 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: noahbob
Date: 2005-02-25 23:46
Would a used but newly overhauled R13 a good investment for my son. He is in 10th grade at this time.
Thanks
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Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-02-26 02:26
Quote:
What's the price? How does it play?
Seriously...there are a lot of posts where people really do not pay attention to what they are reading...including who wrote the post.
If this guy knew much about clarinets, he would not be asking this question so asking him how it plays is really moot. It does not help him at all. Besides, he says it is a newly overhauled R13 so it probably is in good playing condition. We shouldn't "ass-u-me", right? Well let's offer some advice to help him know!
Noah,
If the clarinet is a good instrument, meaning the person selling it is not trying to pull a fast one on you, then that would be an excellent purchase for your son. An instrument like that can last him well into his professional career when he can choose the brand, model and age of any particular kind he fancies. I would prefer an older instrument like that to introduce students to professional level horns.
I would suggest that you arrange to have a clarinet instructor\player check it out for you. The person selling it may say it has been newly overhauled, but there could be a crack or other issue with it that they are not telling you about. You can ask your son's band director for the name and number of a local player\teacher that might help you out. If even you paid them a few dollars to check it out for you before you purchased it, it could save you hundreds later.
I hope the best for you and your son with the purchase. It is an important moment when a clarinetist first moves up to a professional level instrument.
Take care,
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-02-26 19:54
Robert Moody's comments are excellent and certainly worth following.
Even though the prices of used clarinets are currently at an all-time low, traditionally, R-13 clarinets from the 70's with no structural problems have held their value over the years.
Unless you vastly over pay for the clarinet in question, you should always be able to get back most of the $$ you expended.
The 1975 Vintage (the Anniversary year) of R-13's were quite above average, so there is a good chance that your 1976 could be excellent... GBK
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2005-02-26 20:43
Noah,
That's pretty exciting that your son is ready to "move up" to a better instrument. Purchasing an older instrument is what I have always done and each of my top clarinets is at least 25 - 50 years old; it sounds like the instrument you have selected is a fine exaple of that art.
If the instrument has had very good treatment and then a compentent overhaul follows, you have nothng to fear. You will save yourself many, many dollars and can later recover a more significant part if your son is then ready to "move up" again.
Bob Moody's advice though about having a clarinet teacher play-test the clarinet is very a fine idea. Not that there will be a crack or issue to be found in the clarinet but at least you can rule that out.
Let us know what happens.
HRL
Post Edited (2005-02-26 21:28)
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Author: music_is_life
Date: 2005-02-26 20:44
I got my (new) buffet R-13 for $1800 (not including re-padding, new mouthpiece, or accesorries). I would venture to guess that a used R-13 should be lower than that. Like the others said, make sure a pro (teacher) checks it out, because just because it's been overhauled doesn't mean it's not with out some kind of defect.
I got my R-13 in 10th grade, so you're son is at a ripe age for a pro instrument. I think that it's important that he plans on at least continuing in college (not necessarilly as a major...or even minor, just band/orchestra) because to spend that much money now, just so he'll quit 2 years later seems foolish to me. But that's merely my opinion- and coming from someone who can't afford to have bought a Buffet R-13 without considering whether or not I was going to go anywhere with it in the future.
but if he's dedicated and isn't about to quit as soon as he gets his diploma, then I say it's well worth it.
-Lindsie
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-02-27 00:50
One of the issues is that a used Clarinet from that period, older, etc can have a lot of key wear (both internal as well as external). If the keys are work out than the Clarinet is basically useless unless you are up for spending another $700 or so to get it up to snuff. So if the Clarinet were played a lot since 1975 I would stay far from it unless it was constantly maintained and the keys were sweged early on and maintained since.
That as well is ignoring the bore which could be a whole other issue.
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Author: John Stackpole
Date: 2005-02-27 00:54
It is obviously a technical "term of art", but
what is "sweged"?
(Not in my college dictionary, unfortunately.)
JDS
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-02-27 01:13
Swedging is what a tech does to the keys/posts so that there is minimal play between the key and the post. Because if there is play, it will wear the keywork big time with a lot of use. Also they make sure that the screw is going into the post absolutely straight so that it won't wear the interior of the key.
Any techs here please explain more technically as it's been a while since I've had a new Clarinet set up.
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Author: contragirl
Date: 2005-02-28 15:22
I thought swedging was when they re-tighten the tenon rings that are really loose. That's what it says in my tech book that I read a while ago. It means to "sqiush and wedge" back in place. You know, swedge.
--CG
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