Thanks for the replies! I'll take it to a tech and see what they can do for it.
:)

It'll be a great old bass once it's fixed up, I'm sure of it. Now it's just a
matter of cost, I suppose! Eek!

Amanda.

--- In NewBassClarinetGroup@yahoogroups.com, G Major <gmajor6069@...> wrote:
>
> I also recently purchased a used bass (Selmer student model). It was
cosmetically
> pretty rough but cleaned up quite well using standard cleaning materials on
all
> of the metal parts (bell, neck). I used a more gentle cleaner for the keys. It
cleaned
> up very nice and my tech replaced some pads, adjusted the rods and keys for
about
> $125 CA. Given I only paid $400 for it and it now plays well throughout three
> registers it was money well spent.
>
> A good tech will give you an honest estimate of what it would need to get it
to
> playability. It's amazing what a few pads, some adjustments and a thorough
> cleaning can do.
>
> Good luck.
>

The blu-tak in the holes may have been put there for tuning.

Gary
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manda79au wrote:
> Hi everyone,
>
> I'm a new member, from Victoria, Australia, and recently purchased a very old
bass clarinet from ebay. I can hear you groaning from here. :) Seriously,
though, I've always wanted a bass clarinet!
>
> I paid $700 for a Cabart A Paris. The previous owner described it ok,
mentioning the modifications done to the neck (read hack-job), but failed to
mention the strange (grey / hard ) gunk in the bell, found also in some of the
holes and the blu-tak in other holes. It fails the "pressure test" - as in,
there are air leaks in at least 3 of the keys.
>
> Needless to say, it doesn't play well. (I'm a clarinet player first and
foremost, but it's been a long time since I played regularly.) I can get C D E F
G and A .. with a very poor B and no upper register. There appears to be some
hard grey gunk in the register hole in the neck. The lower notes are very
difficult to get anything from as well - that's where the blu-tak was. (Blu-tak
is a soft grey putty usually used by teens to stick posters to a wall!)
>
> Is there anyone here experienced in restoring old instruments that can give me
any pointers or tips? Failing that, what is the consensus on just cutting my
losses and selling it on? If I had all the money in the world, I would just hand
it over to a professional and get it fully restored.. but I'm not sure if that's
possible, let alone how much it'd cost.
>
> I appreciate any suggestions!
>
> Amanda.
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

Hi everyone,

I'm a new member, from Victoria, Australia, and recently purchased a very old
bass clarinet from ebay. I can hear you groaning from here. :) Seriously,
though, I've always wanted a bass clarinet!

I paid $700 for a Cabart A Paris. The previous owner described it ok, mentioning
the modifications done to the neck (read hack-job), but failed to mention the
strange (grey / hard ) gunk in the bell, found also in some of the holes and the
blu-tak in other holes. It fails the "pressure test" - as in, there are air
leaks in at least 3 of the keys.

Needless to say, it doesn't play well. (I'm a clarinet player first and
foremost, but it's been a long time since I played regularly.) I can get C D E F
G and A .. with a very poor B and no upper register. There appears to be some
hard grey gunk in the register hole in the neck. The lower notes are very
difficult to get anything from as well - that's where the blu-tak was. (Blu-tak
is a soft grey putty usually used by teens to stick posters to a wall!)

Is there anyone here experienced in restoring old instruments that can give me
any pointers or tips? Failing that, what is the consensus on just cutting my
losses and selling it on? If I had all the money in the world, I would just hand
it over to a professional and get it fully restored.. but I'm not sure if that's
possible, let alone how much it'd cost.

I appreciate any suggestions!

Amanda.

The second Isle of Raasay  bass clarinet course will take place in April 2010.

Please visit my website for more information or email me at
sarahkwatts@...

http://www.sarahkwatts.co.uk/11.html

There is also a bursary for a student to cover course fees. This bursary is open
to anyone studying music on a full time course in the UK. Please email me for
more information on how to apply.

I'm also happy to answer any questions via this posting.

It's going to be a great course again on a very beautiful and unique island in
the Inner Hebrides of Scotland.