 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Laur
Date: 2001-12-11 23:01
As you al know - I am considering purchasing an A Clarinet for my orchestra perfromances. I found one ! - Buffet A Clarinet that is 50 years old. The owner insures me that it has been well maintained and is in excellent condition. Her price is $1200. What is your opinion of a 50 year old instrument ? Is it worth considerating or should I look for a newer model ?
Thank you !
Laurie
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-12-11 23:12
From the viewpoint of depreciation, its book value is its residual book value. If we assume it 10%, its original price becomes 12000$, 50 years ago????
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-12-12 00:07
If we go from the view point of inflation (?) the value would be $120000.
i see nothing wrong with a 50 year old horn. Have a tech take a look at it. I have a 50 year old Selmer 10 and it is just fine.
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Author: Bob Arney
Date: 2001-12-12 00:10
Hey Guys! Arn't you forgetting something? What does it play like? How does it sound? Does it just "feel good" when you play it? So what's money if you get three positives?
Bob A
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2001-12-12 00:36
If it doesn't have a great deal of wear, I don't see how the age can matter all that much. But if it didn't play too well in 1951, it's not going to now. Evaluate the playing the same way you would for any other clarinet. My B flat is at 46 and still the best one I've ever played.
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Author: Suzanne
Date: 2001-12-12 02:28
I have seen older Buffet A clarinets that are made differently--smaller bore, longer instrument--quite a different sound. You might want to compare by trying some new ones as well, and make sure you like the sound. Put in another $600 with the right dealer, though, and you could get a brand new one--don't just jump because it's available.
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Author: HAT
Date: 2001-12-12 05:08
Don't pay more than $400 for a clarinet this old. You would have to be nuts.
A new one is less than $2,000
David Hattner, NYC
www.northbranchrecords.com
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Author: Mark M
Date: 2001-12-12 06:01
I have a 75 yr old Selmer series K "A" horn and it plays beautifully. Don't know that I'd pay $1200 for such a horn. However, there is nothing wrong with an older horn that is in good shape.
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-12-12 11:37
If in good condition, there's nothing wrong with a 50 year old horn. My best horn is about 55. How it plays is more important than it's age.
However, she is asking way too much for it. Brand new ones are available for about $1800. So I wouldn't go higher than about $600 for one this old. For $1200, I would expect the horn to be in perfect working order and less than 5 years old.
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Author: Katfish
Date: 2001-12-12 12:29
I could be a very good instrument, but even if it is in perfect condition,1200 is alot of money. Don't be in a hurry choosing a new clarinet. I have an old no name A clarinet that works fine if you want to borrow it till you fine a good one. Just let me know. I'll only charge you for shipping
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Author: terry
Date: 2001-12-12 12:59
Play it! if you really like it, then
have a very good tech check it out.
I have clarinets in the 40, 50, and 70 year
range and am extremely happy with them
over the new ones, which I tried out thinking
that "newer is better." At least in my case,
they were not. Watch out for fine cracks and
chipped tone holes.
As for price, I have never paid more than
25% of the NEW equivalent retail price.
I cannot see anyone with any discernment buying
a 50 year old clarinet for 70% of New. unless
it is a clarinet of unbelievable tone and perfect
intonation...which makes it "invaluable."
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Author: Gregory Smith
Date: 2001-12-12 13:09
I would check the intonation first and then compare it with a new R13. This would be the most important thing it seems. It is not a particularly sought after vintage for this reason. Clarinets weren't necessarily built to play as well in tune in 1951. Check the 12ths especially. Outside of that, if it sounds and responds well for you and is checked out by a good repairman to see if parts do not need overhauling or replacing (more $$$), it's probably worth in the $400 - $500 range.
Gregory Smith
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Author: Bob Rausch
Date: 2001-12-12 13:19
Test Play it . Period.
I have too older Bb clarinets. One is an R13 that is about 32 years old and its fantanstic ! The other is a Selmer thats about 71 years old and it plays like a truck. It looks nice, was well maintained, but its sounds like a truck and I would only sell it to someone for about 300 -400 dollars.
Bottom line: Play it . Then decide.
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Author: Peter
Date: 2001-12-12 22:29
Ditto to trying it out before anything else.
Ditto to trying it out in comparison with others (new ones, etc.)
Ditto to that, as an instrument, it should not be worth more than $400.00 to $500.00, unless it's the most incredible sounding horn anyone has ever heard and in near mint condition. But even if it was, I'd have serious doubts about it being worth as much as $1,200.00. I've bought too many of them, in excellent condition, for far less money.
Remember that for every "good deal" you pass up, there are 10 more coming down the pike at you. Don't be in such a hurry and the right instrument will come to you, at the right time, and the right price.
Here's something I wrote in another thread, I don't know what your location or situation is, but, under the right circumstances, it might help you:
"...sometimes you can get some excellent deals at small repair shops who purchase used instruments for repair and resale. There are generally at least a couple of those in every major city. They deal mainly with school repairs, etc., but "moonlight" with the repair-for-resale trade.
"Make sure they are reputable and another added advantage to dealing with them is that the instruments are usually in very good, if not excellent playing condition when you get them.
"If you should bring it back at any future date, for any reason, at any time, they are also usually good about making any minor repair or adjustment at little or no charge.
"One such shop here has done this for me six months after a purchase. It's worth it to make friends of them."
If nothing else, some of them sometimes know where they may be able to find you an instrument at a reasonable price.
Hope this helps.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-12-13 13:13
Some A clarinets are just sold and sold and sold.....
That is because the instrument has foul intonation or is really 'dead' to play - a 'dud'. Dud A clarinets are many times more common that dud Bb clarinets.
The most common reason for selling an A clarinet is surely that it is a dud.
The good ones are held like treasures by the owners.
Is this an exaggeration?
Be careful.
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Author: Sandra
Date: 2001-12-13 17:48
Try this A with an electronic tuner and different mouthpieces and reeds. Compare it with other A's THAT YOU HAVE TRIED! I purchased an older A years ago, and it was fine. If this older A is a very exceptional instrument it is worth $1200 compared to a new A for $2000....but it MUST be absolutely exceptional (hmmm...like maybe owned by Mr. Bonade!) and in no need of repair. Ask the seller why is s/he selling this instrument. There are other reasons, than "dud", for selling A clarinets (including an owner who no longer plays the instrument). Be wary of someone selling an instrument because s/he is "upgrading" to another A. Bottom line...play it, play it, play it. If the seller is close ask if you may take it to one of your clarinet lessons to show it to your teacher. I allowed that to happen to a buyer of an instrument that I was selling to a student.
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Author: Hiroshi
Date: 2001-12-14 01:05
Some repairman 'rejuvinalize' horns as one of their standard overhauls.
Clarinet may not be a Strad. Even Strads are known losing their sonority.
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