The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Cathy
Date: 1999-10-19 00:19
I purchased a used a used alto clarinet and after getting it overhauled I was pleasantly surprised. It is a Conn serial #72N E303975L it sounds wonderful and I would appreciate any info anyone can give me on it
Thanks lots
Cathy
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-10-19 16:30
Since I have a Conn Bass clar of about the same vintage, I'll try to help with the info. Try looking here on Sneezy under Equipment - How Old Is My? for the Conn serial #'s. I have two [differing] copied-pages from catalogs so am unsure of my bass' age , my # is 482NP339997L, which I date at 1950 [L for low pitch] , its quite good, has double register keying, no altissimo "hole" [left little finger], and no low Eb. I would place your alto's age at 1941-42. If you can describe it further, perhaps I can add to this. I have several patents from this time period, Inventor, Loney, not necessarily assigned to Conn as I recall. Will look them up, time permitting. Sounds like you may have an oldie-but-goodie. Don
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Author: Cathy
Date: 1999-10-21 01:39
Thanks a lot! Lets see how well I can describe this. The body is made of wood with no cracks or pins in it and only an few small scratches on the surface. The keywork has a moderate amount of wear on it and the bell has no wear on it at all. The register key has two parts, one at the top of the joint the other part is about 3in down.
My private instructor is impressed with the tone quality and when I auditioned for music camp this summer the judge got out a tuner to check because she couldn't believe that I was in tune!
Thanks again!
Cathy
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-10-22 16:43
Cathy - It sounds like your Conn does have the "double register keying" I referred to, prob. providing "cleaner" lower-clarion notes and better "pinch" Bb than the usual compromised "single register key" as found on my Selmer and former LeBlanc. I briefly had a Linton and a Gerard alto, both having the "DRK" which helped me, with the L and possibly yours made in France and "stencilled". I sold the L to a woman in our comm. band, she is learning and likes it, sold the more-complex G via an EBAY friend, no feedback. On my Sel, I've found that good pad-seating is almost as critical as on my bass, and that I need more "crossing-the-break" practice. Best wishes, Don
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