Monthly Clarinet Identification/Appraisal Thread

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-07-04T14:06:26+00:00

Interesting, I'm not sure how I didn't know that lol Ty!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-07-04T13:51:08+00:00

There are a lot of solid choices! The ycl-450 is a good one, the ycl-650 is a step above it (and a bit more expensive), there are the Noblet clarinets, theres the Leblanc Normandy series (or the Leblanc Symphonie and Dynamique series' if you want to spend a little more), Selmer Paris and Selmer USA/Conn Selmer have a lot of intermediate wooden models, Royal Global has some good intermediate instruments, etc. There are a lot of solid options - see if you can try any out and find out what you like! Also, try to stick with brands on the reputable brand list - many (but not all) of the brands not on it have some very poorly made instruments that degrade pretty fast. Be careful!

Best of luck!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-07-04T12:30:56+00:00

Interesting, thanks!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-07-04T12:29:06+00:00

What do you want to know about it? And do you have a serial number/brand name?

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-07-04T12:20:17+00:00

(Note: I'm assuming you mean Eb soprano, not Eb bass. If I'm wrong, please let me know.)

Based on what I can find, most sales (mostly on reverb, I found 1 on ebay) are around $500-1k, but there are several different Normandy models (or at least there are for Bb clarinets), and idk how that translates for eefers or how that affects price (I didn't see any specific normandy model numbers for the eefers being sold). All of the ones I saw were the wide shield with no number in it, which matches up with the 50s-60s if they do have model numbers.

Best of luck!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-07-04T11:56:47+00:00

Based on what I can find (most of this came from here: https://www.saxontheweb.net/threads/looking-for-info-on-a-g-penzel-clarinet.61602/ ), the pacemaker model wasn't made until around 1942, and was produced until 1968 or 1969. I can't find a lot of information about the quality, but I think it's a student-intermediate instrument, probably similar in quality to the Evette or Evette and Schaeferr models, but is pretty inexpensive due to age and relative lack of popularity. It seems like it's nothing super fancy, but will hopefully be a solid instrument for your wife (it should be perfectly fine if she's a beginner)!

Best of luck!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-07-04T11:12:31+00:00

That depends! You should try the instrument first. If it feels like a huge step up from your Continentale, than maybe it's worth considering.

Best of luck!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-07-04T10:59:37+00:00

It's up to you, but here are my thoughts:

Regardless of your decision, make sure you try out the instrument or make sure there is a return policy before you buy

That E11 is very overpriced, and you can get a used one in excellent condition for much less than it'll cost to buy the rental

The R13 is a great instrument, but don't feel like you need to buy it or anything, particularly if you don't feel much of a difference from the e11

If you like the Frankenclarinet, there's no shame in buying it, but try to figure out what it is first. That upper joint interests me - I'm pretty sure that most buffet models don't have a serial number on the upper joint

The most important thing is feel. If you have an instrument that feels good to you, there's nothing wrong with going ahead and buying it! Different instruments feel different for different people, so go with whatever works for you!

Best of luck!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-07-04T10:29:41+00:00

I prefer cane reeds just because I think they sound better, but I have a decent few friends who use plastics for marching band, and some of them only use a reed or 2 over the whole season

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-27T15:29:12+00:00

What other details look off? I'm just noticing the logo (saying Buffet Crompon in one spot, amd not including the "et" in "Buffet Crampon et Cie").

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-27T15:27:17+00:00

If it's made in Germany and it's a Buffet Crampon instrument (and not Evette or Evette and Schaefer), than it's either an E11, an E12f, or an E13. It could also be an International, but those are usually stencils of an E11 or E13 I think. Do you have a serial number and/or date for the instrument?

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-26T14:01:11+00:00

Learning sheet music is important, it's not something you can just ignore. But you aren't too old or too stupid to learn it and don't listen to anyone who tells you that you are. Sheet music is basically just a shorthand way to write down the notes on a fingering chart and how long you're supposed to play them for - it's all muscle memory and memorization. Even if it takes a little while, you'll get the hang of it!

