 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: kelbre1985
Date: 2013-11-06 21:43
Hello all,
I am a former clarinet player, and ten years plus after high school I'm realizing that I probably won't ever play it again. That being said, I'm trying to get an idea of what I should ask for as a selling price. I could use the extra money but if the horn isn't worth alot I'd rather hold onto it for the sentimental value alone.
It is a Yamaha 72, and under the 72 there is a stamp that is a something X.. can't tell exactly what it is but the 72 is very legible. The pads were replaced and only played on for about two years, same with the corks. The mouthpiece that I was playing on is a Selmer C85-109. If I sold all of it together, the horn, mouthpeice, rear closing ligature, and 6 unused 3.5 Vandoren reeds, what should I reasonably expect if I tried to sell it?
The horn was purchased in 1989, so I was using it used 10 years ago. It's in really good shape.
Not trying to sell it over this forum, just trying to seek advice from experts since I've been removed from the game and never really knew what level this horn was when I was playing it.
Thanks in advance
~Kelly
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2013-11-06 22:12
Rather than selling it, why not find a community band in which you can play and turn it into a lot of fun? Don't expect to be immediately back to the level you were before you stopped, but it will come back.
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Author: kelbre1985
Date: 2013-11-06 22:23
That is why I have held onto it for this long.. the intention is there... but I've currently found myself in need of extra cash. I'm trying to buy a house and on a teacher salary... well.... not as easy as it could be. And I'm still involved in music, just not in that capacity. I have taught colorguard for ten plus years, and now I'm a full time Biology teacher. I still have a desire to teach colorguard but I feel like my days of playing are probably over. I can actually still remember some things and can still get a decent sound out of it even with my chops completely gone and having only 3.5 reeds. But alas, if it can help with a down payment on a house I will part with it.
If I could only expect $250 for it then I won't sell it. I'd say it would have to be something I could sell for $500 plus to make me actually let it go. It has too many memories attached to let it go for something that won't really add up to it's worth.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-11-07 01:07
The expense of selling your clarinet on eBay will eat up a lot of the value. I'd say keep it for your grandkids or donate it to a school band program.
On the other hand, getting back to where you were when you stopped playing happens surprisingly quickly. If you commit to a community band, it shouldn't take more than a month.
Ken Shaw
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2013-11-07 03:36
Fortunately, for me, the teacher salaries in California are somewhat better than they are in Alabama. However, I was an entire high school science department for thirty years. My instrument got put away when I started grad school. It stayed there while I was an animal control officer supporting my wife's grad school. After that it only came out when my physics class got to the unit on sound and we looked at waves on a scope. My mother passed shortly after I retired and my brother wanted to do the Bach Violin Double transcribed for two clarinets (me and my brother) a violin (a friend) and a viola da gamba (my sister in law) at the memorial. That reminded me how much fun it was to play in a group and I started looking for a community band the next week. It had been forty years since I had played regularly.
The money you can get for your clarinet is unlikely to be of significant help in buying a house. On the other hand, if you keep it until you have the time to join a band, it can be worth its weight in gold in the fun you can have. Community bands have personalities. Take the time to find one that fits you.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2013-11-07 05:10
If you use the "completed auction" function in the "advanced search" on eBay and search for "Yamaha YCL-72" (without the quotes), you should see three relatively recent sales. One, apparently an A clarinet, sold for $850. The other two were Bbs. One sold for $875 but appears to have been reconditioned to like-new condition for the sale. The other sold for $661. It appears to have been in very good condition. You can look at the pictures to see how your clarinet compares.
I don't know what "selling expenses" Ken is referring to. It's been quite awhile since I sold something on eBay but, at the time, they charged a listing fee of a couple of dollars and a small percentage of the selling price as a commission. To encourage bidding, I generally also ate the shipping cost but you don't have to do that.
You may also have options for a local sale. In addition to newspaper ads, you could try posting ads on music department bulletin boards at local colleges and universities. Also, you might be able to find a reputable local music store that would take your instrument on consignment. If the clarinet is in very good cosmetic as well as playing condition, I think you should be able to get at least $500 for it. You can always offer it at that amount. If no one is willing to pay your minimum selling price, you don't have to sell.
Best regards,
jnk
Post Edited (2013-11-07 05:13)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2013-11-07 16:52
You would be surprised at how far buyers will travel for a "Local pickup only" item.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2013-11-07 22:58
Jack -
I looked into listing several older Buffets on eBay. After wading through a dozen forms, I gave up. The site seems to be set up for volume sellers. Selling one or two items is more trouble than I was willing to bear. And then there's packing and shipping.
There are aggregation services that take individual items, but in return they take a substantial bite out of the selling price.
I suppose a Yamaha 72 is a beginner or step-up instrument. A model that's no longer made is unlikely to be worth enough to compensate for the bother.
Ken Shaw
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Author: kelbre1985
Date: 2013-11-08 01:23
Thank you all for your responses... They have helped me out... And have pushed me more towards keeping it.
Ok so another question. If I do keep it and decide to include it on insurance. What model would I have to buy today to get a comparable horn? In other words, what would I need to list as a replacement value? I read somewhere that it is basically the YCL 650 of its time. Is this true?
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2013-11-08 14:53
Ken Shaw wrote:
>>>>"I suppose a Yamaha 72 is a beginner or step-up instrument".<<<<
Yamaha YCL-72 was top of the line professional clarinet of its time.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2013-11-08 17:32
Jack Kissinger wrote:
>>>>"I don't know what "selling expenses" Ken is referring to"<<<<.
eBay charges approximately 10% from the final value and PayPal adds another 3%. So, 13% is not a small percentage.
Vytas Krass
Clarinet Repair
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: pplateau
Date: 2013-11-09 16:41
I purchased a YCL72 with silver keys a year or so ago, had it recorked and it sounds as good as my R13 ; and I prefer the key action also. Go for it and keep it! (Blends well with R-13's also).
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