 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: chogue
Date: 2000-02-11 19:52
I'm a former alto clarinetist who is back to playing Bb because my community band directors think altos are outmoded. (??!!) I miss that left pinkie fingering for Ab/G# and Eb/D# -- plus I am looking to upgrade the plastic student model I'm playing. I assume that the extra left pinkie key comes only on clarinets that are full Boehm system (with low Eb). Is that true? What brands/models come as full Boehm -- and how much might they cost used? How easy are they to find? I saw a "Luxus" clarinet on e-Bay recently that was full Boehm ... and missing the little key for alternate Eb/D# and A#/Bb on the upper joint. I followed the prevailing Sneezy advice and did not bid because it was not produced by one of the Big 4 clarinet makers.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-02-11 19:56
The full Boehm clarinets are rare in the US; however, the aux. Ab/Eb key is relatively common on the "Regular" (not full Boehm) clarinets; it is an option on most pro lines, and standard on some models.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-02-11 21:11
There are generally four additions to the usual 17 key / 6 ring clar, often the first two are the "articulated" C#/G# and the 7th ring and small pad to give a "fork" Eb/Bb fingering. Also the "alternate" Ab/Eb lever may be the only addition. The 4 th is the extension and keying to give a low Eb [and fair Bb]. Cl's like these show up on EBAY occasionally and the majors sell them new on their best horns. I have several and play them when the music demands, they can simplify difficult fingerings. Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chogue
Date: 2000-02-11 21:54
So how much might a used horn with the extra LH Ab/Eb key cost?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: paul
Date: 2000-02-11 22:24
The cost of an 18 key soprano clarinet depends on lots of factors. The LH Ab/Eb key isn't a new invention at all, but recent vintage premium pro grade horns have it. I believe the LeBlanc Opus has it. I know my 1994 Buffet Festival has it. I believe it can be ordered as an extra cost option on many of the big 4 brand (Buffet, LeBlanc, Selmer, Yamaha) and custom brand (Peter Eaton, Rossi) pro grade horns.
A rule of thumb is that you take the retail price of the horn brand new and cut it in half for a used horn. However, that may not apply to the current generation of premium pro grade horns, because I don't believe that the used equipment market for these horns has had much time to get established.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Rob
Date: 2000-02-11 23:37
I think the laft hand Ab/Eb lever is standard on the Selmer Signature, Leblanc Opus and Leblanc Symphonie VII. If you look in the Leblanc catalog ,they also have a section called "special mechanisms" in which they offer lots of different configurations of additional keywork beyond the standard 17 key/6 ring. Right now on eBay there is an old Buffet full boehm up for auction and no one has bid on it yet, though it looks like a new listing. It looks (in the picture) pretty sweet. I have a very old buffet full boehm and I like it an awful lot. I picked it up very cheap ($200.00) last year. I don't know for sure anything about the current Buffet models, but I'm pretty sure a couple of them offer the left hand Ab/Eb lever as standard. You may also want to look at the classifieds here on sneezy because there are usually a couple of used clarinets for sale with some manner of additional keywork. The Windplayer cladssifieds usually have a couple too.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chogue
Date: 2000-02-12 01:25
Yikes! The $1,500 they want for that Buffet Prestige on e-Bay is out of my price range. Maybe I'll have to live without that left-hand alt. Ab/Eb key!
Rob wrote:
-------------------------------
I think the laft hand Ab/Eb lever is standard on the Selmer Signature, Leblanc Opus and Leblanc Symphonie VII. If you look in the Leblanc catalog ,they also have a section called "special mechanisms" in which they offer lots of different configurations of additional keywork beyond the standard 17 key/6 ring. Right now on eBay there is an old Buffet full boehm up for auction and no one has bid on it yet, though it looks like a new listing. It looks (in the picture) pretty sweet. I have a very old buffet full boehm and I like it an awful lot. I picked it up very cheap ($200.00) last year. I don't know for sure anything about the current Buffet models, but I'm pretty sure a couple of them offer the left hand Ab/Eb lever as standard. You may also want to look at the classifieds here on sneezy because there are usually a couple of used clarinets for sale with some manner of additional keywork. The Windplayer cladssifieds usually have a couple too.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Sherwood W. Franklin
Date: 2000-02-13 19:26
Patricola makes a 7 ring - 20 Key Bb clarinet. I was told on my visit to the Buffet factory last October that Buffet also makes a 7 ring - 20 key Bb clarinet but that it is for the Italian and Russian markets. I have a full Boehm Buffet, SN 22516 that I have had since new in 1941. It's a wonderful clarinet. I have asked the question before that it would seem that there would be a market in the US for a 7 ring - 19 key Bb clarinet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-02-14 16:49
Re: SWF's question. I believe the F B motivations earlier, obviously for transposing A parts, were to avoid the cost of a second cl and to not have to change horns with the mp and reed problems associated. I have an old Pruefer [single-body] 19/7, lacking the low Eb, otherwise FB, well-engineered, needs my TLC!!, so they do exist, but were prob. not very "popular" back then. Some of our "good books" should discuss these "special-mechanism" cl's. Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chogue
Date: 2000-02-21 22:07
Rob wrote:
-------------------------------
Right now on eBay there is an old Buffet full boehm up for auction and no one has bid on it yet, though it looks like a new listing. It looks (in the picture) pretty sweet. I have a very old buffet full boehm and I like it an awful lot. I picked it up very cheap ($200.00) last year.
-------------------------------
Today, Feb. 21, the bidding closed on that "pretty sweet" looking old Buffet for $2,000. YIKES. Is this really the going price???
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-02-21 23:34
chogue wrote:
-------------------------------
Today, Feb. 21, the bidding closed on that "pretty sweet" looking old Buffet for $2,000. YIKES. Is this really the going price???
------
Well, I wouldn't pay $2000 for it - I'd keep looking. But it was worth $2000 to someone unless there's a bogus bid on it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
