 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: chellie
Date: 2001-11-06 23:13
I've noticed that there are lots of high-quality horns listed on EBAY. Has anyone bought one online, are there any positive or negative experiences of feelings abouts this mode of purchase? Also, would you recomend buying a pro level horn brand new, or do you think one that is broken in will serve better?? Thanks!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-11-07 00:22
Yes, Yes, Yes (depending on how much money you have) Yes!
This was all discussed in a several massive thread's recently. Did you try a search??
Bob A
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lindsey Ondrey
Date: 2001-11-07 00:41
I bought my Buffet E-11 last year as a Christmas present for myself on Ebay. It was a wonderful, brand new horn (yay!) sold from a private dealer on there. It was an incredibly low price (under $600) and in reality, cost less for me to buy than the instrument that my parents had boughten me in grade school for beginning band (made of plastic)! I love my instrument and suffered from "in-love-with-my-clarinet-itis" for quite a while after it.
I encourage you if you are going to purchase anything to be very cautious, ask all questions you can possibly think of, request pictures, etc. If you purchase, it is better to get it from someone who is a player themselves or a dealer because they will know more accurate information about the instrument. If you feel confident about the seller and the condition of the instrument, go for it!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: willie
Date: 2001-11-07 02:27
You can find some good stuff on eBay and you can get burned also. I've bought several old "honkers" on eBay. Some I restored and added to my collection and some I fixed up and donated to some kids at the school. But, my best find was my EEb Leblanc contra in mint condition. I study the pictures and look for obvious wear, dammage, and missing parts. Even if it has an expencive, rare mouthpiece I use caution as it could be warped or refaced by someone not skilled in that area (like me). Most of the descriptions by sellers are by some one who barely knows the difference between a banjo and a lawnmower, so use caution there also.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Pam
Date: 2001-11-07 02:44
I bought a flute on ebay in August and it has turned out to be a decent one. Maybe I was lucky to some degree as it was from a pawn shop. It's probably a beginner/intermediate level Yamaha and I only paid $280. Just use caution, ask lots of questions, look at the pictures. Some sellers will even give you a "try it out" period.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kenabbott
Date: 2001-11-07 12:11
I have purchased many horns on Ebay, including a Rossi clarinet, an R13 FB, two contrabasses (Eb and Bb), bass and tenor saxes, and a tuba. I also have had a seller ship me an empty box (paid for by Visa, so I didn't lose anything). It can be a rewarding and money-saving experience. Keep several things in mind:
1. Know your product: check the year and model as well as the serial number. look for signs of wear in any pictures. Ask for more pictures if not satisfied. Feel free to ask the seller detailed questions.
2. Set a maximum price: don't get bidding fever. Go in knowing the most you are willing to shell out. Do NOT go above that amount.
3. Know the seller: check Ebay feedback. Check the newsgroups. Ask around. Ask for references.
4. Get a money-back trial period.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bill
Date: 2001-11-07 14:21
When you know clarinets, it can be the best place to find what you want. I got my 1938 Buffet about a year ago on eBay. There's a slightly older Buffet horn now up for auction. I agree that these are not the instruments needed by aspiring professionals. But a funky old Buffet, with the characteristic mellow, sweet, small voice, can be a lof of fun to play.
It's hard to keep in mind that you'll need to put $200 on top of your purchase price (unless you are lucky). Also, you really do have to ask the right questions, study the images (if available), and depend on your accrued knowledge. I've never dropped $2000 on a new instrument, however---but that's not what I'm looking for. Main advice: Check the seller's feedback and track record FIRST. --Bill.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-11-07 14:31
I've been selling clarinets on eBay for about 2 years now and have sold over 200 total and NEVER had one returned to me. I always offer a money-back guarantee if the customer is not completely satisfied and stand behind the warranty. In the event that it is a new clarinet (I bought dozens of new Leblancs and other brands) I make certain the factory warranty is in tact to the new owner and personally guarantee the instrument.
I've sold several Leblanc Opuses (one to a fellow Sneezy "Irwin"), several Buffet R-13s, including Prestige (one to Sneezy Bob Gardner) and an almost new Buffet Festival (also to a Sneezy), a Leblanc Symphonie VII and several other high dollar clarinets. Everyone was satisfied and surprised at the quality of the instruments they got from me.
Ebay is an excellent place for me to sell because I'm an individual clarinetist and have enjoyed the opportunity to meet fellow clarinetists. Also, I've enjoyed play-testing and owning almost every brand of decent clarinet on the planet. I've learned and experienced a lot doing this and have had people (especially parents) thank me profusely for the bargain they got on their instrument.
