Klarinet Archive - Posting 000178.txt from 1995/10

From: Mitch Bassman <mbassman@-----.COM>
Subj: Malerne bass clarinet
Date: Mon, 9 Oct 1995 09:26:34 -0400

I've searched the KLARINET archives for "Malerne" and got exact zero
hits, so now I'll appeal to the experts on the list.

A couple of times a year I'm called on to double on bass clarinet. I
don't own a bass, so I've always had to borrow one. Usually I can get a
reasonably decent instrument. Someone I don't know at all (referred by a
mutual clarinet colleague) is moving and has offered to sell me his backup
bass clarinet. The markings on the body read as follows:

R M
R Malerne
Paris
Standard

The body is plastic, not wood; the upper and lower sections are combined
as one piece. There is no serial number! There is no peg; I'm not
comfortable playing bass clarinet with a neck strap, but I suppose a peg
could be added. It does have a low E-flat.

The positive aspects are that it's playable throughout the range and it
comes with a like-new Selmer case.

This is clearly a student-model instrument. The seller is asking $350.
I've borrowed it on approval for a week. So far I don't have any warm
fuzzies about this instrument. Does anyone know anything about Malerne
bass clarinets?

--Mitch Bassman
mbassman@-----.com