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Author: happyamateur
Date: 2003-03-25 12:46
I recently purchased out of England a pair of LP (Bb and A) Boosey instruments that turned out to be made in 1928. The seller told me that a relative had played professionally in a theatre orchestra, and I believe that the quality of these instruments and the obvious care taken of them (they are immaculate) lends credence to this story. I'm thinking that, because '28 seems really late for a simple system instrument and because the serial numbers are consecutive that these may have been custom made for the owner. My question to all you albert/simple system players is this: why might a professional player choose to play ss instead of albert or boehm? By the way, the intonation is really good (A plays a bit sharp, but it could be something other than the instrument, i.e. me), and the keywork is some of the most beautiful-to-look-at that I've seen. The wood is close and straight-grained and has that lovely reddish cast that you sometimes see in old instruments, and their are numberous interesting construction features. Happy to have them despite their rather shocking (for ss instruments) cost. Oh, and the case is heavy leather with thick felt wrap-around blankets - never seen one like this, either.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-03-25 13:32
"Simple system" means different things to different people.
With a design that is pre-Boehm or Albert, are they Müller Clarinets (13 keys), or are they five- or six-key instruments of earlier design? Or even fewer keys? If Müller-style, do they have the two "spectacle" rings on the lower joint? Perhaps the added Patent C#? Etc....
Thanks and regards,
John
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