 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: BrianPeterson
Date: 2017-09-05 04:08
Man, it's been a long time since I posted here. Had to reregister even.
Stopped by the local music store. They had a refurbished nickel plated 1971 R13 clarinet for sale on consignment. I checked the serial number. A little flat in the lower register, but otherwise plays very well.They're asking $3K for it. Seems awfully high even for a "classic" instrument like that. What do you all think?
BP
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2017-09-05 04:16
Not worth it. Sure vintage R13s can be great, but they are also plentiful. I wouldn't spend a dime over $1500 unless I found one in flawless restored condition that played like a dream. Heck mine only cost $500 and it was in playing condition even. Keep looking and you should have no problem finding a decent R13 for a lower price.
-Jdbassplayer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2017-09-05 04:56
I agree wholeheartedly with jdbassplayer -- no way. Not unless it played like a dream, the intonation was dead on, and a Kaspar, Chedeville, or Lelandais mouthpiece was in the case.
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2017-09-05 05:56
Well, I have a 1971 R13 bought NOS as new in 1994. I like it but only used it for about ten years. It is in top condition and plays best with a 65mm Chadash barrel as it also was a bit on the low side in pitch. While I haven't looked at prices a lot, my guess is that $1700 or $1800 could be an ok value. However, prices are going up and it may be worth more.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gwie
Date: 2017-09-05 06:28
That's way overpriced. You can get a brand new R-13 for $2,613.31 plus CITES fees and International Shipping from Howarth.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2017-09-05 06:58
It's arguably "Golden Age," but overpriced. Trust your experience. "Plays very well" but not quite in tune over the range isn't $3K. Keep looking.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: thereallukasj
Date: 2017-09-06 03:49
Keep your eye on auction sites. Good condition r13s can be found for around 1k. If you go the online route, make sure there is a return policy just in case you get "a fully retstored, beautiful... dud."
Lukas
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bob Bernardo
Date: 2017-09-06 11:09
Unless you are really hungry for a used 40 year old horn, take a peak at the Yamaha SEVR and the CSVR horns new for maybe the same price? Or close to it. They are pretty special. If you don't like them then I agree with the others, the horn is about double the cost of what it should sell for.
Get in touch with the really good repairmen in the country and tell them to keep an eye out for a clean Buffet for you. One day you will get that call. Maybe a horn that was worked on by Hans Moennig or someone of that level. Most of these older horns are worn out, but they can be saved. I can spot a Moennig horn from far away, because of studying with him and knowing what he did to horns. Then when you play one there's no question about it. The tuning and evenness of every note simply rings. Of course there are other masters. I really like Bob Scott's work in East Lansing, Michigan. The new guy in town whom I like is in NYC. Tomoji Hirakata. He is another master. Right now sitting on his work bench is Bob Marcellus's clarinets. The A clarinet was the horn in which he did the Mozart Concerto. hmmm! Bob had his horns worked on by Hans. So Tomoji is a good man to know. Small world.
The GREAT Harold Wright with the Boston Symphony changed horns within every 10 years or less. He didn't always buy new horns. He was looking for that special sound, which he was so famous for. It had to ring. It had that ping. Listen to some of his recordings and you may hear this special sound. He played on a Chedeville.
So be careful and perhaps trust some of the really good repairmen around the country. Don't buy a horn from that "Golden era," unless you have it checked out. They were like finding the perfect reed. Hardly any made the cut, unless they were repaired by someone great. Good luck.
Designer of - Vintage 1940 Cicero Mouthpieces and the La Vecchia mouthpieces
Yamaha Artist 2015
Post Edited (2017-09-06 11:16)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