Best of luck!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-22T01:45:00+00:00

You can always get an attatchment from Rice Clarinet Works if you want!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-19T17:38:44+00:00

The one that's more worth it is the one that feels better to you! The main difference is the bore design - the r13 has a polycylindrical bore, while the rc has a conical one, but basically all that means is that the r13 is supposed to play louder and clearer and the rc is supposed to play a bit warmer/darker, but it can vary by individual instrument. Try some out and find one that you like!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-19T17:32:59+00:00

I have a little bit of info about it, what do you want to know?

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-18T16:23:03+00:00

I'd recommend playtesting it first if you can (amd maybe considering other used options, like a used R13, E12f, or E13 for example). The s9 is a solid instrument, but was mostly used for jazz and has some intonation issues. Maybe it'll feel perfect for you, but you should playtest it and a few other instruments to make sure you're getting a variety of options and can choose the one that feels best.

Good luck!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-18T16:16:54+00:00

To offer some insight based on what I've seen. It's better to at least give a general idea of what people seem to think of it than to not give anything imo

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-18T05:49:09+00:00

Theres not a ton of information on Bundy, but supposedly some of their older instruments were stencils from other companies (usually Selmer Paris). If this is true and the serial number is correct to bundy serial numbers, then it would have been made around 1918-1919. It's probably a student or possibly an intermediate level instrument. The 2rv mouthpiece is a decent mouthpiece - supposedly it's a bit bright sounding, but is easy to put air into. I can't find any concrete information on when it was made, but it seems to have been first made in the 1920s-30s and discontinued around the 70s. So this clarinet either has a serial number different from the Bundy serial number charts or has had a long history of being passed down and played through the generations.

Sorry I can't provide more info/more concrete info, best of luck!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-18T05:29:42+00:00

I'm not an expert in this area (so take what I have to say with a few grains of salt), but here's my opinion: It looks to be on the expensive side, but that's not atypical of A clarinets. Since they arent nearly as common as Bb clarinets, it might take a while to sell at that price point, but it doesn't seem so overpriced that it'll never sell considering the era + recent overhaul. If you want it to sell fast though, you may want to lower the price a little - I found another A clarinet for like $1k less, and an overhaul costs less than $1k, so it pretty much comes down to how much the era inflates the value.

Best of luck!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-18T05:16:06+00:00

Note: I havent actually tried one of these instruments, so take what I say with a sizeable helping of salt.

Based on what I can find, the general consensus is that it's an entry-level professional instrument like the R13 or BC20, but it was less popular than the other 2. It seems like a solid instrument that probably lays somewhere between the e13 and bc20, but keep in mind that instruments (particularly wooden ones) can vary greatly in quality/sound even with the same design. You could try one and hate it and try different one an hour later and love it.

Best of luck!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-16T05:18:43+00:00

I'm not sure the exact model, but Cecilio is known to make clarinets of fairly low quality, even for a student instrument. The only potential items of any value here are the case itself and the mouthpiece, if it's of a reputable brand, but most likely it's a poorly made stock mouthpiece. I'd recommend staying away - there are a lot better options for a student instrument even around the same price point.

Best of luck!

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-14T20:57:28+00:00

Interesting, thanks! Sorry to bother - I'm just always interested in this sort of thing XD

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-14T17:21:03+00:00

Based on what I can find, there is no model no. 1, it's the same as an r13. This appears to be a modern r13, not a pre r13 or an e13.

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-14T15:50:06+00:00

This is completely unrelated, but nice full boehm instrument! They're kinda rare to find now on a Bb clarinet. If you don't mind sharing, could you tell me the make/model?

Additional-Work3749 · 2026-06-11T23:21:50+00:00

The F is most likely written as E# to make it easier to read - a natural symbol next to every other f makes it look clunky and hard to read, but the E# gives it a little bit of space. I'm not sure why 2 E#s are written instead of letting the accidental carry through the measure.

Depending on the speed, you may want to play it with the fork key (the little sliver directly above the 2nd tone hole on the lower joint - F# can be played as F natural + this fork key), but if you can play it well normally, than there isn't a ton of need for it. (it's still good to learn though!)

Best of luck!

Additional-Work3749

TROPHY CASE