 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: lisagen
Date: 2010-08-28 22:47
I just dug out my old soprano B flat clarinet from school days. It's an Evette Schaeffer, not the Master Model, K55896, an early 1980s model. It's been sitting unplayed well over a decade. It doesn't appear to have any cracks but obviously needs service on the corks and pads and polishing. I'd like to get back to playing a little on my own for enjoyment.
The stamp on it reads Evette Schaeffer creating an oval, with Buffet Crampon in the center with a little crown symbol or something, and that's all. It says Made in France elsewhere, but not as part of the oval logo imprint.
I'm wondering a couple things.
Is a standard clarinet service appropriate for re-oiling or does it need special treatment due to sitting so long?
I'm wondering about a rough idea of value, before and after service, for insurance purposes and general level of precaution taken with it as a possession.
I'm getting kind of excited about playing again after so long But I will be patient enough to service it first if the cost of doing so is reasonable relative to value. Next I'll be researching how to get started playing again
Post Edited (2010-08-28 22:52)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-08-28 22:58
Insure it for the full retail price of a Buffet E13 as that's the current equivalent model.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: lisagen
Date: 2010-08-28 23:04
Thank you Chris. That's quite a value. I'm thinking my *old* one is not worth as much, but I really don't know.
This all started because I was asked to loan it to my nephew because he's required to take band. Apart from it needing real service (preventing it from being such a bargain for them after all), I just thought it was an inappropriately valuable item to loan to an 11 year old boy not even *choosing* to take it up. But I didn't want to be in the wrong ballpark altogether either. I have new appreciation for what my parents bought me so young (I did play for well over 10 years, seriously although not professionally).
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-08-29 02:10
It's best to insure against the retail price of a new instrument of the equivalent model as most insurance companies have a new-for-old policy, so if anything happens to it and it can't be repaired, you will get it replaced with the current equivalent model as opposed to a beginner model if you insure it for a lot less.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2010-08-29 04:13
Insurance issues aside, your E&S (equivilent to a $1500 E-13) is worth something around $200 "as is". With a $250 repad,cork and oiling (IMHO no special treatment needed for long storage), it would then be worth $400 or so if sold on 'the online auction site'.
This would be a very nice horn for a youngster, as new plastic B-12's cost $300+, but I suspect if it plays like I think it will, you'll decide to keep her for yourself! Beginners are probably better off with something like a repadded Vito, B-12,Bundy, etc. anyway, at least until they learn to take care of a nice clarinet.
I've just started playing again after 40 years, and enjoy it more than I ever did in high school band.
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2010-08-29 04:21
Not to rain on the parade, but I rather doubt the clarinet would get $400 on That Auction Site even after a complete overhaul. Such is the current market.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-08-29 15:19
It's not worth insuring unless you can get a rider on your home owners policy for $15 - $20. Once it's overhauled it's still probably worth more to you then to anyone else. I'd say monetarily maybe $500 tops if it comes out playing really well after spending $200- $300 for an overhaul. Oiling is over rated but it won't hurt. The tech should automatically do that when it gets overhauled. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: jasperbay
Date: 2010-08-29 16:22
Unfortunately, Dave's right about the current market. There may be a 'window' during the September 'Back to School' rush where a nice, good playing clarinet can bring a fair price, but overall, the used clarinet market is pretty sad.
Anyone interested in the 'open market' value of their old clarinet should go to E-bay's advanced Search and click on 'completed listings' for sales of particular models during the year.
Clark G. Sherwood
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Author: lisagen
Date: 2010-08-29 16:33
Thank you everyone! Those were the numbers I suspected and that's just fine. I just wasn't sure if i was looking at it right.
And as Jasperbay and Ed alluded, it is definitely of more sentimental value to me. I'm not selling, just trying to have an idea of value.
At first, before I posted, I couldn't find the content on the site. The Clarinet homepages are kinda confusing, I couldn't find the link to the Study section, for example. But I figured out how to get there by entering the URL directly, and spent all afternoon browsing and learning and getting excited about music again. I played clarinet all throughout school (from 5th grade), high school and college, and then it fell by the way side at first due to busyness and then depression. Piano is my first instrument, but I don't have a piano and that's a much harder circumstance to correct. I'm so looking forward to making music again instead of just listening.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-08-29 16:33
You're all missing the point - the current equivalent is a new E13 so that's what its insurance valuation should be.
Yes you can always pick an old E&S or E13 up for whatever low price on eBay, but it is still worth insuring against the cost of a new one as that is what you'd replace it with.
Don't know how your insurance company policies work in the US, but in the UK the majority of insurance companies specialising in musical instruments have a new-for-old policy - regardless of age (provided everything is in good working condition). If I insured my old Selmers for what I bought them for, then they would be underinsured by a huge margin (which would be approximately the cost of a new B12 - which they clearly are not), so I've insured them agains the retail cost of new ones (although it won't be easy to get a new Series 9 full Boehm or CT, but as these are pro clarinets, their insurance value is agaisnt the cost of new pro model clarinets).
Similarly with players insuring their old Selmer SBAs and MkVIs who may have initially paid very little for them in used condition, though they will insure them for the best market value they can find. Even so, replacing such items won't be an easy task should the worst happen if they get flattened by some drunken idiot or stolen.
Check your insurance policy if they do offer a new-for-old one as that will be the best all round - you will at least be covered for nearly any eventuality should the unlikely happen.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2010-08-29 17:23
To get a feel for the current market price of your clarinet, I would recommend you go to eBay and search completed auctions for "Evette Schaeffer clarinet" without the quotes. Ignore the prices on any that have a serial number below 10000. I think Clark (jasperbay) is fairly accurate in his assessment of the current market. Without overhauls, most of the K-series E&S clarinets that I saw with a serial number greater than 10000 sold in the $150 - $250 range. There seemed to be a pretty high correlation between the apparent condition of the instrument and the price it brought. With overhauls, I was surprised to see three E&S clarinets that brought considerably more than $400 ($495, $552, $650). The highest priced one, however, was sold by cpaok, who has been dealing on eBay for a long time, generally has a very good reputation, puts instruments in like-new (if not better) condition, puts up a lot of pictures to demonstrate that and is, therefore, able to command a significant premium over the casual seller. (On eBay, prices are affected by the amount of risk the buyer is assuming. An instrument that looks brand new and is sold by a knowledgeable seller with a high feedback rating on a very large number of transactions will command a far higher price than one that looks old and/or dirty and is sold by someone who "doesn't know anything about instruments" or has a disproportionate number of negative feedback responses or a relatively low number of transactions.)
From your standpoint, I suspect it would cost you $150 to $250 to buy a clarinet like yours in its present condition. I expect it would cost you $450 - $650 to buy your clarinet in like-new condition.
IMO, though, Ed has it right as far as insurance is concerned. Financial planners will normally tell you that you should insure against catastrophes but not sweat the small stuff -- and your clarinet (or even a brand new E13) would be considered "small stuff." In the long run, the amount you save in premiums following this approach will almost always more than cover your compensation for any claims you might have. If you are not playing professionally (and I assume you aren't), subject to the limits of your coverage, your household insurance may already cover your instrument against theft or casualty loss. Check with your insurance agent to find out and to find out if your insurer wants you to "schedule" the instrument (provide a description and value). If the insurer requires a rider for $15-$20, I still wouldn't bother with the insurance but you may be more risk averse than I am.
Best regards,
jnk
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