Author: Matt74
Date: 2017-09-13 05:35
I have sold horns on two different sites. I'm having a hard time understanding why horns go for the prices they do. It seems that mostly they go for the brand name, more or less irrespective of condition.
I had this bright idea that I was going to put a nice package together, with a good mouthpiece, ligature, reed holder, good cork grease, and swab. Inexpensive things, but nice. All necessary stuff. I figured this would be attractive to a parent. It was a newer Selmer 601 Aristocrat, with polycylindrical bore and silver keys, completely overhauled, all new pads and corks, nice case. It had been finished extremely poorly from the factory, but after a lot of work it played great. I was impressed. It sat for a more than a month on one site, eventually went for $150 at auction (last minute bids). It had nice clear pictures and a good discription. It looked great. Last time I try to sell a Selmer student horn.
I also had a Vito, completely overhauled, with a new mouthpiece and new case, that looked great and played better, with great pictures and description, that I had a hard time selling for $200.
I always mention that I have formal training in clarinet repair.
I haven't bought any Yamahas to fix, because they're impossible to get in any condition for less than $100. Buffets are out of the picture.
I put my R-13 up for $2,000. I didn't even replace all the pads. I had an interested buyer the next day, then two more, and it was sold by the end of the week for asking price. R-13s aren't even trendy. The price was too low. I even said the throat E and F were flat. Sold it with the Buffet mpc.
Is this "brand snobbery", ignorance, bad common wisdom, or just ultra-low priority on the part of parents? I'm sure a lot of parents pay hundreds of dollars for sports equipment each year. Is there any way to communicate the importance of having a good horn in good condition? Don't they instictively know that a cheap new horn is cheap? Or, is it the throw away anything old mentality? Do they assume it's bad because I'm selling it online? Do the buyers I'm looking for shop elsewhere?
I thought some of you teachers or techs might have some insights.
- Matthew Simington
Post Edited (2017-09-13 19:31)
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