Frequently Asked Questions
Can you tell me what my old clarinet is worth?
I recieve emails every day asking for free information and valuation and just don't have the time to answer them all, so I am now charging $10 (payable to my Paypal account) for valuations. Your best bet is to check completed sales on ebay!
Can I use my current mouthpiece on a vintage instrument?
Well, maybe... Most old clarinets have a barrel that will accept a modern mouthpiece, occasionally requiring the removal or addition of cork. Whether that mouthpiece will be the 'best one for the job' depends on chamber shape, bore size, tip opening, reed choice, and lots of intangibles like the shape of your oral cavity and how good your intonation is. I strongly encourage buyers to try a couple different mouthpieces, a few different reeds, and at LEAST a few days playing scales, long tones and arpeggios before making a decision about the instrument. Modern horns are generally built on similar principles and in a narrow range of bore sizes - older instruments vary quite a bit and can require a little more effort than just 'pop on the mouthpiece and go'. However, I think the tone is generally superior, the instrument will have a more 'personal' feel, and of course the price will be much lower!
How much are your overhauls?
My clarinet overhauls start @ $250 for a standard Boehm system Bb wood clarinet in good condition and ascend based on complexity of mechanism, age, and condition. Saxophone pricing will be based on the same criteria. Older saxes, like older clarinets, require a lot of extra time and some specialized tools to obtain the best results. Altos will generally start @ $350, tenors @ $400. This is not a quickie pad replacement, but a thorough job that goes for a lot more money in most repair shops and websites. Please check my 'Services' page for an explanation of the work involved.
Why are your overhaul/instrument prices so low? A few reasons: 1) I work by myself in a home based shop and have no employees or overhead. 2) All of my instruments are purchased used and frequently in unplayable condition: nothing is more useless than an unplayable clarinet or sax! 3) There is little 'cornerstone' or retail markup! My pricing reflects initial cost and shipping of the clarinet, pads and repair materials, about 6-8 hours of my time, and a moderate margin if the instrument is a desirable make/model. My goal is to make a modest living and provide reasonably priced instruments to students, retirees, and players on a budget. If we want to keep business in America we have to remain competitive, and that means avoiding high shop rates and huge markups! I do quite a bit of work for customers abroad, as they can send me the instrument and have it overhauled and sent back for less than the cost of local work...
What forms of payment do you accept?
I accept cash, checks drawn on a US bank, money orders drawn on a US post office, or Paypal (+4% for fees). The last is offered for the convenience of my international customers and is probably my least favorite form of payment. I avoid credit cards to help keep my prices low and my life simple!
Do you sell new instruments?
NO! Many new instruments are overpriced and poorly made, the exception being some of the handmade or 'Big 3' (Selmer Buffet, Leblanc) horns. Some of the latter are fine instruments, but very pricey and the companies often require a 'contract' with a dealer - so many dollars worth per year to keep the 'line'. Vintage clarinets/saxes tend to be: better made of better materials, readily available at low prices, and someone else has already paid the retail markup so you don't have to!