Klarinet Archive - Posting 000019.txt from 2002/11

From: "WILLIAM SEMPLE" <wsemple@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Strange clarinet
Date: Fri, 1 Nov 2002 12:23:00 -0500

I've got an idea. Go on eBay, buy a used instrument for $50 and everyone
will be better off.

I find the sales on eBay to be very interesting. But in truth I would never
buy an instrument this way unless a) it was really cheap and b) had a decent
serial number. There is a mid 1950's R-13 for sale freshly overhauled that
looks intriguing.

If my Schaller horn is any indication, this generation of Buffet produces a
stunningly cultured, centered, clear tone that is different from the more
rounded, visceral sound I get from my new R-13.

Let's see. I liken the Schaller horn to a cup of French Roast vs the new
horn, a cup of Espresso. :)

----- Original Message -----
From: <LeliaLoban@-----.com>
Subject: [kl] Strange clarinet

> James Hobby wrote,
> >What puzzled me is that there's absolutely no marking
> >anywhere on the instrument. No indicia of manufacturer,
> >no serial number. Nothing! It looks like some type of
> >composition material. The side trill keys have the "boxy"
> >look similiar to the old (1960ish) Leblanc student models.
> >The sides of several of the keys look like they have smears
> >of glue or something on them. I did what I could to make
> >the instrument playable (or reasonably playable) and gave
> >them the name of a good clarinet repairman -- who may
> >never speak to me again. <g>
>
> >Not counting for the abuse the instrument appears to have taken,
> >has anyone ever seen one made like this, with no markings?
> >(None on the case, either, BTW.) It has me stumped.
>
> Yes, I see unmarked instruments often, at flea markets. Sometimes they're
> marriages of parts from different instruments. Maybe it's got the barrel
> from a clarinet that was marked only on the bell, and the bell from a
> clarinet that was marked on the barrel, for instance. Maybe somebody
> replaced the tenon rings in the course of some other butchery to make the
> replacement parts fit with the rest.
>
> Or . . . I wonder if your student has a Chinese clarinet. They have no
> serial numbers or permanent markings, and they come out of China by way of
> India, Pakistan and Russia (this from a flea market dealer I know well
enough
> for her to tell me the truth). The brand name and export stickers are
paper,
> easily (and usually!) removed. Sometimes stores stick house brand labels
> onto the case and clarinet. Most of the Chinese clarinets I see are not
> Boehm system (they're horrible, imitation simple system instruments,
almost
> toys, probably unplayable, with red pads and red thread on the tenons),
but
> the Chinese do export better (but still bad) Boehm system clarinets that
look
> much the way you describe.
>
> I assume this clarinet has corks and real clarinet pads or you would have
> said something about them, but your mention of glue on the sides of the
keys
> makes me wonder whether someone has replaced the original pads and corks
that
> were dead giveaways to the parentage of the earliest generation of Chinese
> Boehm system clarinets. If the repairman replaces any corks or pads, ask
if
> he sees any residue of red color inside a pad cup or on a tenon. The
first
> generation of Chinese student Boehm system clarinets had red plastic pads
and
> red thread on the tenons, like the junky "antique" models of today. Red
pads
> have become such notorious indicators of the lowest of low quality that it
> would make sense for the company or an exporter to get rid of old stock by
> concealing the origin. Similarly, the next wave of Chinese clarinets had
> corks, but *white* plastic pads that weren't real clarinet pads and didn't
> seal adequately. The keywork on the Chinese clarinets I've seen is
> exceptionally flimsy, BTW, although the metal on the Boehm system models
> seems considerably better than on the simple system "antique" models.
>
> Hope this helps,
> Lelia
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
>

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