How often do you see Hohner Clavinets (D6, E7) for sale?

[coloradobenedic]

Just a simple question- we'd really like to pick one up for our keys/organ player, but I hardly ever see them, even on eBay, etc..

Are they just too cool for anyone to ever want to sell one? Or am I looking in the wrong place? Finally, what would be a reasonable price range for say a D6 in decent working condition- around a grand?

Thanks in advance!
:beer

[aeolian]

Have you ever tried to pick one up and move it? The whole thing is almost solid wood. And by now, most of them have probably broken down. They were never the most robust thing back in the 70's. Action was super basic, and they were a complete PITA to keep in tune.

[mj07]

They actually aren't too heavy-they're not solid at all.(Solidly built-yes) I'd say around a grand would be a fair price assuming it works well and everything is fairly clean. I lucked out and picked up a NOS one in box a year or so back. I play out with one I bought ten years ago and have only had to change hammertips and the occasional string. Never really had tuning problems with any of mine, either. I have several. I've seen a few pop up on the bay, but I hate to say it is a little bit of a gamble not hearing them first. Finding someone to service these is not the easiest thing to do. Love the clav - it is my main instrument, even before guitar.(I guess I let the cat out of the bag that I'm a keys player in guitarists clothing-ha) Try googling craigslist clavinet, you never know.

[coloradobenedic]

Yup yup- all this sort of sounds like what I expected to hear. The darn things are just so funky sounding though, so it's hard to not seek them out... Is there a particular modern equivalent/simulator (ala Nord) that anybody might recommend? Our originals are sort of funky, bastardized jazz stuff- ala Jimmy Smith, Medeski Martin & Wood, New Mastersounds, etc... so a funky Clav sound would really be nice to add!....

[coloradobenedic]

Hah, and by the way mj07- feel like parting with any of your Clavs? :P

[mj07]

The clav on the nord can sound convincing in the mix if a real wah is used and with a little time tweaking. I take the nord out when I need a clav and rhodes tone on the same gig. Totally passable imo. If I end up a clav heavy, I'll let you know. Sounds like we play similar sort of stuff-

[aeolian]

Haven't played a real Clav in years, and the very light action is kind of unique to them, but the sound in my Motif reacts pretty faithfully. Once you adapt to the synth action, you can work the voicing and get the funky variations in tone on different notes as you can with a real one.

[Dubious]

When i lived in toronto there was usually at least one available in 1 of two stores at any time. usually in the 700 - 1k range depending on condition

I have a hohner electric piano and the thing is not that heavy at all.. especially compared to my Rhodes