Klarinet Archive - Posting 000204.txt from 2006/04

From: kurtheisig@-----.net
Subj: RE: [kl] Mazzeo systems once more
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 07:20:55 -0400

I once read an article where Mr Mazzeo credited Norm Benner of San Jose/Los Gatos with making keys for him.

Kurt

-----Original Message-----
>From: George Huba <ghuba@-----.com>
>Sent: Apr 19, 2006 9:58 PM
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: RE: [kl] Mazzeo systems once more
>
>Dan,
>
>To the best of my knowledge, the most advanced PRODUCTION Selmer Mazzeo
>clarinet was the Model M21 which is based on a full Boehm, Selmer Series 10
>clarinet as well as a few extra keys that Mazzeo added. The Model M21 was
>released simultaneously with a Model M10 which is regular Boehm and a Signet
>model. All three had the clutch which permits the Mazzeo Bb mechanism to be
>turned off. I believe these to be the last production models and they were
>made up through some point in the 1980s. These models are described in
>Mazzeo's book.
>
>I also own a full Boehm Series 9* which is identical to the full Boehm M21
>in its keywork with the one exception that the Mazzeo mechanism
>counterweight and clutch is fabricated differently. Oddly, a regular Boehm
>Series 9* has the same counterweight and clutch as the Model M21.
>
>On the Paris Selmer models, there were at least two different key
>fabrications which affects primarily how the Mazzeo mechanism (for alternate
>Bb) is counterweighted and adjusted. I suspect that they experimented with
>the two designs to get the correct tension and "feel" in the fingering for
>the side vented Bb.
>
>The mechanics of the Mazzeo mechanism are not particular complex but they do
>involve a few extra adjustments.
>
>After retirement, Mazzeo did custom work with several repair professionals
>in Carmel, producing a custom clarinet for himself that is now in the
>instrument museum at the University of South Dakota (you can Google for this
>and come up with a lot of pictures). What he called the California Custom
>Clarinet is described in his book and there are many pictures of it on the
>Internet. As described, and pictured, this clarinet apparently was custom
>fit (with large keys) to Mr. Mazzeo's large hands and lifetime of experience
>playing bass clarinet.
>
>In email exchanges with Sherman Friedland, he has indicated to me that over
>the years he has owned Selmer Paris clarinets from the Centered Tone series
>through the Series 10 that were fit with the Mazzeo mechanism. At least some
>of these were instruments he obtained directly from Rosario Mazzeo and I
>infer that they may not have been production line instruments. The ones that
>tend to surface for resale seem to be primarily based on Selmer Series 10 or
>9* clarinets.
>
>George
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: dnleeson [mailto:dnleeson@-----.net]
>Sent: Wednesday, April 19, 2006 6:27 PM
>To: klarinet@-----. org
>Subject: [kl] Mazzeo systems once more
>
>My Mazzeo system basset horn had a clutch on it which allowed me
>to turn off the Mazzeo B-flat and treat the instrument like a
>standard Boehm. It broke my heart that I could not use the
>Mazzeo B-flat because it was a far better note than the throat
>tone B-flat. The fact is that I was too lazy to learn it, not any
>inadequacies of the invention.
>
>If memory serves me correctly, there was a much more advanced
>version of the Mazzeo system clarinet. A buddy I had in the army
>had studied with Mazzeo and had a pair of them. His name was Tom
>Ferrante. He was a jazz tenor player as well as an excellent
>legitimate clarinetist. When we went to NY to take lessons, Dave
>Weber always called his instrument "a repairman's nightmare." I
>don't know what it cost or what it did, but it scared me half to
>death.
>
>
>Dan Leeson
>DNLeeson@-----.net
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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