 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: allenmurdock
Date: 2004-07-20 14:55
My son is a high school freshman saxophone player, who would like to pickup the clarinet for some jazz band pieces. A friend from work is selling his daughter clarinet that she used in high school. It has no brand name on the instrument, but has a serial number 706304 engraved on the body of the instrument with "made in Germany." The coworker says he paid $1,200 for the clarinet and would like $400 for it now.
The mouth piece included with the clarinet is a Selmer "S" Series.
Is there a way I can find out who the maker of the clarinet is and an estimated value? I have read the various Selmer models on their website and this serial number is not matching up with Selmer from what I can tell.
Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.
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Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2004-07-20 15:33
There have been multitudes of "no name" clarinets made over the years and while it is possible that it is made by one of the well known makers, it is usually very difficult to verify that.
The $400 sounds a little pricey for a used "no name".
If you, or your son, know and trust an advanced clarinet player, or repair technician, that person could evaluate its playing condition.
If it is a wooden instrument in excellent playable condition it "might" be worth the money. My guess is probably not.
If it is plastic and/or needs pads, corks, etc. it is probably not worth $400.
There are myriads of Bundys, Vitos, Selmers, etc. for sale at yard sales, estate sales, in newspaper ads, and on eBay.
This site also has a classified section worth watching.
John
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Author: allenmurdock
Date: 2004-07-20 15:51
Thanks for taking the time to reply to my posting. Wouldn't you know that I no more posted to your bulletin board after searching the last couple of days for information, and the coworker came over with more info. He said his daughter told him it is a C13 Buffet Professional (I assume that is Selmer). It is a wooden clarinet, the corks are good, but needs about $80 worth of pad work done. It is not in an original Selmer case, but in a Pro-tech case. He says the new ones are selling for $1500+ and he believes this one is worth $500, if the pads were already fixed. He is firm on $400.
I appreciate the heads-up about the ads on your website. I will check them out.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-07-20 16:13
Allen,
You've got some seriously confused information there: Buffet is NOT Selmer (they are competitors). If the German-made clarinet is indeed a Buffet product, than it is one of the low-line Buffet models (student/intermediate) made by Schreiber in Germany. Personally I wouldn't pay more than about $200 for such an instrument in need of work.
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Author: allenmurdock
Date: 2004-07-20 16:18
For the purpose my son plans to use the horn for, can you recommend a clarinet brand, model?
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2004-07-20 16:31
The safe purchases for beginner clarinetists are the student line models from the "Big 4" manufacturers:
Buffet
Leblanc (their student line is called Vito)
Selmer (their old student line is called Bundy)
Yamaha
Clarinets from all these manufacturers are in abundant supply on eBay, and as mentioned before, can also be found at yard sales, pawn shops and whatnot. The old Bundy clarinets were reliable, darn near indestructible, and can be had for under $100 on eBay for ones still in decent condition. Also, several people here have given rave reviews to the Vito V40, which are a bit more rare but do pop up on eBay pretty regularly. It's always a buyer beware situation on eBay, but it's not hard to find examples worth bidding on.
Additionally, the new "Forte" beginner clarinet has gotten many thumbs up from users here. Click on the "Instruments" sponsor link on the right side of this page to see the Forte link.
Now, about that mouthpiece... (anybody else wanna start that discussion?)
"
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-07-20 16:32
Allen,
As I would have a vested interest in making such a recommendation, I shan't.......but your question has been asked before on this BB and there are many good answers already posted, so I'll defer to others.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-07-20 16:40
Allen - John and Dave have given you VG info. I believe Buffet frequently sells "intermediate" cls made in Germany [?Schreiber?, at least fairly good ones], and I believe the C designation is "made for Europe" and not the US. If so it may be for a "pitch" of 442+, not our 440, however this may not be significant for your son's use. Good quality "student" [plastic] cls made by Buffet, Vito [LeBlanc], Bundy now Selmer USA, and Yamaha go for as little as $100 on EBAY, and those low prices are reflected in our "Classified Ads" viewable right here. Many of us are "consulted" for buying/testing cls, so you are in touch with fair-experts, above and below here. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: pewd
Date: 2004-07-20 17:25
your best bet would be to consult a local clarinet teacher, or your son's band director. some used horns (garage sales, ebay, whatever) are great. some need $300 overhauls. some have good wood, some have cracks.
