what kind of value should I Put on it? (What would it cost for me to replace it if I wanted to?) B) Where (if anywhere) can I find a single A CLarinet case and not a double one?? C) What's the scoop on Pre-R13 Buffet clarinets?? I haven't been able to find **ANYTHING** out about this instrument.
Any help would be appreciated! 
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Author: nickma
Date: 2006-06-07 21:02
I have seen these go for between $200 and $300, depending on condition. Without a bell, its worth considerably less imo. They can play rather beautifully. Replacing the bell is TOUGH. These older clarinets are much thinner walled than more modern ones, and have quite a flare. Replacing with a post war bell would probably be a disaster. Check the bottom of the bottom joint to see if there are chips aor cracks there: the bell may well have broken or been severely cracked: easy to do by over-thick corking on these old ones.
Nick
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Author: linloyd
Date: 2006-06-08 03:30
Hm... It doesn't seem to be any thinner than any other clarinet. I had it to the music shop to be checked out, and a Buffet R-13 bell for a Bb clarinet fit on it just fine. There are no cracks or chips on any of the tenons, and all corks and pads are fine. I'm wondering if possibly it'd been re-padded or overhauled somewhat recently. I think it's worth getting a bell for, and I think that for the condition it's in (and what the guys at the music store seemed to think) it may be worth a little more than that... at least to me. Any other information anyone has would be great, and thanks for your thoughts! I think it's a very atypical 1920's A clarinet, from what I can tell!
One question, though... Did the Buffet A clarinets ever have the wraparound register key on them?
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Author: nickma
Date: 2006-06-08 07:36
Sounds different from Buffet clarinets i've had from that era in that it appears from your description to be thicker walled. Interesting and good luck with it.
Nick
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2006-06-08 11:35
If you're a doubler, what is the likelihood that you will play a clarinet in A?
I can't recall any Dixieland or Big Band charts that ever needed an A clarinet...
*****
If you want to find a "street value" look to eBay.
The price range offered by Nick is spot on... stores tend to offer very high valuations so that buyers consider expensive repairs a good value.
With a complete overhaul and age-appropriate bell, a clarinet of that vintage
(before the popular R13 design) may be worth no more than the repair ticket.
If you're not going to play clarinet in A, consider it as trade bait for something you might readily use.
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