 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: joseph o'kelly
Date: 2001-04-20 23:05
I know that wood instruments tend to get worn out during their life span if played alot. When does an instrument get to the point when it is just no longer repairable. I recently bought a used oboe via E-Bay in need of repair. Despite the worn case, repairable crack in upper joint and worn springs and pads the piece looked fine to me. Taking it to one place the repairman took one look at it and said it was not worth fixing. He pointed out that even R-13 clarinets that get to be that old are not worth fixing. I took it to another place were although this person usually charges more money does much better work. He said that he'd fix it and turn it into a great playing piece.
My question is can a piece ever get so old that it would be useless? Can an R-13 ever get played so much that it becomes garbage?
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Author: Mark Charette, Webmaster
Date: 2001-04-20 23:33
I don't think it's the age as much as the "bang for the buck" - if you buy and older clarinet that would sell for $400 in perfect playing shape for $100 and have to put in $400 in repairs - you're out $100, right? Never mind the fact that you'll have to spend $400 to see if it's even a "prime" clarinet!
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-04-21 00:20
I don't want to "bend the thread", but please define "no good." No good for what and for whom? Older Computers are "no good". But they might still be able to do the job for which they were initially bought. Many "not-for-profit" organizations would be glad to accept them as a contribution. Many groups that work with youth would be glad to accept "no good" instruments that are playable but not up to "advanced" or "professional" levels as a contribution, thus bringing the joy of music to many youth who may never have a chance to learn the joy of playing, and eventually joining with a group. Think about it!
Bob A
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2001-04-21 00:31
Well, all I can say is my Selmer BT is 67 years old and plays wonderfully well. I purchased it last fall off eBay. Overhauled it an now I've got a great clarinet. I think there is a point when replacement is better that repair, but so long as the wood is good, everything else can be repaired or replaced. So, I have to agree with Mark. It is more or less if you can come out ahead ($) or not.
John
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Author: Willie
Date: 2001-04-21 03:11
The only thing I can think of that would make an old woodwind worn out in the eyes of some repair folks is if there was excessive wear on all the keys that would make fine adjustments difficult. Horns with complicated key works that have a littke slack here and a little slack there can add up to a lot off slack overall. BUT, there are ways to correct most of this without replacing everything that ain't wood. Talk to different repairmen and get different opinions. Some of these guys and gals have a lot of neat tricks up their sleeves, especially the more experienced ones. It will still cost a bit, but if it is a quality horn it may be worth it.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-04-21 05:51
Hmmm -
An Albert 'C' with no pads? If they're LP-Bs I'll gladly buy (at a reasonable price, of course) as many of those no good instruments as you can find :]
- ron b -
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Author: Fred
Date: 2001-04-21 14:14
Man !!! . . . and I just bought an Albert C !!
One man's trash is another man's treasure. It's going to be easier to play those rhythm charts now though . . . and I really couldn't justify the cost of a new C clarinet. And you know what ??? It's going to be FUN !!!
And my address to send all your other "no good" stuff to is:
(naw . . ., I'm not really going to do that, Mark.)
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-04-21 14:22
I've had an eBay special Albert C for about two weeks. I love it, cracks and all. The cracks don't seem to affect its playability, gives it character, and has stimulated me to research crack repair.
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Author: ron b
Date: 2001-04-21 20:18
We don't care what Mark don't 'llow....
We're sendin a wagon 'round town anyhow -
to collect all those Albert C horns everyone else is throwing out.
(oops, I meant my above post to read LP-*C*, poor creature of habit that i am... :
- ron b -
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Author: Meredith
Date: 2001-04-23 05:30
Wouldn't the 67 year old instrument be a high pitch instrument? Our band has several of these brass instruments which, although they have been 'repitched' are no longer tuneable with the rest of the band. I'm sure they are alright by themselves but really can't be part of a group.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-04-23 10:58
Meredith wrote:
>
> Wouldn't the 67 year old instrument be a high pitch
> instrument? Our band has several of these brass instruments
> which, although they have been 'repitched' are no longer
> tuneable with the rest of the band. I'm sure they are alright
> by themselves but really can't be part of a group.
Depends. In the US, high pitch and low pitch ran simultaneously from the 1890s to very early 1930s. There were significant numbers of each. An individual instrument would have to be checked out to be sure unless it were specifically marked LP or HP, which many were.
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Author: Jeff
Date: 2001-04-23 18:01
Thank you for sharing your good "e-bay" experience. I have not played the clarinet for at least 20 years. My daughter's success and enjoyment with the oboe made me want to take up the clarinet again. I purchased a clarinet on e-bay last week (the pictures looked "good") but then was somewhat horrified to read after the fact, "expert" opinions on buying any sort of used instrument, especially on the Internet. I really was afraid I had wasted my money.
I assumed I would have to replace pads and corks, but the term I kept reading concerning used instruments was "worthless."
Thanks again!
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Author: Bob Rausch
Date: 2001-04-24 13:19
On the downside. I think it depends on how an instrument is maintained. Before I purchased my R-13, I tried to have an old Selmer Clarinet restored. I was younger at the time, and didn't know much about clarinets other than how to play them. Well, the restoration shop was a place in GA called Wipkey's Woodwinds. They specialized in woodwind restoration, so I figured they knew what they were talking about. They examined the horn, said is was about 80 years old, and would be equal to modern Buffet with proper restoration. So, my parents decided to give it a shot ! We paid over 350 dollars (in 1988) for a complete restoration. When got the instrument back it played like a truck. My plastic Bundy sounded better. The restoration shop told us that the wood was just "too old" to deliver a high-quality rich sound. Maybe true, Maybe not. However, as I got older and learned more about instrument maintainence, I discovered the horn was poorly maintained. So now I wonder if the instrument had been properly maintained, would it played better ? I think even an old horn can play well IF properly maintained. The horn I had restored sat in my grandmother's attic for 28 years.
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