 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Neil Brewitt
Date: 2001-05-21 14:57
Hi,
I am a complete Clarinet novice who has just been given one by a friend. I play guitar and keyboards and thus have at least some musical knowledge but have always fancied a go at a woodwind instrument, and now I have that opportunity.
Anyway, I thought I should try to identify my clarinet but I can't find any indentifying marks at all! The only information I can give is that the serial number is B05713 and that there is a Yamaha cleaning cloth in the case. As for the instrument's history, the previous owner has owned it since he was 16 and is now 44 and apparently before him, his father owned it, and before that it was owned by a 'famous Jazz musician'.
The clarinet seems to be made of some kind of plastic (bakelite?) and until I know a little more about clarinets in general I won't be able to give any more info. :(
Oh - one more thing - there are two reeds in the cute reed holder in the case - one marked 'Vandoren 2' and one marked 'Rico Royal 1 1/2'. The former seems older, if that's any help.
Does anyone have any idea what manufacturers use this kind of serial number, or why there is no manufacturer mark on the clarinet or its case?
Thanks in advance,
Neil.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2001-05-21 15:41
Neil -
If the horn plays okay I wouldn't worry about identifying it. You want it as a beginner instrument for now, to get the feel of it. With your musical background you'll likely progress pretty fast. Then, when you can play a few tunes pretty well, you may want to try some other horns at a music store to see if you're interested in a different one. Some nameless instruments play pretty well if they're all right mechanically.
If you're really concerned, ask a local repair technician to have a look and give an opinion. They're pretty good about giving you the straight scoop... might even be able to identify it for you.
- ron b -
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-05-21 16:35
Do get some new reeds! That Rico 1 1/2 is like playing on a piece of paper. It might even have mold on it by now! j/k! I'd recommend Rico Royal or Vandoren reeds when you're just starting out. Try strengths 2 and 2 1/2.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: elise
Date: 2001-05-22 01:54
Neil-
Congratz on entering the world of the clarinet! (We say that now...)
If it's important, the swab and the reed holders are just accessories. After years, I would (hopefully) assume that the swab has been replaced, so that's not indicative of a brand. The plastic material could be resonite. The reeds are probably centuries old--they aren't one of those things that you keep as souvenirs so I would pitch them. If you're just testing the waters, try some Rico reeds, maybe get a few different sizes--you can get them at your local music store. The beauty is that they're not too hard (especially for beginners), they're not too expensive and they're sold individually, as opposed to some others that come in boxes, although they too are also sold separately by some music stores. Depends on where you go.
Have fun!
elise
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Marjorie
Date: 2001-05-22 14:20
I have a Victory clarinet and the only numbers that I can find on it
are 2832. Can you tell me something about how old it is and what it would
be worth. today. I also have the original case.
Thank you.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-05-23 12:50
In my experience to have no identifying model or maker is almost universally a characteristic of instrumnts made in China.
Bakelite, with its slight characteristic acrid/sweet(?) smell (especially if you scrape it) and sometimes slightly greenish colour, is almost always Chinese. As far as I know most plastic instruments are ABS (acrylo-nitrile-butadiene-styrene - I love that name!) or a type of acetyl, perhaps with filler added.
A serial number consisting of a letter followed by several digits is the norm for Chinese instruments.
I don't know how long the Chinese have been making them but I owned the first Chinese flute to arrive in New Zealand, 37 years ago.
If it is Chinese the keys are likely to be well silver plated, but light in construction and easily bent, especially the "crows foot" linkage part of the F/C key. Pockets of slag in the metal and poor silver-soldering mean that keys may break easily, so handle carefully. Original (very spongy) pads are covered with an exceedingly thin membrane which quickly fractures, but they may well have been replaced. The original shellac pad and cork glue is very unreliable. Chinese clarinets sometimes have a rather unique screw adjuster on the bridge section of the A/D key. I do not wish to be negative but if it is Chinese it is probably not worth spending much servicing money on.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2001-05-23 15:32
There have been no name clarinets for at least 100 years. Prior to the Chinese influx of recent decades, they came from the US, France, Italy, eastern Europe, and who knows where else. So with no clue as to its age, it would be very difficult to pin it down to China.
Sometimes the styling of the case (if you are absolutely sure it is original) can give a clue as to the instruments age. Other times it doesn't help.
It's basically impossible to tell a clarinets age by it's appearance if it is the modern Boehm style and modern pitch. A horn that is 65 years old will often look newer and play better than one that is 5 years old that has been beat to death.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
