 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Vortex
Date: 2005-06-03 19:38
I'm wondering how much a Chedeville bass clarinet mouthpiece goes for these days. I'm no expert on clarinet gear, but I understand they're a highly sought after mouthpiece among Bb players, and would figure the same is true for bass clarinet as well. I was guessing at least $300 as they seem rather rare - does anyone have a more educated estimate?
music is life
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Author: crnichols
Date: 2005-06-04 21:33
For bass clarinet, I've never even heard one mentioned. I've heard of Kaspar bass clarinet mouthpieces, and they are always referred to as very rare. If you have any luck finding one, expect to pay at least twice that for one, if not more. Chedevilles and Kaspars sell for upwards of 500 dollars on eBay.
Christopher Nichols
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2005-06-06 14:34
There have been a couple at auction, but they're really unusual.
Just as real estate value depends on location, location and condition, mouthpiece value depends on condition, condition and condition.
On the other hand, the Chedeville name is magic, and I've seen some that look unplayable (and, at any rate, unrecognizable as compared with the originals) go for ridiculous prices.
There were bad ones. Ralph Morgan kept one on his workstand that was unaltered but unplayable. But then Harold Wright had several great ones, and Mark Nuccio said at the Clarinet Symposium that after years of looking, he had finally found a great one that played better than anything else he had tried.
If I found a Chedeville bass mouthpiece for $300, I would grab it. If I didn't like it, I think I could get at least that much back at auction, and probably more. However, I can afford to lose $300 if I'm wrong. . . .
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2005-06-06 15:34
As reported in a variety of articals I have read, even Stradivarius made a lot of bad violins. But a lot of people, unfortunately, put more stock in the name on the piece rather than how it actually performs. It's best not to judge--or pay "big bucks"--for a clarinet mouthpiece only because its logo. Our local clarinet professor said that she has a "drawerfull" of Kaspars that are "junk". I had two that I bought during the 60's--one was good, and the other I couldn't play--so I sold it to somebody else (for big bucks) who thought it was great. A mouthpiece is only good if it is good FOR YOU. Best to try before you buy.
My bass clarinet mouthiece is a great (IMHO) Walter Grabner CXBS custom. It would take an extrodinary mouthpiece, of any name, to replace it.
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