 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-04-21 21:40
Hi,
A friend is looking for an A clarinet but does not have finances for a pro model like an R13 or Selmer 9/10.
Besides E11 (which are not cheap in A), are there any other decent affordable clarinets she could look for?
I found a Malerne Standard A clarinet on Craiglist, for $600, but it's not local. We don't want to drive 2.5 hours one-way unless we know something about these clarinets. The add says the price is firm.
Did anyone have experience with Malerne A clarinets? Do you know what it could it be worth? How do they compare to Buffets?
I did a search on Malerne but did not find anything about their A clarinets. I understand that there was a standard (student) model, professional one and an intermediate model as well.
Thanks
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-04-22 01:36
Hi Chris,
Thank you for quick reply- your clarinet had metal tenon end caps which (I think) indicates better built instrument = more advanced level.
The one I am looking at looks like any other Malerne Standard. We may take a chance on it.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-04-22 02:58
I honestly can't remember if it originally had the metal tenon tip rings or if I added them to it (if the tenons were wobbly). I have a feeling I may have replaced the one on the middle tenon which is the usual suspect, but it was a fair while back and I've done that to many instruments since.
One player I had try it out compared it to his RC Prestige A clarinet and found it was pretty much equal to, or even better than it in some places. The only other A clarinets in this same price range were B&H Edgware, Noblet Artist and later the Buffet E11 - I haven't seen any Schreiber-built Evette A clarinets, although they may have offered them (which in time became the Buffet E11 A).
I do regret selling it back then as I had some players since looking for an affordable A clarinet, although I did get good feedback from the seller who remarked on the quality of the work I did on it as most eBay sellers often sell things saying they had been recently overhauled when all they've had done was a quick wipe over with an oily rag and the pads are usually way past their best.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-04-23 01:04
Chris P wrote:
>... One player I had try it out compared it to his RC Prestige A
> clarinet and found it was pretty much equal to, or even better
> than it in some places. The only other A clarinets in this same
> price range were B&H Edgware, Noblet Artist and later the
> Buffet E11 - I haven't seen any Schreiber-built Evette A
> clarinets, although they may have offered them (which in time
> became the Buffet E11 A).
>
> I do regret selling it back then as I had some players since
> looking for an affordable A clarinet, although I did get good
> feedback from the seller who remarked on the quality of the
> work I did on it as most eBay sellers often sell things saying
> they had been recently overhauled when all they've had done was
> a quick wipe over with an oily rag and the pads are usually way
> past their best.
>
It does look very nice and I am sure it was a good player after you went over it.
eBay is a hit and miss (more the later)- all the instruments I bought from eBay were not as described. Some were grossly and knowingly misrepresented, some were not described properly because the person/shop selling them did not know how to check the instrument.
It's up to the buyer to ask specific questions if the description is lacking.
However, there are decent sellers and it is possible to find an instrument in good condition, described properly- it will not be cheap though.
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