 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2000-08-31 02:50
I am considering purchasing a 3-year-old Buffet (E-11 model) clarinet from a friend whose daughter played it one semester in junior high. (The cleaning rags are still in the unopened packages.)
I've been playing the horn and it appears to be in excellent condition, with a good tone, etc.
Do you have any idea of what it might be worth, what a fair offer to her would be? Your insight is appreciated. She's a good friend and I want to make her a fair and equitable offer.
Please email me at gdkrueger@juno.com
A separate question: When I played clarinet in the '60s, I had a clear glass mouthpiece and copper-covered reeds. Are those still in production?
FYI: I remember paying $25 for the mouthpiece and $2.50 EACH for the reeds, when the regular reeds sold for 25 cents.
Thanks for your help.
Gretchen
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Author: Sara
Date: 2000-08-31 02:56
As far as the valure of the clarinet in question would be to take it to areliable technician or if you have one a private teacher, and ask them to take a look at it and give their opinion.Its always good to have more than one opinion!
Sara
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Author: mark weinstein
Date: 2000-08-31 03:46
OK, I'll take a shot. The clarinet is 3 years old, & your friend's daughter played it 1 year. Lets assume that someone else played it the other 2. Since you have what sounds like UN-used swabs, we can probably assume the clarinet was NOT swabbed out regularly. (unless of course swabs were used,& laundered & folded neatly, (which I doubt) :>). Don't know condition of case inside/out but these kids throw them in their lockers, so I'll guess it has some wear, "average" condition. I say $250 - 325. More if the pads & corks are really excellent, less if they are not. Top side, tippy top would be $375, but thats a stretch. A mini-overhaul with new pads, corks & full regulation should run $125-150. BUT, a brand new, fully warranted Buffet E-11 is $569 + shipping @ Music123 in New Jersey. (add another $10-15 for having some regulation done locally after the purchae). You can confirm the Music123 $$$ by going to their website & clicking on the Buffet E-11 & they will email you the price. If you take it to a Music store/repairman tell them to quote what THEY would pay, allowing for the fact that you'll see them again & (most certainly) curse them if they are wrong! (just kidding) Some repair people like to please everybody! Good luck to you and your friend! mw
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Author: Bob Gardner
Date: 2000-08-31 14:13
I would agree with Mark about the swab. It's not a positive but a negative. Did the kid ever clean her clarinet? If not shame on her.
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Author: mark weinstein
Date: 2000-08-31 14:22
Gretchen, there is a (clear, "seethrough") mouthpiece made by Jim Pyne. I believe the material is polycarbonate. I doubt seriously that a beginning instructor would recommend one of these to a student just beginning to study. They seem to like Vandoren and models like the 5RV & the B45. That said, I am not an instructor nor a professional. mw
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Author: mark weinstein
Date: 2000-08-31 14:26
Oh, I failed to mention. Pyne isn't the only manufacturer of clear mouthpieces. There are many. BUT, materials used vary & are more expensive & heavier, like crystal. I recommended Pyne because it was inexpensive, $20-30 at a place like WW&BW (when they have them in stock). Pyne mouthpieces seem to be popular. Good luck. mw
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2000-08-31 14:47
Thanks to all for your responses. You've been very helpful.
To clarify: The clarinet has been sitting in a closet for 3 years. The ONLY playing time was one semester in junior high and frankly, it doesn't look like it's been played more than 10 times. (No cleaning and no grime on keys. It's in unbelievably good shape.)
Re: mouthpiece: I played clarinet night and day from 4th grade through 2 years of college -- although not much in the past 10 years. (At 48, I'm a long way from 4th grade).
I was just curious about the mouthpiece since that's what I used in high school and had not seen any. I was pretty sure some new fangled material had replaced the glass...)
Thanks again...
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Author: earl
Date: 2000-08-31 20:40
I believe Marc has it right on the price variances, but you might check-out the Boosey-Hawkes website (booseyhawkes.com) I think that's the address. It tells about all of the student-line Buffets, for comparison purposes. Re those reeds you used to use: I don't believe they're still available. Were they not called "fibrecane"? I'm not sure!
There are fabricated reeds on the market, and have some merit, but t'would be better to try Vandorens, either V12 or the "regular", or the less-expensive, but quite good, Rico Royale. I'd avoid strengths above 3.5, and as for the mouthpiece, a 5RV-lyre should do for quite some time. A glass or "crystal" mouthpiece should be avoided until such time as the player has tried all kinds of mouthpieces and makes that very personal decision. A bien tot!
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Author: mark weinstein
Date: 2000-08-31 23:34
OTTOMH, I think there was a GREY PlasticCover Reed at one time. Earl's comments are wise on reed selection.
Gretchen, the additional info you provided helps. Now, its a horse of a (somnewhat) different color. Clarinets aren't made to sit unused. While thats not a problem, its probably wise to let someone look at the horn and see if an oiling is necessary (not that it is) & I would break the clarinet back in, so to speak, slowly. Let it be played daily, building up the number of minutes per session slowly.
