 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Alyson
Date: 2001-09-19 11:19
My Dad has just given me his old clarinet from about 35 years ago and I am trying to figure out what it is. It is wooden and is marked" Excella " It was made in France. Can anyone help me out with some info on this?
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Author: Kathy Beatty
Date: 2001-09-19 17:40
I used to own one of these. My father purchased for me, used from a pawnshop, in 1966. It was probably made in the 1950s. It is wooden, but the keywork is very clunky and unresponsive - student grade. It's an okay student instrument, but not to be confused with a quality wooden clarinet. I gave mine away to a musical instrument drive sponsored by a television station here (Denver), where they collect donated instruments, get them fixed up, and donate the to the public schools.
Kathy
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Author: Kathy Beatty
Date: 2001-09-19 17:46
More info:
A couple of years ago, I tried to research this instrument and was unsuccessful. I never was able to find out the maker.
My instrument had unusual tone-hole rings - flat-topped, with angled sides, as opposed to rounded, as has been true on every other clarinet I've ever seen.
When I was in Jr. High (1966-1968), I remember seeing this model for sale, new, in the Montgomery Ward catalog - more indication that it is a bottom-of-the line instrument.
Kathy
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Author: Alyson
Date: 2001-09-20 06:04
Thanks for the info. I think I will overhaul it myself and save it for my son to play when he is old enough!
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2001-09-20 13:12
Just overhauled and shipped an excella today. Made by Strasser Marigaux Limited or SML who are more noted for their very fine oboes, cors and ooboe D'amours and who have made some very fine clarinets and still do. They de-tooled from making A clarinets 15 or so years ago which was a real pity.
Fine horns although a little dead on low G and middle D with nice chunky German silver keywork which if set up correctly will be better than student level. The spring weights are really important and take a bit of thought. Get it overhauled by somebody who knows clarinets and you will find it to be a good horn. Leather pads work the best on this type of horn.
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