The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: joevacc
Date: 2000-04-10 02:40
Hi all,
I have been given a Charles Bay mouthpiece that was custom made for a player in the 60's(?). The
facing is original and is in perfect condition. It has a serial number on it and it also says "custom
made for ... ..." It is all hand engraved. I was wondering if anyone could estimate its worth? Thanks
jv
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 2000-04-10 03:50
Charles Bay mouthpieces are good, but don't usually command as much as his new mouthpieces. Charles is still very much alive and well, making the conventions, etc. so they are still readily available. I believe the new mouthpieces sell for around $225, but my wife bought one from him at the Texas Music Educators Convention for $100. I don't know why he discounted it so much, but we didn't argue!
J. Butler
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Author: christine
Date: 2000-04-10 04:01
I bought a Charles Bay mouthpiece three years ago for 200$(canadian) and I know the price has gone up since then. I really love my mouthpiece, I get a great sound with it.
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Author: Amber
Date: 2000-04-10 04:27
My teacher was a student of him. In fact, he lives just within an hour of me. He is still alive, customizing clarinets and making mouth pieces and ligatures. Mine I got for $30 at a swamp meet and it is the best mouth piece I ever had...it plays well with anything. I am not sure about his older ones but the newer ones can cost from $80(if you buy from him and have a connection) to $250 ( from regular music stores. Some people collect Bay mouth pieces, so it's value depends on who the buyer is and who is selling it.
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Author: Michael Norsworthy
Date: 2000-04-10 12:04
These older ones are worth quite a bit of money because the blanks are made from that wonderful old material that everyone seeks. You should be able to get around $300-400 for it. I assume that this is an "Ithaca" Bay mpc. If so, that's about what it's worth.
Michael
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Author: Tim2
Date: 2000-04-10 23:25
They are great mouthpieces. I think I paid $65 for mine back in the mid 70's. The sound is wonderful. Rich, and (I'm almost afraid to say it) dark. But with a truly broken in reed that has outlived its usefulness, even a Bay mouthpiece can be made to sound bright and tinny.
If you play, you should have no reason to ask other than for insurance purposes. Congratulations.
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