... this clarinet probably has a value on the high side of my estimates. Remembering that NEW one is less than $600, with a full 1 year warranty & money back if unhappy. Balancing the value in arriving @ how much you should pay for a used instrument vs. a new one. Thats all.
I am curious on what the case looks like, as B & H changed the case a some years back. The nicer (old) cases are still being sold as well as the new plastic ones (which look very modern & have a single latch is known to break). Remember clarinets can sit around a music store for years before being sold. Thus the term "new old stock". Finally, a serial number would help. ex: I just bought my son an E-11 with a 503,xxx number which is approx. 3-4 years old.Plenty new, plenty of life. Nice pads, corks ok, 1 key needed regulation - the left hand F#/C#. I paid $325.00 and am happy with value. :>)
Good luck. mw
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2000-09-01 02:34
Wow! I'm learning a lot on this site! I'd forgotten a lot of this..
Mark, looks like the Serial # is 579 XXX, with "made in Germany" stamped right above it. The Buffet stamp is on the barrel, the first section, as well as the bell. I found the E 11 stamp on the first section -- sorry, I've forgotten all the proper names for all these parts.
The case is reddish/maroonish material of some sort. Can't tell if it's leather, faux leather or vinyl. It's very lightweight. It has two latches that can be locked with a key on either side of the handle. (Key also has never been taken out of the sealed packet.) The inside is the usual "fur" looking stuff, with a strap that holds the case opened.
I live in the Houston, Texas, area and plan on taking it to a shop tomorrow and have someone look at it, although I'd be shocked to find out something is wrong with it. The company I work for started a band (we debuted yesterday at our United Way kickoff), and I played it twice for practice, and once for the 2-hour performance -- including Stranger on the Shore twice.
My colleagues could tell the difference between it and my $30 plastic, pawn shop Bundy.
Stay tuned -- yes, pun intended...
gretchen
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Author: mark weinstein
Date: 2000-09-01 05:53
Do yourself a favor & contact John Butler who is in the Houston area. John responded in this conversation earlier & I would recommend him highly as a "repair person".
Case is NICE (upgrade/more expensive one) (not that anybody got to choose,it was good merchant who sold it). Yes, vinyl clad & if you don't sit on it (as my daughter did) @ the bus stop, it will serve you well. :>)
579,xxx ain't very old.
Sounds like you've done well, Pilgrim !
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2000-09-03 02:33
I took the horn to a MARS shop on Friday and told them I'd like an estimate on it. Told them the "played 1-semester, sitting in closet for 3 years" story and they looked at it and said it was worth $650-700, that a new one was $1500.
Thanks for all the good advice. I'll make an offer to my friend. And, I'll stay tuned here for more clarinet news.
I also think I will take your advice and contact John Butler. John, I can't find your name in the postings, so if you're still around, please email me at gdkrueger@juno.com.
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Author: mark weinstein
Date: 2000-09-03 04:49
Gretchen, its said that if you don't have anything good to say about somebody, don't say anything at all. SO, I don't have anything to say about MARS .. at all! Talk to John he can give you a perspective on music stores in the Houston, TX area. (John is an educator as well, I believe he is a band director).
Next, the LIST PRICE on a Buffet E-11 is approx. $1125.
John Butler's email address is bandtech@ev1.net. John lives in Sugarland, which is a southwest suburb of Houston, close to that famous town of Rosenberg, TX! But, I'm sure you know all thatg much better than me. All I really know about is Conroe & Houston proper.
Again, good luck. mw
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Author: Dee
Date: 2000-09-03 13:15
Gretchen wrote:
-------------------------------
I took the horn to a MARS shop on Friday and told them I'd like an estimate on it. Told them the "played 1-semester, sitting in closet for 3 years" story and they looked at it and said it was worth $650-700, that a new one was $1500.
Thanks for all the good advice. I'll make an offer to my friend. And, I'll stay tuned here for more clarinet news.
I also think I will take your advice and contact John Butler. John, I can't find your name in the postings, so if you're still around, please email me at gdkrueger@juno.com.
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Call the Woodwind & Brasswind or International Music Suppliers. New E-11s can be purchased from them for around $650. Most major mail order dealers have prices in this range. Many local stores will also sell for prices competitive to the mail order discounted price if you have one of these catalogs in hand. I know that you don't want to short change your friend but there is no point in paying new prices for a used instrument no matter how little it has been used. The new horn comes with a warranty and the used one does not.
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2000-09-04 23:46
Thanks to all who responded to my posting. I've learned tons about clarinets from looking at other topics. This is a very informative bbs.
I've made my friend an offer, which she's accepted, so it's a "fait accompli."
Mark, I actually live in a nearby suburb of Sugarland, and plan to contact John Butler for future needs.
Thanks again to all. I'll be checking back periodically on this site as I continue learning about "licorice sticks."
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