so.... i'd recommend getting a band director or private teacher involved to help ensure you dont get a lemon.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-07-20 17:34
Allen,
I have several clarinets in my stable, two Selmer Series 9s (a 9 with all the alternate keys and a 9*), two Leblancs (a Dynamic 2 and an L200), and a Buffet Academy. I got all these on eBay and spent as low as $100 up to $500. Three needed a repad which was done. For a total of less than $1800 including everything, I have 5 professional model clarinets that are worth at least twice as much; average cost for each has been less than $400 .
For $400, you can probably find a much better clarinet than the one you friend has but then you probably do not have the knowledge or the time for a protracted hunt. I'd also consider a Selmer Signet which is a wooden intermediate level clarinet. There are usually several on eBay for $200 or less.
If you buy on eBay, make sure you have return option. I have purchased two clarinets on eBay that I had to return (broken keys and cracked section that were not mentioned).
Or wait your friend out for about $300.
HRL
PS Makes me think that someone could act as a clarinet shopper/evaluator for parents like Allen. Make a little change, have a little fun.
Post Edited (2004-07-20 20:08)
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Author: davor
Date: 2004-07-20 17:42
Hi,
There has been a lot of blah blah posted to this topic. If your instrument is a C 13, was made in Germany, it is possible that it is worth 500 USD.
It is possible it has a pro-tec case or something like that and it is the original case. Anyway it is not in the production any more, and I think it was changed with something called international model. It might be that it was purchased as C-13 international, not proffesional.
The C 13 was an american model so it is definetly pitched to 440.
Of course, the mouthpiece is not original.
Try to deduct the 65$ you are supposed to pay for pad work, and you will be getting a very good instrument for modest price. It is not easy to search e-bay if you are not specialist for the woodwinds.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-07-20 19:09
Davor says it very well, sorry for any mis-info, I tried a C13 on back, VG, BUY it. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Todd W.
Date: 2004-07-20 19:39
Hang on a minute.
Mr. Murdock wrote, "It has no brand name on the instrument . . ."
If it is a Buffet instrument (as alleged), wouldn't it have the Buffet name and logo, and probably the model name/number stamped on it?
Without an unbiased professional (player/repairperson) opinion, it still looks like an expensive pig in a poke.
Todd W.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2004-07-20 20:10
A "No Name" made in Germany is worthless. Forget it. Be happy you asked.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2004-07-21 00:24
Clarinets and mouthpieces sold together are frequently of different brands.
As to the Clarinet: Perhaps you have some reason why you want to buy this particular instrument. I absolutely would not. To me, there is no such thing as a Bb Boehm Clarinet of unverifiable origin that's worth $400, especially if it is in need of repair. YMMV.
Regards,
John
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2004-07-21 05:21
A serial number on one joint but no brand name? Make sure it's not a composite, made from sections of two instruments.
Where exactly is the serial number?
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Author: davor
Date: 2004-07-21 11:44
Hi again,
NEWER Buffet student clarinets do not have an engraved buffet logo, but it is printed at upper joint and the bell. Print goes off after 2-3 years of use. If your clarinet has serial nr on both upper AND lower joint, and Made in Germany it is definetly a buffet. Perhaps you could ask the factory which model it is acc. to SN, but I do not think your coworker would lie about that, especially because it seems it is in original case with which C 13 used to be delivered. According to serial it is not very old. I do not pretend to be a buffet expert, but I work with such instruments nearly every day. spare us all time and post a picture!
Post Edited (2004-07-21 11:47)
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