 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Nancy Helme
Date: 1999-12-06 03:12
I just bought my musician husband a clarinet for his 40th birthday from an estate sale (via the buyer). I paid $60 for the clarinet. Did I buy a decent instrument or should I ask for a refund?
What we know:
seems old but well cared for
appears to be made of wood
nickel (metal)keys
"Challenger" engraved on bell
"Made in France" engraved on one part
serial number R20008
Is this woodwind made by Pan American Band Instrument Co (Conn) or US Czech (can't find anything on this company - help)?
Please feel free to email me directly in case I can't find my way back here to read your response.
Thanks,
Nancy
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-12-06 11:51
It should say "Made in Czechoslovakia" if it was the Czech instrument. Chances are you have a Pan American stencil.
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Author: Nancy Helme
Date: 1999-12-06 14:22
Ok...if it is made by Pan American...is that good? I guess I just want to make sure $60 is a fair price for the horn I received. About how old is the horn? When did Pan American stop making clarinets?
No, I didn't expect a Selmer for that price (husband wouldn't play it enough to warrant the $$ - besides he'd rather another sax if I was going to buy a Selmer!)
Thanks again!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-12-06 15:56
I'm not sure I really can help either. I would doubt that it is Pan-Am [Conn's student line 50's-70's I believe] or a Kohlert [the major Czech woodwind maker of 1900's- ? 70's] unless you have other info re: them, a stencil-cl [made for marketing by another company] as Mark said. The "Made in France" is such a stencil marking. Is there a name on the case that might help? since the Challenger name is of no help and many makers [many of them quite skilled!] and marketers are known. Luck, Don
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Author: HIROSHI
Date: 1999-12-07 00:44
If I were your musician husband, I would be at a loss what to emit a word....... (Please guess ....)
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Author: Rick2
Date: 1999-12-07 03:04
$60.00 for an instrument of virtually any kind in playable condition is a good deal, IMHO.
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Author: ron
Date: 1999-12-07 07:03
Nancy -
IMHO - if you bought a horn, any horn, that plays okay and seems to be in pretty good shape, for sixty dollars, I think you did verrrry well. It's worth at least that much as a trade-in later on if either of you decide to do that. I take it your husband, whose primary instrument is sax, wants it as an instrument to double on. Sounds fine to me, no matter who made it.
Ron
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Author: paul
Date: 1999-12-07 17:28
I'd love to dump my plastic beater of a horn for $60! It would cost at least that much to have a tech take a cursory look at it.
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Author: Dee
Date: 1999-12-07 23:17
paul wrote:
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I'd love to dump my plastic beater of a horn for $60! It would cost at least that much to have a tech take a cursory look at it.
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Around here, unless everything is really bad, I can get what is called a "playing condition" overhaul for $60. They replace any individual pads, springs, & corks that are bad. They do not, of course, replace all of them. If anything is seriously out of alignment, they also fix that. They do not go through and make sure all the pad heights, etc are optimum.
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Author: ron
Date: 1999-12-08 23:53
Out here in CA they're about the same, Dee. They'll replace a few things to get your instrument in playing condition for from $30 to $60, depending on how many things they have to fix. Usually for that price they don't want to spend a lot of time on a horn. If they're not too busy they'll sometimes replace a pad or two as a 'courtesy'. If the boss has a lot of work backed up though, they have to charge you a dollar or two. If you can do pads yourself, and most repair people will tell you this (around here, anyway), you'll save a lot of money. However, most players don't have the time and/or don't want to keep a supply of pads and stuff on hand to fool around with doing-it-yourself.
Still, $60 is a good price for an okay instrument and probably well worth some investment, if needed, to get it fixed up.
Ron
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