 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2008-09-06 13:29
S S, I'm much impressed by your "line up", it beats my "stable", no Buffs, I seem to prefer Sels, Lebs and a couple of Kohlerts. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-09-06 13:49
I'm just doing a bit of a price comparison between the UK and US here.
R13 A clarinets are listed at £1595 (incl. double case) in the UK which is far less than $5376 which is £3,051.01 - you can get a pair of R13s for that.
So in the UK you can get an R13 A for the equivalent of $2,811.06 at this moment in time (against the $3390 at wwbw).
Though as you won't pay the VAT (17.5%), it's £1,357.45 which works out at $2,392.40 which is less than half the full retail price ($5376).
But that does mean a flight to London and a couple of nights stay in a hotel.
http://www.howarth.uk.com/products.aspx?id=13&url=clarinets.html
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2008-09-06 13:59)
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-09-06 14:53
Hello Chris,
No one pays the retail price for the instrument in the states. I don't even know why this price is mentioned by companies! If you look at Stevesklar's lower price "wwbw price 3390" this is the price that most would pay.
$3390. would be about 2160 Euro. Still not as cheap you in London...but we're on the other side of the ocean and we don't belong to the EU!
The 800 Euro difference would still pay for round trip tickets, and we would be exempt from the VAT...but we'd have to pay american tax when we declared.
Mike Lowenstern has an article about buying his bass clarinet in France, how it was cheaper to go and test them out in person. It can be found at <www.earspasm.com>
Go into the "performer" section....
click "how do i"
then "buy bass clarinet"
James
Gnothi Seauton
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-09-06 15:25
I was shocked last year while in the US that Buffets are so much more expensive over there.
An independent music shop outside Portsmouth VA showed me their prices and even with the exchange rate being $2-£1 they were still expensive. The assistant said getting parts for Buffets (everyday things like replacement nylon pins and thumbrests) took anywhere from forever to never.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: DAVE
Date: 2008-09-06 17:26
Get a Yamaha CS. It is only about 2200 and it is WAY better than an R13. It is more like a Prestige. Just my 0.02.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-09-06 18:16
I can't remember the name (I've turned the place upside down looking for my receipt).
They have on-site repairers (woodwind, brass and strings) and teaching booths - the woodwind repairer teaches flute and has a cabinet with various old flutes (including a wooden Boehm&Mendler). Not a large shop, but most of their stock is from other local music shops that have gone under.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: davidsampson
Date: 2008-09-06 18:40
I'm curious, Chris.
The buffet prestige bass to low c is very reasonably priced at howarth, much cheaper than the same bass in the united states.
But the selmer 67 (to low C) is priced a bit higher than in the united states, and its vastly more expensive than the buffet. Why is this?
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2008-09-06 20:17
Chris,
"The assistant said getting parts for Buffets (everyday things like replacement nylon pins and thumbrests) took anywhere from forever to never."
if only they were able to guarantee those shipping timeframes !! .. usually it takes longer !! LMAO
==========
Stephen Sklar
My YouTube Channel of Clarinet Information
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-09-06 20:54
"But the selmer 67 (to low C) is priced a bit higher than in the united states, and its vastly more expensive than the buffet. Why is this?"
One word - Selmer.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: William
Date: 2008-09-07 16:13
"One word - Selmer."
In other words, the Selmer bass clarinet is considered by many to be the "best their is" and you are paying for that "Selmer sound" reputation.
Personally, I like the sound of my Buffet 1193-2 Prestige (with my Grabner CXBS mpc) and will take on the Selmers "anywhere, anytime" :>)
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Author: Tobin
Date: 2008-09-07 20:26
Complete agreement William, I wouldn't trade my 1193 Buffet for anything.
James
...did I just say ANYTHING??
Gnothi Seauton
Post Edited (2008-09-07 20:26)
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