 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: chogue
Date: 2000-03-14 01:21
I recently got two great high-end intermediate horns on e-Bay for less than $200 each (including shipping), following advice on brands and models I gleaned here at Sneezy. I had to get one wholly overhauled (about $200) and one only needed $130 worth of work. Buying on e-Bay is much riskier than being able to inspect and play a horn before buying. However, if you stick to listings with detailed descriptions (and photos) and ask the seller questions, it is possible to get a nice used clarinet via e-commerce.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-03-14 02:37
Congrats, you have joined the club, great experience wasn't it? I'm messing around with old basses and altos, real retiree projects which eat up all my spare time!! Don
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-03-14 02:51
There are some of us who do the work before placing them on eBay. However, I've found out that people would rather buy a "bargain" and have it fixed up rather than pay for one already fixed up for about the same price! Go figure.
J. Butler
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-03-14 04:40
You really eyeball those pictures carefully, you can find some good stuff. If you don't see a particular key or part in the picture, assume it ain't there, or contact the seller and hope he is honest or a little knoledgable(sp?).
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-03-14 07:07
Some very good points above.
Good horns can be found at reasonable prices on eBay. Assume though, that no matter what its condition at least some work will be needed. Even new instruments may and probably will need some adjustment after a reasonable break in period. A few eBay sellers are aware (quite knowledgeable actually) and honest about the horns they're selling. But most can, at best, only make an uneducated guess that the instrument is fine if no keys are obviously missing and all the little thingamajigs seem to be there and spring back when you press on them. With these, you have to be very specific with your questions because, while they are as honest as they're able to be, they just don't know much more than 'it's 'X' inches long, black with shiny keys and has a reed holder thing on the mouthpiece and it looks nice'. I've found that the majority of eBayers don't intend to mislead anyone and will give honest answers to your questions. Make sure your questions as clear as possible. After all, they assume you know what you're looking for and rely on you to ask *before* you bid.
ron b.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-03-14 14:07
In this regard, access "Early Clarinet" and read about Robert Howe's experience with an EBAY contraalto! Don
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-03-14 23:26
Read that one, Don. It seems that some time elapsed between RH recieving the horn and then overhauling it, to discover that it didn't have a mouthpiece(!)
Wouldn't that be one of the first things you'd look for (missing pieces) when you open the box???
I don't know what recourse anyone would have after that time lapse, unless the instrument was grossly misrepresented, except to accept the fact and do what he's doing now; looking for a MP.
ron B.
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Author: ron b.
Date: 2000-03-15 05:22
My mistake and I apologize to Robert H.
I re-read the post Don refers to and Robert did note that parts were missing when the horn arrived. Robert, you had good reason to be upset. I feel bad that you got such a bum deal and that I seemed to favor the seller. While no one has corrected me yet, I'm correcting myself.
Don is right though, you need to ask LOTS of questions.
ron b.
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