Hello! I am looking to get back into playing again after a 9 year absence. I need help getting information about one of the clarinets I have now because I can't find info anywhere!

One of the clarinets is a Val's Artist. It is a wood clarinet. I have had it for 13 years and purchased it from an older man who had it for goodness knows how long. There is no model number, just s 'bg' on the mouthpiece. Where does this brand, Val's Artist, fit on the scale of clarinets? I mean, from Venus to Buffet? Is it worth getting it overhauled or should I just buy new (I could only afford a pro cibaili right now....)

Oh, and the other is my first clainet and is 16 years old and is a Vito (upside down triangle, rectangle with sta, fire hydrant, circle pattern on bell) with a number 2. It's most definately plastic and you could see yourself in its reflection.

I would greatly appreciate any info you can give about this val's artist brand. Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Additional Details
I bought it off a musician who had various instruments for $120 13 years ago. I mean, if it's wooden doesn't that mean it's a better quality than a plastic clarinet?

thanks for the reply- I didn't think I'd get a chance this week but I took the clarinet to a music store where they do on site repair and the repairman was able o tell me it was made in france, probably at the time most likely an intermediate level clarinet and that is was definately worth doing any necessary repairs rather than buy a new one. He also recommended I send it to a third party place they work with to get repadded, recorked, polished, etc. So the mystery has partially been solved... I just wish that I knew something more about the Val's Artist brand. There has to be SOMEONE that's heard of it!! The only other info I have is it's got 1714 carved into the back bottom of the two main body pieces.

I suspect that your clarinet is what is known as a "stencil". Many of these were made in France in years gone by. They were made by various instrument makers for particular retail companies. I have a "stencil" made by F. Buisson of Paris for the Dallas Company of London England. Dallas purchased all of Buisson's production to sell itself. No other company sold them.
I think your instrument may be a "stencil" made for a retail company called Val's Artist. The number you mention is the serial number of the clarinet.
If it sounds good when you play it, it matters not who made it.