I play in a youth symphony. We practice once a week during the school year and play 3-4 concerts a year to an audience of parents. I am the only clarinettist, which I hate. I love to play. I do not love solos.

Anyway, I have at times needed an A clarinet. This means that I need to transpose either in my head (not happening for runs) or on paper (ditto). I cannot justify the expense if an A clarinet for a song or two a year.

So the question is, has anyone tried the cheap ones from China?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/vintage-armstrong-clarniet-with-brown-hardboard-case-/121474259282?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c486e1952

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Antique-Buffet-Crampon-Brevetes-SGDG-Paris-Wood-Clarinet-Set-3-Sizes-Restore-/261506935619?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3ce3072b43

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-WOODEN-CLARINET-BERTELINO-538-NEW-YORK-FRANCE-/380841281557?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58abe8c815

I need an A clarinet but will never be able to afford one unless I find one mislabeled somewhere. What makers do you know made them? Buffet and Yamaha, I know, but what about some stencils you\'ve seen? European makers?

I posted this thread a couple of days ago and it has never shown up, so I\'ll try again.

I believe this to be a Couesnon, very similar to a Monopole. I got it to fix and donate to the school, but I don\'t think it is appropriate for that. It is too nice. It is a Val\'s Artist. It says \"Made in France\" with serial # 4171. Under the stack(?) keys it has G63. It played OK when I got it and VERY in tune, but I have now taken it clear apart. I think whoever owned it smoked cigars and drank beer while playing. The pads were brown.

The chiseling has been done by hand. Keys are bend pretty easily but show no wear or tarnish. The G3 pad recesses into the hole until the top of the pad cup is level with the outside.

There is one like it for sale for $1,000+ on ebay. Of course, it has been gone over by a pro.

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e81/Brigette41/bb8892d50ae24dd68ec809a7b0af6477_zps77096fb9.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e81/Brigette41/cafd0da2e61d4dfcae17821d36dfdca4_zps71d0e03a.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e81/Brigette41/4ce79960b28146f0a671b978a578fb56_zps9bd91eb3.jpg

http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e81/Brigette41/ea7c6ee159324b66b55dd6ab05fd825d_zpsa11cca89.jpg

Drat! I just a clarinet off ebay today (cheap and as-is). Pads are good, the case is beyond cool (clear tangerine-colored plastic handle and red velvet interior). Clarinet looks good. I dust it off, wash the mouthpiece, play an open G. It blasts the sound out there, pretty much scaring me silent. On the second try, I play an F and everything stops. Either someone has drilled out the thumb hole or it had a metal ring that is no longer there. It is unplayable.

Anyone want a clarinet with a cool case?

This is a plastic Vito that I put a couple of new pads on to make it playable. I think I\'ll glitter the whole thing in out school colors, then loan it to a student for basketball season to see how it holds up.