 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: luca1
Date: 2012-02-15 02:02
Thanks for the link David. When I was in the Backun workshop around Xmas (to have Morrie fix a few things on my Marigaux horn and my Backun Symphonie) the whole foyer was packed full of these Anigua clarinets. At the time I was not aware of them and had a good close look - I thought they'd be retailing at a much higher pricepoint! They looked very well made.
I was itchin' to give them a go!
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Author: MondeLuna
Date: 2012-02-24 05:20
Next time I'm in Vegas I might have to stop by Kessler's to try them out. I have an antigua soprano sax and I love it.
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Author: Tom Puwalski
Date: 2012-02-24 11:13
Dave,
I have one, I've been playing it. If you want a better clarinet you'll have to buy one of the Backun or Moba clarinets. The Antiqua is $1299, and you cant get a gig useable for that kind of money. I think the antiqua is every bit as good as the Leblanc by Backun Symphonie that I've played for years. The Leblancs were designed by Morrie, to my knowledge all the bodies for those were made in the now defunct Leblanc factories.
The bodies for the Antiqua clarinets are made on the same CNC machine that made my Backun Clarinet. The clarinet is then assembled in China, i know that because I was at the factory in November working out some technical things for Antiqua. So I say try it. You'll enjoy playing it and you'll enjoy paying for it.
Tom Puwalski, Backun Artist and an Antiqua Artist.
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Author: clarinet60
Date: 2012-10-04 17:58
Just curious if the Antiguas are considered large or small bore instruments?
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2012-10-04 18:36
At the beginning of this year, I acquired an Artley 32S bass clarinet which I thought to be a surprisingly good design for a student instrument. What (very) little information I was able to find about it was that evidently it had been designed in-house at Artley by Kerry Klingborg, who (I've read) is currently the director of product development at Antigua Winds.
So, even though I'm usually very leery of instruments having any connection with Chinese manufacturers, I suppose it's possible that there is some decent technical oversight (and maybe even design input) from the American side at Antigua with their clarinets.
A tangential question: Has anyone seen or played an Antigua bass clarinet, and is it essentially the same instrument as the early-90s-vintage Artley 32S that I liked?
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Author: donald
Date: 2012-10-04 19:38
I have seen some very fine Chinese instruments, both student models and professional clarinets (with excellent intonation and fine even tone). My colleague who imports these goes to great lengths to negotiate good quality materials and construction, only to find these changed every time she turns her back. The low price point is of course at the expense of workers rights, conditions and security.
That said- there is no reason why we shouldn't find excellent musical instruments coming from Chinese factories, but this is most often not the case- which is a great pity. I am sure Mr Backun goes to great lenths to ensure that quality is maintained.
Personally, I would not want to associate my name with the "Antigua" brand as their student clarinets are (or, "have been") of poor quality, only a few steps up from "CSO" level. Of course, Antigua may benefit from any confusion that follows (in my experience, confusion WILL follow, often created by those in retail...) and the reputation of Backun is so exemplary that he will suffer no ill.
dn
Post Edited (2012-10-04 23:58)
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Author: kleanbore
Date: 2014-07-26 08:07
Sorry to drag up an old thread. I just joined the list and saw this post. The Antigua bass clarinets bear no resemblance to the Artley 32S. I designed the 32S from the ground up and made a few ergonomic changes after receiving feedback from Charles Bay. After many months of research and building prototypes by hand, I never owned a 32S. I sure wish I had one.
Kerry Klingborg
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