 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: littlegutz
Date: 2009-05-20 16:29
I bought a clarinet on eBay and now I'm having buyer's remorse. I haven't received the clarinet yet, but it was listed as a Buffet Crampon Evette, made in Germany. The seller listed it as wooden but my research since then has me thinking that it's really plastic. The serial number is 232331.
I know nothing about clarinets (probably obvious to the clarinetists out there) but wanted to get a wooden clarinet for my son. The seller has not responded to my concerns since the auction so I guess I will have an inferior clarinet to sell.
Thanks in advance!
Jackie H.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: susieray
Date: 2009-05-20 16:52
Jackie, I did a search for completed items on the auction site and found yours...it is definitely wood. Looks like it might need some new pads though.
Sue
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-05-20 17:31
Good for you Susie, I've seen a number of the Evettes, worked on a few, and found them to be competent "intermediate" cls, well worth their cost [if "minimal"]. Buffet "mafia", please correct me if wrong, they were made by Schreiber in Germany per specs from Buffet, IMHO. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: littlegutz
Date: 2009-05-20 17:39
Hi Sue,
How can you tell that it is wood? Since I don't have it in hand I'm only going by the pictures and they are all starting to look the same!
Thanks,
Jackie
Jackie H.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: littlegutz
Date: 2009-05-20 17:41
Hi,
We paid $140 with shipping. We expect it to require some work to get it playable.
Jackie H.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-05-20 18:36
Jackie,
Your ISP address is St. Louis. If that's correct and you're in that area, I've got a great repair shop recommendation for you. I'm in New York, but I often use a technician in Florissant, Mo., on the outskirts of St. Louis. If you'd like the name of the shop, let me know. And good luck with the Evette.
Chuck
Post Edited (2009-05-20 18:37)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: susieray
Date: 2009-05-20 19:22
Jackie,
It can be a little confusing since there are plastic Evettes that look exactly
like the wood ones; same keywork and logo. The current B12 and E11 are
like that too....identical except for the body material. The pictures really
are not very clear but I'm pretty sure can see the woodgrain in the
pictures, especially the close up with the logo. It's item number 130306616519, right?
Sue
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2009-05-20 19:46
As you've probably found in your research, there were both wood and plastic Evettes made in Germany. The pictures are dark but from the pictures and the serial number, I agree with Susie that it looks like wood and the serial number is consistent with a wood German Evette, probably made sometime between 1978 and 1981. It was the immediate forerunner to the E11 so you can relax, you have a decent instrument for your son and I think you got it at a reasonable price, given its condition. I doubt you'd lose much, if anything, if you decided to sell it.
Assuming the repair tech in Florissant is MK, he is regarded as the best in St. Louis and is used by members of the St. Louis Symphony. He does fine work, particularly where complicated repairs are involved, but, in my experience, he's rather pricey (he once quoted me $40 to fabricate a key for a cheap clarinet, then billed me over $100 for it -- more than I paid for the instrument -- so he won't get my business again). Turnaround can also be an issue. For straightforward work like replacing pads, there are other shops that will do the work just as well but probably faster and at a lower price. If you would like to contact me offline (I see you are connected with Washington U.), I will be happy to suggest some alternatives.
Best regards,
jnk
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: littlegutz
Date: 2009-05-20 20:53
Hi Jack,
I feel better now that I've gotten so many responses from my post on the board.
We haven't received the clarinet yet, but I expect that it will need some work.
I saw on some posts that you are also in St. Louis. Have you heard of George
Bunk? That's the name of the repairman that the teacher suggested.
Thanks!
Jackie H.
Jackie H.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: weberfan
Date: 2009-05-20 21:22
Jack knows the place, and he's right about price, but one clarinet needed something just short of open-heart surgery and it was worth the cost. Plus, since I live in the New York area, the prices in Florissant, Mo., don't look bad at all, even with shipping.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: littlegutz
Date: 2009-05-21 00:09
We're going to NYC this summer and have been told that everything is very pricey. We got a good deal on our room at the Embassy Suites ($160 for the week) so it won't be quite so bad to pay $$$$ for food and entertainment.
Jackie H.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
