 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: donald
Date: 2018-03-25 13:57
Just off the top of your head (in whatever currency you like)
What do you think a heavily used 1978 R13 with nickel keys is worth?
- In playable condition, but needs a bit of work to use for professional concerts.
- Not in great cosmetic condition, but everything is there!
Casting the net far and wide to get some ideas (yes, have looked on a well known auction site), your contribution would be appreciated.
thanks
dn
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Author: RBlack
Date: 2018-03-25 20:47
I'm very curious to see what people's opinions on this are.
Off the top of my head, I would guess somewhere in the 1500-2000 USD range, give or take due to details of condition, case, and how good it really plays.
It is hard to say though, as there is not large market of examples to consider. This knowledge is coming from the research of someone (me) who is currently searching for an A to hopefully last the majority of a career, and having trouble determining what is a good deal, and what is simply ridiculously overpriced.
Take with a grain of salt,
-Robin
(Edited to add that I'm in Canada, and a semi-local shop to me is selling an '85 nickel R13 in freshly overhauled condition for about 2200 USD)
Post Edited (2018-03-25 20:49)
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Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2018-03-26 02:42
Clarinets Direct is now selling one for £1,445. It dates from 1995, and has silver plated keys. They generally sell instruments in playable shape, replacing bad pads and so forth, although they don't specifically say this one has been in the shop. The demand is higher in North America than Britain and you can claim this one is "Golden Age" (see the thread by the same name). Robin is probably close, depending on how much work it needs.
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Author: gwie
Date: 2018-03-26 04:33
With a decent overhaul, it wouldn't be too hard to get $2000-$2500 for it, especially since it's an A. No cracks, right?
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Author: Brad Behn
Date: 2018-03-26 04:43
When I see an instrument that has been "professionally played", I pass. That's because a pro typically plays much more than an amateur. My goal in acquiring a good used instrument is to find one which has been played as little as possible. So for me, I will pay more for an instrument which was owned by a HS player who gave the instrument up after a couple of years.
Brad Behn
http://www.clarinetmouthpiece.com
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Author: Slowoldman
Date: 2018-03-26 22:25
FWIW: I recently bought one (early-mid 1980's model but without a lot of mileage) for $2000, with recent good-quality overhaul. (Pads, corks, proper key regulation.) It needed about $200 more work to bring it to my preferences. I thought the price was reasonable, and seemed to be in line with others out there.
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Author: donald
Date: 2018-03-29 12:13
Thanks all, very useful.
Brad may remember some years ago I bought one of HIS used A clarinets (the Festival A that Chadash had "chopped"). That was in much better condition that this one I've found... But this instrument has a very warm (yet still centred, or what I like to describe as "concentrated") tone quality that holds well at different dynamics.... I feel confident that with restoration it will maintain this quality...
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Author: donald
Date: 2018-05-12 06:47
Hi there, I decided to buy and repad the 1978 R13 A clarinet... It has a gorgeous tone quality but the jury is still out regarding intonation (that said, the least in tune Buffet A clarinet I've played was from 2004!!!).
What is worth mentioning is that the 1963 B flat (also nickel keys) that came with it is GORGEOUS!!!!! The intonation is comparable with my Buffet Festival, but the sound just amazing, warmer but not dull... It's a real "singer" of a horn!
All the major players here have super neato clarinets with shiny buttons etc, but this old dunger (keys worn, tonehole chimneys worn etc) sounds like gold compared to the newer Buffets.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2018-05-12 07:28
Donald,
Just out of interest, what did you repad it with?
Thanks,
Tony F.
Tony F.
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Author: Matt74
Date: 2018-05-12 09:59
I wouldn’t ask anything less than $2,000. I would start higher, like $2,500, or more. I asked $1,500 for my Bb (in excellent condition, early 1990s), and it was gone in a couple days. You can always lower the price.
- Matthew Simington
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Author: donald
Date: 2018-05-21 14:02
Hi Tony F- just ordinary skin pads. For years now I've been a cork/valentino combo guy, with a few leather pads thrown in here and there....
But for this I just stuck with normal pads to keep the cost down. If I stick with the instrument it'll get some cork pads at a later date...
But what's for sure, is that after "feeling" the sound and response of these old instruments (1963 and 1978) I only feel disappointed when I play the new Buffet instruments.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2018-05-21 16:42
Thanks Donald. I've been experimenting with various pad combinations over the last couple of years. Cork on the upper joint and leather on the bottom seems to work best for me, but I find fitting cork pads properly to be a major undertaking. Once they're there they'll work for years. I tend to agree with you with regard to the quality of Buffet instruments today compared with those of 50 years ago. No comparison.
Tony F.
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Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2018-05-22 09:36
$1200 to $1500, depending on how it plays and sounds.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
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