 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill
Date: 2000-10-02 13:35
I picked up the following clarinet: "Marigaux, Made by SML." I estimate it was made anywhere from late 40s to mid-50s. These clarinets are supposed to be good. Mine came with a register key broken in half and abrasion/deterioration to the first tone hole at the top of the lower joint (defining the bell as the "bottom"). I liquid soldered the register key (still not functional---need to get another one) and built up the damaged tone hole surface with a mixture of wood dust and glue (I know---purely sub-professional activity!!!). This is the nicest-sounding clarinet I've ever had in my hands. Pardon the useless subjectivity, but I couldn't believe the feel and sound of this instrument. Dark like a Buffet but without the thin upper register, flexible like an older Selmer but with more body, interesting like very old clarinets off-brand clarinets but with the bottom tones filled in. Exceeded expectations---wait till I get a REGISTER KEY on this one!!! (Anyone have a spare one to sell?)
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Author: jbutler
Date: 2000-10-03 01:01
Strasster-Marigeaux-LeMaire woodwinds are of superb quality. It was a small shop of mostly very experienced craftsmen (about 30 I've been told) Very under rated as far as I'm concerned. The King Co imported a few of their instruments back in the 70's until the company went out of business. Check the sax BB's about SML's. The sax players go nuts over a good vintage SML sax. Sorry about the key problem. I could probably silver solder (actually brazeing) it together for you. Not a complicated job. Any good repair tech can handle the operation. Look for one in your area.
J. Butler
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Author: William
Date: 2000-10-03 15:01
Check out this web site: http://www.sml-marigaux.com/anglais/Clarinette.htm
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Author: Dave
Date: 2000-10-03 15:01
you got that right about a sax player going nuts over SML! That's me here, I played on a the gold edition of their sax and a few of the horns prduced under the king name. Very sweet sax, their clarinets are very awesome. Their saxes are the true competitors of the Mark VI, their clarinet rate up there with Leblanc's high ends. I still like buffet as they are more versitile for jazz and classical, while I felt the SML to be very jazz oriented (my opinion of course). Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't SML still make high end double reed instruments?
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