 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Phurster
Date: 2012-08-17 08:21
I've come across an old Albert system instrument. I would love to have one, purely for the historical value. It was made in Paris and I think it said Durant or Durand on it. Any idea of how much I should expect to pay?
Chris.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-08-17 08:48
Very little as they don't really have much commercial value.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2012-08-17 11:46
AFAIK Robert Durand was just a stencil name so this clarinet would be even less valuable. Some Albert system horns do have value eg. the Selmer Improved Alberts from the 1930s which are something of a collectors item and are also fine clarinets. Most french Alberts, even Buffets, aren't worth a lot (although people sometimes ask outrageous prices) and aren't great clarinets. You can probably find a Conn Albert that will be just as good for $50 or less. I've rarely seen a standard early C20 french Albert that I'd give more than $50 - 100 for (if in good condition).
If you do buy one to play make sure it's LP, has the patent C# and Barret action. Avoid the simple system unless you are just collecting. And if you're thinking Albert's are "Jazz horns" - they're no better for jazz than a standard boehm. In fact they're worse because unless you have an improved model (5 - 6 rings, extra keys etc) you have fewer fingering options therefore less flexibility (unless you're Ed Hall).
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-08-17 12:12
Not all simple system clarinets have Barret action fitted, but do look for ones with ring keys for LH fingers 1 and 2 as that makes the F# better tuned without having to use the side F/C key which can be awkward.
Barret action is fitted on some simple system clarinets to the top joint (rings for LH 2 and 3) which has a single side key for Eb/Bb and F/C instead of separate side keys - makes for easy Db-Eb/Ab-Bb and Eb-F/Bb-C trills. Clinton system clarinets have the Barret system on the top joint.
Conservatoire system on oboes has evolved from the Barret system (but uses the closure of RH1 to operate it instead of a side key) which is still found on thumbplate system oboes that have the single side key for trilling with (but with no linkage from LH3 to the mechanism).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: chris moffatt
Date: 2012-08-17 12:40
Chris: I standcorrected - when I said Simple System I meant a horn without rings on the upper stack - just a simple brille. Sorry if my terminology is imprecise; over here they're all just "alberts" and I wanted to point out the difference
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-08-17 13:37
Simple/Albert systems do vary from maker to maker and also within the same make depending on how much they were priced (check out an old clarinet catalogue from the late 1800s/early1900s and you'll see the variety on offer) - so you may find the most basic doesn't have any rings on the top joint and some don't have the patent C#, the most popular has the patent C# either with or without top joint rings and the high end ones usually have various rings and gadgets (improved F# and Barret action) as well as some fitted with the LH Ab/Eb and articulated C#/G#.
If you're looking for the holy grail of simple/Albert systems, then a Selmer 'Improved Albert System' is the one of choice - but they were built in both LP and HP (and not always marked as such), so make sure you check it against a tuner calibrated at 440Hz to see if it's in tune if you come across one. Someone brought a metal one over to me not so long ago, but it turned out to be high pitch which was a real shame.
But if you're after a modern day non-Boehm (which is a development of the simple/Albert system), then the German style clarinets from the basic 17/18 key 6 ring German system right up to full Oehler systems (27 keys 5 rings) are there which will set you back a considerable sum (even the basic ones from the top makers are expensive).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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