Look for positive feedback and don't be afraid to contact the seller. If they're honest and a good person to work with, they'll reply to your inquiries and be accessible to you.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Joseph O'Kelly
Date: 2001-11-07 20:30
I noticed a guy selling horns under the title, "high quality (fill in the blank)" among such items are an oboe, french horn, euphonium, flute (i think), bassoon. They are prices low and have the look of no other brand. The oboe is full conservitory. Any thoughts?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sandra Franklin Habekost
Date: 2001-11-07 22:43
I purchased a student Evette on ebay for my son, and the price was right. It needed some repair, but it was worth it. Otherwise, I hesitate to purchase on ebay, simply because I like to see the instrument and play it before purchase. I think your best bet is a knowledgeable dealer (like Brenda above). Avoid the ones, who say things like (really, I saw this!) "It's a Buffet, but the previous owner took the mouthpiece that was in the case, and I cannot figure out why" and "It comes with the original reed" HA!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: terry
Date: 2001-11-08 12:50
Three experiences, all positive. BUT this is not exactly friendly grounds, the
seller is essentially anonymous. go back up to the message by
"kenabbott (---.montgomery.com)" and reed it several times. Get PICTURES,
do NOT buy from someone any shade on their feedback.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Rausch
Date: 2001-11-08 15:25
Its a mixed bag....
There are some excellent bargains. There are some really nice horns. However, there are also some lemons and some real honkers that would make better lamps than instruments.
My advice:
1. Read the ad 3 times or more.
2. Ask for pictures, even if some are posted. Why ? Some people re-use other peoples ad pictures.
3. Avoid people who " don't seem to know anything about the horn ".
4. Watch out for the people who use use buzz-word phrases with no backup. "I believe it to be made of Rosewood " means its made of grenadilla and they are using the buzz "Rosewood" to lure you to bid.
5. Ask questions ! Go ahead, don't be afraid. Your the buyer, you have a right to know. A good question to ask is : "Where did you get this clarinet ? "
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-11-08 15:47
I agree with most of the above comments. Let me add another thing--see if you can get a phone number and call the seller and talk to them directly. Anytime a buyer is looking to spend a couple of thousand dollars (like the Festival I just sold to a fellow Sneezy) or more, they should have the additional peace of mind to speak directly to the seller. Once Beth and I spoke on the phone, we both felt better about the transaction and I knew the instrument was getting a good home. She had the opportunity to ask all the questions she wanted and also to back out of the sale if she had chosen to do so.
Of course, we sellers have our concerns as well. We hope for honest buyers as well as honest sellers. We hope people won't get the instrument, damage it and then return it demanding full refunds while ruining any hope we might have of selling it again. Or, they've got a stolen credit card and I get a charge-back and they are in Whoknowswhere with my clarinet. Or, they don't go through with the sale and it ends up costing me the sale plus the eBay fees for the sale and the second high bidder has bought something else in the meanwhile.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Elise
Date: 2001-11-09 17:05
All of the above statements I agree with strongly. I've been shopping around for an intermediate horn for school playing--perhaps an E11--because I never feel good bringing my R13, but at the same time it's really unbearable to play my plastic student Bundy. Only one additional suggestion; you might be interested in a play test, based on the description, or examining the horn yourself. When you search, use the search by location option to come up with sellers in your area. If you spot a horn that you're seriously interested in, check out the seller's credentials. If you've found a seller that's reliable, you might be able to meet with them to try out the horn. I'd only really recommend meeting folks if they have a couple hundred excellent feedbacks or a shop where you can meet--for safety's sake.
Good luck!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DDavis
Date: 2001-11-09 19:17
I got into Ebay by accident when my wife had some clothes she wanted to sell. To our surprise they brought a fair price. I had a plastic clarinet that my daughter had used for marching in high school that we didn't need any longer. Since I make my living repairing these things I overhauled it and put it on Ebay. This was in August, when the kids are just getting their school horns. The Selmer Bundy I sold brought a fair price to me, since I didn't have much of an overhead. I have liked this concept so well I would run several on Ebay every week, all of them have either had a P.C. done to them or overhauled. Now, as far as what you get. Some of the horns I sell, I bought on Ebay. I look very close at the pictures, and ask questions. Since I am going to resale them on Ebay I have to look for several things. If the horn is wood I ask the seller if there are any cracks or chips. The reason for this is that even though I could fix this problem, many people bidding on it would be skelptical, since I feel obligated to tell them of the repair I made. Another thing I ask, is if they can tell if all the keys are there, and are any of them bent or broken. Many pictures that they use are too dark to recognize what you are getting. I suggest that you get some kind of photograph program for your computer, so you can copy the picture and transfer it to your other program and then lighten it, then you can somewhat tell if this is a horn you may be interested in. Keep in mind you have to be the expert. Since I only buy used horns, it would be fair for me to tell you that almost every horn I have bought on Ebay I had to P.C., or overhaul, regardless of how it was represented. Many of these people selling these things think if the keys push down, and there is a pad in the pad cup it's in great condition and ready to play. Ebay is a wonderful place to buy a clarinet just as long as you know if it's really in playing condition, or you allow the time and the money to have your instrument technician put it in playing condition. If you are unsure of all this, there are retailers who will sell a new clarinet on Ebay complete with factory warranty, at a wholesale price.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-11-09 19:20
Yes, on the "meet and try it out if you can" suggestion. I've had several people want to come over and try the clarinets out before purchasing and I always ask them to meet me at a "safe" place (safety for sellers as well, you know) like my husband's office, or my local music store (where I've worked out a deal with my friend who owns the store).
But, if you can't--be sure the seller will let you return the instrument if you don't like it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
