 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Fred
Date: 2000-03-28 01:04
As a take-off on the nickel/silver thread seen earlier, I thought it would be interesting to discuss the cost of a fine horn in relationship to the costs of everything around us. We often shudder when the cost of a Bb clarinet goes beyond $1,000 . . . certainly those reaching the $1,800-2,000 mark are considered extravagant . . . and those costing more are downright decadent. But is it?
As a young person 25yrs ago, I had a stereo worth a couple of grand. Where is it now? An unreliable automobile will cost you $1,000+, a computer that will be obsolete soon costs over a thousand, and the list goes on. We spend money on spring breaks, cell phones, and overpriced clothes without considering those costs to be out of reason. The difference is that the instrument is "almost" forever . . . a good one is going to stay a good one. My parents investment of a little over $300 in 1966 is now worth over $1,000, but I have no intention of selling my 87,XXX R-13 any time soon.
So how about it? What items have you dropped big bucks on that you wish you had a good horn for? Or ANOTHER good horn for? Adults . . . 'fess up! Young players . . . take notes!
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Author: Willie
Date: 2000-03-28 04:05
This is true. I still play on the Freeman (Buffet stencil) that my parents bought me for beginners band. I have several clarinets, from cheapos to a newer Buffet, but the action and tone of that old Freeman is hard to beat. Though the Buffet looks nicer, I like the tone on the older one much better. Next year it will be 40 years old.
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Author: beejay
Date: 2000-03-28 08:10
Fred, you are so right. If you could go around the Buffet, Selmer or Leblanc factories and see not only the high technology but also the patient craftsmanship that goes into the making of a high-end clarinet your view would be confirmed. The instrument is a good deal indeed compared to an equally-priced computer that was probably snapped together by a robot.
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-03-28 11:53
Fred wrote:
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As a take-off on the nickel/silver thread seen earlier, I thought it would be interesting to discuss the cost of a fine horn in relationship to the costs of everything around us. We often shudder when the cost of a Bb clarinet goes beyond $1,000 . . . certainly those reaching the $1,800-2,000 mark are considered extravagant . . . and those costing more are downright decadent. But is it?
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When I purchased my Selmer Signature last October, I made a decision to keep my '93 Camry another 2 or 3 years as payment to myself for being extravagant. I joke with my friends that I had to decide between a new clarinet and a new car. I made the right decision. Michael
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Author: Jess
Date: 2000-03-28 16:19
Also, we're relativly fortunate compared to other woodwinds; the oboe, which is about the same length and often made of the same material is much more expensive, not to mention bassoons and flutes. A professional class clarinet costs about the same or less than a beginner/intermediate bassoon.
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Author: paul
Date: 2000-03-28 16:20
I use an expensive laptop computer from work that cost about $4000 almost 2 years ago. Sure, it's got absolutely every fancy thing on it that you can imagine, but it's fast becoming obsolete. The batteries are going dead, the screen pixels are burning out, the hard drive sectors are going bad, the mouse contact pad failed, and half of the advanced features don't work any more. Gee, sounds like a fancy car, doesn't it?
Now, take that same amount of money and buy a clarinet. The exact horn doesn't matter, even a bass clarinet would work for this comparison. Work it hard for two years. What do you have? A fantastic horn that's just now getting broken in. Five years from now, the horn would still be considered almost brand new. Ten years from now, even with hard professional use (and good care techniques), you would still have a great horn that may need a little work on the pads and have some signs of age (nicks, dings, scratches, wear on keys, looser springs, etc.). But, the horn would still be worth the money and probably would play even better than brand new. Twenty or thirty years from now, folks like me would pay almost any price to buy the horn because nothing else can play like it.
Specific examples are common on this BBS. The one case that I remember is from me. I saw and heard a fantastic early 1960s vintage R-13 that a college music performance major had. It was a back up horn for a professional for about 30 years before the college student bought it. The horn had some obvious wear and certainly didn't look brand new, but that horn sounded fantastic. It had original springs and a few replaced pads here and there, but it had a touch and response and a sound that most clarinet players would pay almost any price for. Now, try that with a computer or a car or almost anything else. There simply is no comparison of the long term value of the investment of a fine pro grade musical instrument versus any other consumer product.
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Author: BAC
Date: 2000-03-28 18:58
Mine was a very nice telescope, a metal detector, flying...
and the list goes on! I have just sold by head-set(from flying), my telescope and my metal detector on e-bay.
Now I'm in the market for a new horn and have just ordered the Selmer Signature and two R13's (one is the greenline) to try out. I do not consider this as buying a new calrinet, but just trading one set of assets for another ;-)
Ahhh...what we do to justify our toys!
BAC
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Author: paul
Date: 2000-03-28 21:52
Okay, now let's put the real hidden price to our "toys", such as pro grade horns for a mere adult novice.
High tech/high stress job and 24/7 responsibility with few breaks and a pager that is more like an electronic leash than anything else. Come home only to do more salary related and household related work until midnight every night. Take a break here and there while at work to share ideas with friends on a BBS in between crises. Steal one measly hour in the evening to turn the entire world off. Progress is measured more by lower blood pressure than by accurate speed in scales or correct phrasing of music. Net result is to delay or completely avoid a stress related cardivascular incident (stroke, heart attack).
Now, tell me how much my pretty little horn cost with all of its goodies. My response will be the usual Rhett Butler phrase from the movie "Gone In the Wind".
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Author: Drew
Date: 2000-03-28 23:15
Let's see, a good new clarinet will set you back $2-$3 grand, will last almost indefinitely with maintenance, can be the source of relaxation & stress reduction, dare I say fun. What other expenditure of your treasure can compare to the value?
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