Expert: Gale Mack - 7/5/2006

Question
I bought a clarinet at a garage sale in 1974. My son saw it and said Mom please. How could I resist. He has played it for years, I just had it re corked and repadded and gave it to him for his birthday present. He was delighted to have it back and at 28 Years old stil derives pleasure playing. What I would like to know is, that pretty cherrywood looking clarinet with the serial number 148693 old and used up or should I keep repadding etc. if it is an antique. It is beautiful and he has always made it sound so wonderful. Thank you, Barbara in Tennessee

Answer
Barbara,

I don't know how old the clarinet is, but you can go to a music store or a repairperson who has an Allen Band Instrument book and they can tell you when the instrument was made.

Old instruments, if they play well, are always worth fixing up.  I've played clarinets and saxophones that are almost 100 years old and they play well and parts can still be gotten.  The cherry wood does look nice; I've seen several like that.  I don't know how many were made, but the Allied book will tell you.

Hope this helps.

Musically,
Gale Mack