 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: the3n9
Date: 2019-06-27 02:46
Hi everyone,
I'm starting my senior year of high school in a couple of months and I want to pursue music in college and beyond. However, my teacher told me that (a) I would need an A clarinet and (b) my old Normandy probably wouldn't do the job (he tried playing it and said it was very stuffy!). I've been on the lookout for used, cheap-ish Buffet R13s in Bb and A, but I'm having little luck. I've been advised against ordering instruments from eBay or Reverb, but other websites list their prices $2,000+. Neither I or my family can afford any instrument that expensive (and yes, I do have a job - I also need to start saving for a car as well!), so I was hoping anyone could give me some better tips on where to look to find these!
Thanks,
Nathan
PS - I'm not looking into types other than the R13, nor am I looking to just do an overhaul on my intermediate-level Normandy
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2019-06-27 02:57
You may run into a legitmate "deal" out there but anything in good condition that you'd want will be $1500 to $2000 range particularly an A clarinet.
The new Ridenour Lyrique A sells for about $1900 so if you find a used one that may make your price point.
Other than that, I'd say you need to find a way to increase your budget.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2019-06-27 03:14
There's nothing wrong with ordering from eBay or Reverb. Both sites have great buyer protection and as long as you buy an instrument that is advertised as fully refurbished or restored you should have no problems. Ideally you would want to try the instruments out in person, but sometimes it's just not financially practical.
If you are still having troube finding an A clarinet for a low price contact me offline.
-Jbassplayer
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Author: Bennett ★2017
Date: 2019-06-27 04:08
Unless you absolutely need the A clarinet for your senior year - very unlikely I think - just worry about the Bb for now.
Did your teacher pronounce the Normandy 'stuffy' using his reed/mouthpiece or yours? If you can borrow some mouthpieces from your classmates, see if that makes the Normandy acceptable.
Where ever you buy the Buffet, make sure the trial / return period is long enough to let your teacher try it out.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2019-06-27 05:17
I would also look at craigslist.
I bought Bb R13 and A RC off e-bay.
Both were not as advertised: in case of r13 I am not sure if it was intentional or not.
The A buffet RC was advertized as having silver-plated keys and re- padded and it was not true. The seller admitted to me later he knew it was not repadded and "he was not sure about the plating".
So, if buying off e- bay, be prepared that instrument may not be as described.
I do think that there are honest sellers on e-bay as well, it was my luck (or rather lack of it) that I got what I got.
I paid a professional to re-pad the r13, but the RC I repadded myself which cost me about $30 in materials and now I have two very decent instruments.
After all the expences, the R13 cost me slightly less then $1500, and the RC A clarinet came to about $1800.
I recently bought R13 Prestige so I am going to be selling the R13, in case you are interested.
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Author: gwie
Date: 2019-06-27 12:14
When I visited last week, my local music store (Morey's Music in Lakewood, California) was selling a fully-overhauled 1975 Buffet R-13 Bb for ~$1600, complete with warranty.
You can find them out there; there's a huge secondary market for used R-13's and they are extremely common.
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Author: Erez Katz
Date: 2019-06-27 16:15
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=31924&t=31815
If you can get a Buffet Evette with the MASTER MODEL marking, that can be a pretty good instrument.
I saw a few on ebay, but I would only go that route if there is a clear return policy that would allow you to have the instrument inspected and return if you find there is an issue with it, like a crack the seller did not notice or some serious intonation problem the can not be remediated at reasonable (to you) cost.
My first clarinet, which I still have, is a master model evette and it is very good indeed.
Bear in mind that every instrument, even with in a product line is different, so there is no guarantee for quality just because of such and such make and model.
Post Edited (2019-06-27 16:16)
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Author: Steven Ocone
Date: 2019-06-27 20:51
I would agree with the $1500-2000 range unless you find a "deal" from a private seller. If you buy on Ebay, make sure you can return it for any reason. Take your time. You don't necessarily need the clarinet for the first day of college.
Steve Ocone
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