 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2011-10-22 23:47
I've been asked to informally assess and evaluate a Buffet E11 that a parent wants to auction off for the benefit of a local youth orchestra at a fundraising event in a week. She isn't looking for a formal appraisal. I'm not going to tear it apart to look at tone holes or pad surfaces. I've play-tested it and found that it plays quite well. It's is in excellent condition cosmetically and would probably play its best with some small adjustments and a couple of silencer corks replaced. It's about 10 years old but doesn't look it - the girl who played it apparently switched to violin fairly quickly and didn't play the clarinet much.
I can say this about its condition (in more detail if asked), but when trying to suggest a ballpark price they can expect (not guarantee), I'm a little more out of my element.
My rule of thumb has generally been to expect to sell a used instrument in good condition for about half the price of the same (or equivalent) new one. I've priced new E11s at my 3 favorite outlets. They are uniformly priced at $1,495.00. But they are all advertised as *French* E11s. This instrument clearly says on the bottom section beneath the serial # "Made in Germany." I've heard before about serious deficiencies in German E11s compared to French ones. Are the new German E11s (do they still make them there?) priced the same as the French ones?
Obviously, at auction they're going to take whatever is bid - but I think they will want to know at least a floor price they should expect. I don't know if they are following a formal enough procedure to set a reserve price to start with. And if there are no bidders, the parent will then want to sell the clarinet herself.
Any suggestions? Thanks in advance.
Karl
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2011-10-23 15:04
Karl,
If you are tending toward an estimate of around $750, I think you are too high.
Take a look at completed auctions for the E11 on eBay. There are a couple of pages. Based on a quick scan, the selling price for used German-made E11s ranged from around $125 to around $620. Just based on your description, I would expect the clarinet you are evaluating to sell somewhere between $300 - $500. A starting bid or reserve around $350 might make sense. FWIW, the ones that sold above $500 mostly appeared to be in mint condition but perhaps that's what you have.
If I were you, I would look at the pictures and descriptions closely and see which instruments are the best match for the one you are evaluating. You may also pick up some tips on how to word the description. If the clarinet looks really good, with shiny keys and logos mostly intact, I would recommend including lots of pictures instead of just one or two. Close-ups showing the condition of some of the pads might also be to the seller's advantage. Also, based on what I see on eBay, I think an open auction would be a better approach than a "best offer" approach.
Finally, FWIW, two French-made E11s, apparently brand new, sold for around $720 and $890. These sales probably give a better estimate of current new "street" price than the dealer prices.
Best regards,
jnk
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2011-10-23 15:33
Thanks for the advice. This will, as far as I know, be a live auction on site - people participating in it will see the actual clarinet on display.
I don't generally hang around E-Bay very much, but you're right that it's probably a realistic guide to what can be expected. I'll do some checking there so I can describe it to the parent first-hand (or point her directly to a URL so she can see for herself).
Karl
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2011-10-24 05:13
DavidBlumberg wrote:
> I agree. E11's don't hold their value really much at all.
>
Intermediate clarinets in general don't hold their value well.
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