Hello all. I have a Bundy Alto Clarinet and I am a novice in terms of playing anything on it. I did my own pad job and messed up but not badly. I put it in a reputable shop and the tech said after some minor adjustments it was now playable. I wasn't at all impressed with it's performance and am not sure I want to put it back in the shop as I'm expecting that would be a segue to more charges and a confrontation. I had a pro player check it out also and he pronounced it as unplayable.

 I cannot find resources online on how to go through these instruments in a methodical way to test and adjust the hardware. I think I asked this before on this Forum, years ago, but got somewhat ambiguous answers like "the internet' or "check Youtube". I haven't found anything myself. If I have missed anything, a proper link would be awesome. Cheers.

Hello.

Getting my daughter ready for school and she has been assigned clarinet for band. I have a pretty decent playing Buffet, but I'm not sure of the model. It has the Buffet Crampon & Cie, etched into the wood and is also marked Made in W. Germany. The serial number is 250992. I thinking this is probably an E11 but can't seem to find a page on differentiating the models, by features.

Also, I have VanDoren MPCs model 2RV and V45. Which would you think would be a suitable MPC for a beginner ? I love my Plasticover 1.5 reeds and VanDoren Optimum lig.

PS... I have near disposable Evette junker and a B12 in the mail that I will cycle her through first so I don't go through the roof when she comes home with what used to be a clarinet. I'm thinking the Evette for say first 3 weeks until she can do half a major scale, the B12 for maybe half a year and then this whatever it is.... E11 I think.... or whatever her teacher suggests.

I'm lightening my load for a big transnational move. One of the instruments I found in my collection was a 2 piece Alto Clarinet by Selmer. Ebony. It's certainly playable with no noticeable defects. I'm almost toying with keeping it as it has such a nice tone. I asked my local instrument tech for a quote on a repad and set up and he wanted $450 CAD,,, ie about $350 USD. For one who only picks up a soprano once in awhile to do some noodling, I don't think i even deserve this, nor at a cost of $450 to get it into top shape.

When i went on Ebay, I was shocked at what the high end pricing was on these: $4500 !! Some even higher. as it's late at night, I can't retrieve a serial number or other identifying info except it's marked France and I think Depois .. or something like that.

The problem I'm having is that the low end price of these Selmer wooden altos is allso quite low at only one or two hundred dollars.

My dilemma now is I can't, using Ebay, even nail down a market valuation for these as they are wildly all over the place. If I sell this I have no idea what to ask. I also don't know what repads should cost.

What I'm thinking, is to repad this myself or at least make all the adjustments necessarry to get it to play as well as it can with the pads already on it. I'm a certified machinist with a wealth of tools that would make professional instrument shops envious. i do not however have the skills to do this.

What I'm asking here is this: Can you tell me a process or a direction I ought to follow in assessing this horn's fair market value ? Without going to some school, even if I could, how might I get some instruction on doing the adjustments or taking on the task of doing my own repad ?

Thank you so much for your time in replying.

Charlie