 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kpfauth
Date: 2015-02-01 00:29
New to board (be kind!) and looking for a pricing guide for my 1956 Buffet R13. Thank you in advance for your help!
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2015-02-01 01:00
An obvious question - what condition is it in? If it's well-maintained and currently in use it would have a higher value than one just found in an attic.
It might be meaningful for a potential buyer to know whatever of its history you're aware of - especially. perhaps, who originally set it up (or if it was ever set up by a good technician).
Karl
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Author: Kpfauth
Date: 2015-02-01 01:04
I've found a local collector to take a look at it. Will get a second opinion too. I've owned it since 1981 but it's been played very little the past 20 years. Recorded and padded about 10 years ago but would assume that would need to be redone too.
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Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2015-02-01 06:08
Especially if your intent is to sell, and if the instrument is basically in good condition (e.g. we're not dealing with much more than pads needing replacement and minor key adjustment) I would recommend you have the instrument brought into first rate condition before sale by a good tech.
I am of the belief that the increase in value you achieve in such an approach will more than pay for such bench work.
Many people consider the instruments produced around the time yours was to be worth more than some newer ones. Some believe that because the availability of the grenadilla wood has gone down over time, that the same clarinet model of today is made with less quality wood, and that, for example, to buy a similar R13 today, to the wood of one like yours, requires the purchaser to upgrade to an R13 Prestige.
Regardless of the validity of better instruments in the good old days, and the reasons for their claimed superiority, the market runs on people's perceptions, which can sometimes differ from or be consistent with fact.
I hope the instrument's in basically good shape and finds a good home: yours or somebody elses. Too many people want to play musical instruments for them, IMHO, especially first rate ones, to sit idle.
Ebay's a great place to determine value once the shape its in, and the costs if any to bring it to a good state (if its even in a state of disrepair or if so, if bench work can or can't reasonably address this) is determined.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2015-02-01 18:37
Impossible to know without more information.
cracks?
repaired cracks?
condition of the keywork - loose, or tight (swedged recently?)
condition of the plating?
type (bladder, leather, cork) and condition of the pads?
Look at ebay SOLD listings. Occasionally old R13's pop up there, which gets you a rough guide. And ebay prices are all over the map. Many items are misrepresented. I see a recently sold R13 that went for $1000 - but its not an R13, its a fake (counterfeit).
A few pictures would help.
I'd figure an instrument that old would need a full overhaul, plus possibly re-plating. Possibly many springs will need to be replaced (they tend to be soft and mushy on old instruments). A wild guess would be $400-500. After a full overhaul perhaps 900-1000. There are many newer instruments going for 1200-1500 on the auction site.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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