 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Squiddy
Date: 2010-04-29 15:16
There is a Yamaha Clarinet for sale on Craigslist for 100.00 obo, in my area that I'm going to look at tonight. I'm wondering about the possibility that it may be one of the fake Yamaha clarinets that I've read about on this board and elsewhere. I don't own a Yamaha clarinet to have one to compare to this when I look at it. The guy selling it said that his daughter had used it in band a couple of years ago and it's just been sitting in the closet for the last couple of years. What's weird is this guy said he played clarinet when he had been in high school, as well as sax, etc.. I figure he would know enough about horns to know that it could sell for more than 100 dollars. He says the corks and pads are in good shape and that it plays good. Oh, and he said it's in a soft case as well. The picture looks like it is a ycl-20 in the small case like what is pictured on clarinet closet. No logo or writing is showing at all in the pictures. Any tips about what to look for to spot if it's a fake? Sorry for the long post!
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2010-04-29 15:28
Thanks for doing this research.
I've been having the same concern --trying to get a "travel in any weather" horn.
Let us know what you learn.
thanks
Bob Phillips
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Author: GLHopkins
Date: 2010-04-29 18:16
The Yamahas I've delt with have had six digit serial numbers....sometimes with an "A" at the end....XXXXXX A. If it has more than 6 numbers I would not buy it. If there are no serial numbers don't buy.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2010-04-29 18:44
Genuine Yamahas will be clearly marked "Made in Japan" or for more recent production "Made in Idonesia. At least this is true for European markets.
The serial number normally is only marked on the lower joint.
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Author: sue
Date: 2010-04-30 02:18
Some of the newer fakes say made in Japan even though clearly they are not!!
My 30 year old Yamaha 26 has a serial no. engraved on the back of the bottom joint and YCL26 and round Yamaha logo engraved on the back of the top joint. On the front of the joints and bell are the words YAMAHA Nippon Gakki Japan in gold lettering (not engraved so could rub off)
My unknown age Yamaha C100 has serial no. engraved on the back of the bottom joint. Engraved on the front of the top joint are: YAMAHA ESTABLISHED IN 1887 JAPAN C100
I think most of the fakes try to copy the latest model - the YCL250, so they have the round logo on the front like the YCL250 does now. The original 250 used to come in a case like the YCL20 before they changed to the one with the buttons you have to press in sideways. Very recently they they have made a change to a soft case. Also I think the original 250 had the block letters on the front rather than the round logo.
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Author: Squiddy
Date: 2010-04-30 05:01
Thanks a bunch folks. Ended up not getting to go to see this horn after all as it was aways away from me, and I had another obligation arise that took too much time. Called the guy and told him couldn't make it, and he said he'd had lot's of calls, so probably sold to someone else by now. I had some suspicion about the horn and though I couldn't quite tell from the picture, the fact that it was in a non Yamaha case, yet was only a few years old. concerned me. All things considered, paying a couple hundred for a used horn through a reputable online dealer whom I can trust doesn't sound like a bad deal at all to me.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2010-04-30 22:35
Question for anyone who has overhauled a genuine Yammie clarinet: Do they forge or cast a serial number or some other number into a key where you wouldn't see it unless the instrument were disassembled? Or engrave a serial number in the wood (or plastic) in a hidden spot? Some of the older manufacturers used to do those sorts of things.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2010-04-30 22:58
The last thusly stamped key I've seen said "gotcha!"
Just kidding, of course. Haven't seen them on Yamahas, but my statistical sample is not very large.
I do consistently see stampings on apartment and other lock keys, however. ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif)
--
Ben
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-05-01 05:51
I don't remember about Yamaha clarinets, but a Yamaha saxophone I have here now has a number engraved in a bunch of places like in side key cups, under some touchpieces, etc. It is always the same number (not pad diameter or anything like that). It is also very shallow hand engraving, not like the numbers some instruments have that looks like they were done in the moulding. It's possibe someone later engraved them, but I think I remember some keys with the number still had original pads. So my guess this is something done in the factory, maybe to know what key goes to what sax. This is from the 70s though.
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Author: RoBass
Date: 2010-05-03 07:28
I don't know stamps on keywork or other hidden markings for the Yamahas (my restoring friends don't so at all). But could be done sometimes or left sometimes only... Y does some thousand clarinets per annum, why don't they have o change theirs philosophy during the decades?.
If it's faked good enough, only a pro from Yamaha could figure out eventually (f.i. regarding the wood density, C14-number value, alloy of keywork, thickness of plating a.s.o.) ;-/ They hold some woodpieces from every charge in the stock (and the material certificates for delivered keywork blanks), therefore a comparison could be done between the mentioned year of manufacturing and the used wood/metal for the related charge.
But such an investigation they won't do for only one horn ;-) That's a procedure to crucify a professional faker...
kindly
Roman
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