Klarinet Archive - Posting 000126.txt from 1999/05

From: Jack Kissinger <kissingerjn@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re: [kl] Malerne?
Date: Wed, 5 May 1999 22:39:09 -0400

Ken Wohlman asked if anyone has had any experience with clarinets
manufactured by Robert Malerne. Only a few people have responded. In
particular, Sherry Katz certainly doesn't have much good to say about them.
>From her message, however, I can't tell whether she's actually ever played
or seen one. In any case, I disagree with most of what she says.

My first wooden clarinet was a new Malerne Bb ("Professional"). My parents
surprised me with it for Christmas in 1955. I was in 5th grade. I think
they got it from the Sears catalog. In those days, Sears sold just about
everything. I also own a Malerne/Linton eefer. (Jack Linton, the current
president of Linton Woodwinds, identified and dated it for me. According to
him, all of Linton's wood clarinets were stencils.) I bought it used a
couple of years ago as a back up instrument. I take it with me on trips
where I might want a clarinet to noodle around on. Mark Charette could
probably give us the company's exact dates from Langwell's but my guess would
be that it dates back to the 30's or 40's. Whether Robert Malerne ever
worked for Buffet, I cannot say. It's quite possible. However, he was much
more than a "spare-time" clarinet manufacturer and to say that he "had his
own shop for awhile" is a considerable understatement.

The company's factory was located in the "woodwind district" outside Paris
close to the Buffet and Selmer factories. (I think Leblanc is also in the
vicinity but I'm not sure.) Again, according to Jack Linton, moonlighting
was common in that era and district so Malerne likely had more than a little
work done by the same craftsmen who were turning out Buffet and Selmer
instruments and design innovations had a way of migrating. After Buffet,
Selmer and Leblanc, Malerne was one of the largest and longst-lived French
manufacturers. Renault built a factory in this area which siphoned off much
of the area's skilled labor. This probably helped account for the demise of
many of the smaller manufacturers. While Malerne survived the Renault
factory, he was unable to interest any of his children (or anyone else) in
becoming an apprentice so the business died with him. I don't know the exact
date but I estimate the late 70's or early 80's. This is based on the facts
that my Malerne/Linton eefer was made in 1972 and that SML (Strasser,
Marigaux and Lemaire -- most well-known for their oboes and english horns)
purchased the Malerne factory around 1984.

I think that to say Malerne clarinets "were a lower grade instrument when
new" is an overgeneralization and probably a mischaracterization. For some
time before and after my Bb was made, Malerne had three lines of Bb soprano
clarinet, the "Professional," the "Intermediate" and the "Standard" (student
model). While Malernes arguably never achieved the quality (and certainly
did not achieve the reputation) of Buffets, Selmers or Leblancs in France,
my "Professional" Malerne Bb and my Malerne/Linton eefer are both well-built
instruments with good wood and sound keywork. They play fine for me and have
stood up well over time. IMO, the Bb still compares favorably with the
Buffet E11, Noblet Model 40, Selmer CL200 and Yamaha Model 34. Malernes also
generally represent good value because they sell at off-brand prices. Bb's
tend to go for $50 - $80 on eBay. I played mine for 10 years before I
finally succumbed to the lure of the R13. Then I used it as my backup for
many years. When my daughter was ready to start clarinet lessons, she used
it, studying with a clarinetist in the St. Louis Symphony. This teacher
remarked on more than one occasion how amazed she was at its good quality.
Malerne was well-respected in his day. In addition to manufacturing
instruments under his own label, he also manufactured "stencil" instruments
for Olds, Conn and Linton (and possibly others).

Whether the Malerne at Roberto's is worth $800 to you obviously depends on
what kind of condition it's in, how it plays, what else is available and how
much you/your girlfriend want to spend on a bass clarinet for a youngster.
If Malerne basses are anything like the two smaller Malerne-made instruments
I own, however, I think most doublers would find them preferable to a plastic
Yamaselbufflanc. I agree with Ed Lacy that, at the very least, it's worth a
serious look. By way of comparison, BTW, at one time Wichita Band
Instruments had two resonite Malerne basses -- one a stencil for Conn, the
other a stencil for Olds. The asking price was $695 for each. Both were in
"good playing condition" but neither had been reconditioned or even fully
repadded. They hung around for a few months but eventually both apparently
sold.

There isn't much additional information about Malerne clarinets in the
archives. However, about a year ago, Matthew Hanson posted some specific
information about Malerne/Linton bass clarinets to the list. Before you buy
a Malerne bass, you might want to check to see if his comments are also true
for bass clarinets Malerne sold under its own label. Matthew wrote (my quote
is all of the substance in his message):

"Older Linton/Malerne bass clarinets have a one piece cork tenon neck pipe
much like the Noblet bass clarinet. These necks wobble excessively when
pulled out for tuning reasons. This same design was used for Boosey & Hawkes'
Edgeware wooden bass clarinet. They usually have a broad sound and the
instrument body is thick, but
keywork is of soft metal so adjustment is a constant concern. [Note: Roger
Garrett sold a Linton/Malerne bass clarinet on eBay awhile back. His keys
were probably soft, too. They were sterling silver.) The dual pad cup for
F/C is usually present. Register mechanism is inferior and throat Bb up to E
are usually horrible due to register key placement and tube length. The hard
rubber Malernes on this design are heavy instruments and have a ponderous
sound. I wouldn't call them bad, but they are definately without a doubt very
DIFFERENT. If you find one you like, I'd suggest replacing the neck with a
Charles Bay tuning neck"

One final point. Sherry Katz wrote:

> I also think that there are used instrument dealers out there, like
> www.playitagainbob.com who have the Malerne, reconditioned, for around
> $400.

Considering how easy it is to check out such a claim, I'm surprised Sherry
didn't bother to do it. Out of curiosity, I checked and, guess what?
Playitagainbob does indeed have a reconditioned Malerne (actually it's a
Linton but Malerne made all of Linton's wooden bass clarinets). The asking
price, however, is $995.

Best regards,
Jack Kissinger
St. Louis

Ken Wolman wrote:

> My girlfriend wants to get a used bass clarinet for her son, who played
> mine a few times and has a total affinity for the thing. However, since
> I refuse to give mine away:-), I've been hunting around the City. I
> tried out a Kohlert, all wood, which I like less than my plastic
> Selmer/Bundy: the tone is thinner and very stuffy. It also would not
> take my mouthpiece: a basic Selmer would not go into the socket.
>
> Roberto's on W. 46th has TWO of them in. One is a used pro Selmer for
> $3K, in meticulously good shape; but for a student, that is a bit of
> overkill. The other is a horn with the brand-name Malerne. It's
> all-wood, too, and they want $800 for it.
>
> So does anyone have any experience with Malerne instruments? Were they
> sold under another brand name that would be more familiar. Is a used
> bass in decent shape be worth $800?
>

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