Klarinet Archive - Posting 000594.txt from 1996/03

From: Mitch Bassman <mbassman@-----.COM>
Subj: Penzel-Mueller E-flat
Date: Sat, 23 Mar 1996 15:08:32 -0500

One of my clarinet colleagues owns two e-flat soprano clarinets and is
considering selling one. (Why he has two e-fers is a very long and
irrelevant story.) He's given me the right of first refusal. I don't
really have a specific requirement for an e-flat clarinet for any
upcoming performance; I simply *want* one. I've always wanted one, and I
know that many of you understand the uncontrollable desire that we
clarinetists have to own more and more members of the clarinet family.

My friend is not sure which of the two instruments he wants to sell and
which he'll keep. He has performed on both. One is an old Buffet; the
other is an old Penzel-Mueller. He's leaning toward keeping the Buffet
"for sentimental reasons" because it was previously owned by a former
teacher of his, so he has lent me the Penzel-Mueller first for my
consideration. I'll borrow the Buffet after I have a good feel for the P-M.

I need some information from the Klarinet community. I know that
Penzel-Mueller is one of many former makers of instruments in the United
States. I have heard that they provided many instruments to military
bands in the 1930s and 1940s; in fact this clarinet was formerly owned by
*the* US Navy Band; the (original) case has both the "USN" marking and
the Penzel-Mueller medallion on it. I would like to learn whatever the
collective wisdom and experience of the members of this mailing list know
about this instrument -- it's history, quality, idiosyncracies, etc.
Yes, I've already searched the KLARINET archives for "Penzel Mueller"
with limited success. I got two hits. The more recent of the two was
from Dan L., describing "a pair of Penzel Mueller clarinets in A and
B-flat in a Baermann System" and mentioning the existence of "the Penzell
Mueller factory in Boston in the 1950s."

This is a wooden Boehm system (French style) instrument. The P-M logo:

Artist Model
Penzel-Mueller
Long Island City, NY

is engraved in the wood of each of the (four) sections (1 mouthpiece, 2
barrels, the main body, and the bell). One of the barrels has a crack
that goes through to the bore; the instrument is not playable with that
barrel. (Both barrels and the bell have "USN" stamped in the wood below
the Penzel-Mueller logo. "USN" is also stamped in the wood at the top of
the main body. Of course, the Navy Band may have added the USN mark
after buying the instrument.)

The serial number (on the main body section engraved in the wood below
the RH pinky keys) is M2055-E. The mpc is a Penzel-Mueller 3. The rings
(all of which are loose) on the two barrels and on the bell are stamped
"sterling." The characters "55" are stamped into the bottoms of three of
the little finger keys (RH F#/C# and E/B, and LH F/C). Given the silver
material of the rings, I wondered if the "55" was actually intended as
"SS"; however, the keys don't appear to be sterling silver. They are all
badly worn and scratched as through someone tried to polish them with an
abrasive, and a yellow/gold/brass color is shining through many of them.

The keywork very much like my Buffet B-flat and A clarinets except for
the throat A key, which feels more rounded. I have to concentrate to
roll my left index finger back farther that I expect to activate that key.

So, you may be wondering, how does it sound? It sounds and feels great.
I hadn't played an E-flat clarinet for about 20 years, but I went into my
stash and pulled out my old Selmer HS* E-flat mouthpiece. I assembled
the instrument, using the non-cracked barrel, and immediately tried a
chromatic scale from low E to super C. I was able to get a clear sound
for the entire range. (Well, the throat G# key sticks a little, but
that's undoubtedly not serious.) I then washed the PM3 mpc, tried it,
and liked its feel and sound better than my old HS*; that's certainly a
function of the (20-year-old) reed that I was using, but the
Penzel-Mueller 3 has the feel of a very good mpc. (By the way, I play a
1967 Ciscero Kaspar 16 on my B-flat and A.) I have not yet tested the
instrument against a tuner, but I probably haven't been playing it enough
yet to trust the stability of my E-flat chops. But I certainly had fun
playing it for the first time!

My colleague recently had the instrument worked on by the same local
expert technician whom I use. Most of the pads have been replaced, and
the little guy is in great shape (except for the cracked barrel, which
needs pinning).

Will anyone comment on the quality of Penzel-Mueller instruments in
general? I understand that they made several models and that the "Artist
Model" is (was) the top of the line. Do they have any well-know tuning
idiosyncracies that I should watch out for as my E-flat embouchure begins
to settle down? What would some of you experts expect (or be willing) to
pay for this instrument? The seller and I haven't talked price yet? If
the price is right, is this too good a deal to pass up? Should I hold
out for his Buffet E-flat (which I haven't even played yet)? (Should I
buy a bass before I buy an E-flat? I actually get calls to play bass
clarinet and always have to use a borrowed instrument.)

I eagerly await your feedback.

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