Interested in buying a used clarinet or saxophone?

         I am available to you  - no matter what you choose.

            Jean  Powell     DBA  Jean Powell Music

I have lived and taught privately in the Baraboo Area for the past 40 years –

 shop local

Email:  Jeanpowellmusic@gmail.com       


       608 356-7081            

  Clarinets and Saxophones are readily available from family, friends and on the internet. 

Purchasing a good instrument at a reasonable price is a challenge. 

Clarinets and Saxophones are extremely sensitive;

keeping them in good working condition is a bigger challenge. 

Not all technicians will fix them correctly. 

Here’s what to look for -

Clarinet:  Good cork around the tendons. 

Clean, white and unfrayed pads.   

Wood clarinet, no cracks (from tendon or from key holes). 

If plastic, no chips. 

Is it a name brand? 

There are lots of poor quality clarinets out there.

Most of them need work.  

Brands I like: Leblanc, Normandy, Vito, Selmer, Buffet. 

                  
Saxophones:  good cork on neck. 

Light colored pads under the keys. (the darker the pads, the older they are),  dents, particularly at the support posts. 

Again, there are lots of poor quality saxophones on the market.  

Saxophone repairs are expensive...

Brands I like:  Selmer, Buffet, Yamaha.

Before you buy - ask to take it out on approval. 

If they won’t do that, walk away. 

I am available to evaluate your potential purchase. 

If you have not had that instrument played by someone who knows and understands these instruments, you are asking for trouble. 

You cannot tell by looking at it if it has problems. 

My goal is to help you have a good instrument. 

This service is FREE.

If you are purchasing for a beginner, you want this instrument to be in

the best playing condition you can. 

Just because someone played it previously, does not guarantee your beginner

will not have problems. 

Once you purchase, here is what your future costs will be -

Base rate of making your instrument playing condition from a GOOD technician:  $50. 

It goes up from there if pads or corks need to be replaced. 

Aligning a clarinet or saxophone takes time…the cost starts at $50.  

                       Average repair on used clarinets and Saxophones                                 the minimum work - $100-$250.

                  A complete overhaul (corks, pads and playing condition)                                       clarinet - $250, Alto Saxophone - $450.

A Silk swab for cleaning the inside.

A new case (nothing more embarrassing for a student than having an old case). 

A good mouthpiece – Not always the one that comes with the instrument.

MIMIMUM maintenance the first year - $50+ (remember the cost of an overhaul)

purchase price        ???????

new case                  40.00
new mouthpiece       30.00
silk swab                  10.00
playing condition    45.00+
repairs - first year   50.00+
 First year estimate    175.00
 + low estimated for first year.

This cost is definite – no matter what happens the first year -

It’s yours and reselling is not easy. 

Maintenance will continue each year.

What I recommend:

First: let’s discuss what you are interested in doing.  If you are serious about using an instrument from the family, friends or buying used, I can help you.  You wouldn’t put your child behind the wheels of a used car without having a knowledgeable person make sure it’s in good mechanical condition, so don’t give your student a poor working instrument.  There are some really nice used instruments out there – and there are lots of terrible instruments out there…  I have seen moldy instruments, pad worms, and broken instruments.....        

Let me help you.    

This service is FREE

Second:  I recommend renting the first year.  Your student will have a good instrument in playing condition.  If your student decides to play another instrument, or drops band (Aghh), you are only out what you’ve paid for the rental.  I offer good quality instruments at a reasonable price.

Third:  I have rental instruments available.  I contract with Music and Arts in Muskego (south of Milwaukee).  This company that has done the repairs on my personal (and fellow musicians) instruments for the past 30+ years.  Rental Instruments are available on line. 

I also have a limited stock here in Baraboo.  Please see the attached tab on Renting from me for rates.  You can rent by the month .  My instruments are in top playing ondition!  

Be sure to include the LDW (Liability Damage Waiver) to take care of things that happen to the instrument - which means if anything goes wrong with this instrument, we provide you a loaner instrument and take care of the repairs.  A top quality beginning mouthpiece is included in your rental.