 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: smoon26
Date: 2011-12-14 18:52
Hi...I know that this may not be the right place to post this, and that all the regulars here might get annoyed at people who pop up and ask questions like this, but I'm not sure where else to ask. =) I hope you'll forgive my intrusion!
I have an older Boosey and Hawkes clarinet. The serial number is 250073, which I've looked up & it says that places it in the mid 1980s. However, I started playing this clarinet at that time, and it was a hand me down-I remember thinking it was old at the time, so I'm not sure of the date.
It has been in storage for a long time..the cork on a couple pieces needs to be replaced, and many of the pads have pretty much disintegrated, so they all need replaced. All the keys and metal needs to be cleaned and polished also, but they still feel tight--I've checked them all and don't feel any loose keys. The wood seems to be in really good condition. The case is and orange/grown, with green lining, and has seen better days (I played this from 5th to 8th grade before moving on to the bass, so I'm sorry to say I didn't take care of the case well in those young years). The Stamps says B&H London, 2-20. made in England. I thought the mouthpiece was wood, but looking again it must be plastic, marked x-5. But appears to be in good shape (the cork on it is the best of the pieces).
So, I guess my question is about what I should do with it. Is it worth selling, and if so is it worth having redone and then selling? Or, should I just hold on to it, and hope that one day my daughter will choose to play clarinet in a few years, and get it fixed up then? Between all the things she does, I'm not too hopeful of that. I hate for it to just go to waste, but it's not any better to just have it sitting in a closet for the next few decades either.
Thanks for any advice anyone gives! I really appreciate it!
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-12-14 19:28
B&H 2-20's are nice clarinets. They were an upper-intermediate model that I think were made primarily for the US market. I have a one that I play relatively frequently. They are very good players once properly overhauled and typically are made from better quality wood that you will find on most clarinets today. In my opinion an properly overhauled B&H 2-20 can play at a similar level to modern intermediate instruments such as the Buffet E-11 or Yamaha YCL-450. Perhaps a little better.
As far as value goes I'm not sure you will gain much by having it overhauled if you just intend to sell it. In "as found" condition B&H 2-20's typically sell for $50-$75. In freshly overhauled condition you may be able to sell it for ~$400 but the overhaul will cost you $250+ depending on what needs to be done and who does it.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2011-12-15 23:43
the best serial number info for B&H clarinets puts yours at between 1954 and 1956. See clarinetperfection.com.
As to value - about $50 +/-. More if you have it overhauled but you won't likely get the cost of the overhaul back. OTOH if you want to keep it and play it, it's an excellent horn if in good condition - no cracks, keywork good etc. so worth overhauling from that POV.
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Author: smoon26
Date: 2011-12-16 01:45
Thanks so much to both of your for that info! I think that with what I know now, I will hold onto it for now just in case my girl wants to play someday. At that point, it sounds like it would be a good instrument to have cleaned up for her. And if not, I can think about the other options at that time. It's just nice to know that it has some value. I'd hate for it to never be worth getting up to playing again.
Thanks also for the date--I really didn't think that mid 80s could be correct-I didn't think I would have gotten a hand me down of what would have had to be a brand new instrument. =)
I really appreciate all your information!
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Author: huda
Date: 2011-12-16 03:07
http://usedinstrumentbuyer.com
easy and efficient, although sometimes its agrivating if they tell you they cant buy it after a weeks comunication via email
huda
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2011-12-16 19:36
Ser No 250073 would put it at between 1964/65 based on the list given me by B&H management at the Edgware factory some 15 years ago.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2011-12-17 20:26
Wow, Norman: yet another B&H serial number list. Are you willing to share? seems like we may all have been wrong so far!
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