 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: senior
Date: 2009-07-15 21:20
I am not a pro Clarinet player. I just play with family and friends or by myself. I play an “A” Clarinet.
I wanted to add a Bb clarinet without breaking the bank. Something inexpensive like a student model. Been watching Ebay and bidding now and then. But the clarinets seem to go for a lot more than I think they are worth. Recently I bid on a Normandy Resonite USA model and got it for 15 dollars and change. It arrived a couple of days ago. When I opened the box, the stench gagged me. I retired the case to the garage. Paper work in the case shows it was repadded in 1984, so it is older than that but I don’t know how old it is. I washed what I could, barrel and bell, in soap and warm water. The body I cleaned with swabs and pipe cleaners damp with lighter fluid. All the cork was in place with no damage. One spring was out of place and it had one bad pad. I fixed the spring and changed the pad. A touch of key oil and then I checked for leaks with lights and fish skin. There was one small leak, that I fixed. It looks really good to the eye, shows almost no wear. The mouthpiece was a Noblet with a broken tip, which I sent to the trash can. I put on a Krass mouthpiece. It has a great tone and intonation is good. I don’t need the case, since my “A” has a double case. Not bad for $15.40 and 2 ½ hours work. I believe I got me a keeper.
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Author: awm34
Date: 2009-07-15 21:55
Very nice! Persistence, good judgment and effort pay off.
Alan Messer
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Author: lrooff
Date: 2009-07-15 22:44
Congratulations. The secret to finding stuff on eBay is to be patient and persistent, and not to overbid. I recently found a Selmer Mazzeo clarinet (the wooden one; not a Bundy) for $45, a 6-key boxwood flute for $25, and, a while back, my contra alto clarinet for $540.
Incidentally, if you have access to a pro-quality steam cleaner, you may be able to get the smell out of the case.
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Author: saxlite
Date: 2009-07-15 23:21
Put the case outside in the sun with the lid open. After a week, the smell will be gone-I've had good lick with this simple fix.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-07-15 23:50
I always ask the seller if the instrument has any smell at all of mold or mildew.
I don't feel that it can ever come out enough for me if it does/has. The sunlight trick is nice, but still there is a slight smell for somebody who is sensitive to it.
Many folks aren't.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
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Author: stebinus2
Date: 2009-07-16 09:47
Those Normadys seem like really nice horns to me. Not sure why they go so cheap. I concur on the mildew. Very nasty. For me I have to remove the fabric out, bleach and seal the wood and start over. Sun isn't enough and wouldn't steam cleaning loosen the glue?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-07-16 15:06
Not such a good deal. At my labor rate of $2500/hr., your clarinet would have cost $15 + 2.5x($2500) for a total of $6265.00
You could have gotten two new Buffets for that price.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2009-07-16 15:46
Fortunately, us doesn't charge ourselves the same rates...
> Not sure why they go so cheap.
The "market" demands more known and seemingly "upscale" brands. Or goes for a new instrument that (initially!) costs the same as a vintage plus repairs.
Hey, good for us enlightened buyers...
--
Ben
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Author: pewd
Date: 2009-07-17 02:47
play it daily for a month or 2, then let us know how the pads are holding up
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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