Author: Max S-D
Date: 2021-11-03 04:01
Unfortunately, most shops around here are not stocking a lot of professional quality instruments and haven't for a while. I think Bronstein in South SF used to keep a few clarinets around, but even back in 2006, when I was looking for an R13, I had to order from Lisa Argiris at Lisa's Clarinet Shop in Chicago to try out a few. I think they are focused on student instruments, rentals and repairs. Their website mentions Buffet R13s, but I would call first to make sure they have anything.
House of Woodwinds, where I bought my first wooden clarinet in 2002, shut down at the end of 2020.
A&G music in downtown Oakland is still alive and kicking, though I haven't been there in a long, long time. My impression is that their business is focused on repairs as well, but that's probably based on something someone told me ten years ago that I never followed up on.
Union Music in San Francisco has a decent selection of accessories (mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures), since they are down the street from the SF Conservatory, but I don't think they stock a lot of high end stuff, either.
If you are open to used instruments, check out some of the local techs. Daniel Deitch, Lee Kramka and Eric Drake often have some good, often outstanding, frequently funky used and vintage stuff for sale, usually on consignment. Lee and Eric are mainly focused on saxophones, but I usually see a clarinet or two at Lee's. All three of those guys are superlative technicians and used instruments that they sell have usually been overhauled by them prior to the sale. I would consider an overhaul from any of those three to be "better than new" in most regards. These will not be the cheapest used instruments around, but you know they'll be good to go.
Unfortunately, though, most of the proper music shops that would have stocked top of the line clarinets at one time have either shut down or focused on student instruments. I can't blame them and I hope they are getting by.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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