 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: CalypsoFlamingo
Date: 2004-07-14 15:31
HI!
I have been out of the music scene for quite some time, but was very proficient in clarinet "back in the day"... I am going to pick up the clarinet again after about 15 years and I happened to come across a SELMER SIGNET MAZZEO MODEL SPECIAL wood clarinet. I've also got a Selmer Bundy resonite coming to me just to play with. I'm looking at a CONN as well, and I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about these and/or has an opinion on their quality and sound. I have yet to play it, it is en route to me, and I'm anxious for opinions since I could find nothing online regarding a comparison of this particular clarinet versus others. Please feel free to email me at: CalypsoFlamingo@att.net
Thanks,
Stephanie
Post Edited (2004-07-15 04:44)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: allencole
Date: 2004-07-15 06:31
The Signet is the highest ranking model of the three horns you mentioned. The Mazzeo mechanism should be fun to fiddle around with, but you should be able to disengage it if it gets in your way. I'm jealous!
Allen Cole
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2004-07-15 07:35
When they're in good condition, Stephanie, the instruments you [will] have are all pretty good.
Since you were quite proficient when you stopped playing, it'll come back quickly, once the creaky muscles catch up with your nimble mind you'll be fine.
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-07-15 14:04
When I fiddled with Mazzeo I found that it was impossible to go from a certain note - I've forgotten which, but somewhere around the throat note area - to a certain adjacent note, without an intermediary note sounding.
That was because during the note change, a certain key lifted from a tone hole and then returned to it. Sorry I've forgotten the details, but I certainly wouldn't want that on my clarinet.
Post Edited (2005-11-30 02:35)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-07-15 14:24
Does/will? your [wood Signet { I was unaware Selmer made this model !}] Mazzeo have additional features [keywork, etc] beyond that on their Bundy plastic Maz? This is a ring for left hand 3rd [ring] finger which has linkages to operate [open] the next-to-top trill key to give a good mid-staff Bb, and for "disabling" it as well. M made many "improvements" to the standard Boehm in the 1950-60's, I know Brymer [pg 54] shows a pic , with description, of [at least} the above. Mazzeo's 5 [I believe] US Patents [I have copies, somewhere!] show all the additions/changes, his "basic" pat # is 2,8--,--- [will find it and post], which you could at least view on www.USPTO.gov. IF yours has more additions, some museum [like U SD Vermillion, SD] would prob like to have it to display beside their "full-blown" Selmer-Paris Mazzeo model, only a few were made, ask them !! Will add to this later, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-07-15 14:54
Gordon,
I have a Mazzeo and the problem that you describe is that when one holds down the right hand to go below the break and then come back, you'll get a Bb everytime you play an A5. The only way to avoid this is to not keep the RH down (which I have decided is too important a technic to avoid so my Mazzeo is an outdoor spare for wet weather only).
HRL
PS IMHO the covered thumb hole is something that all clarinets should possibly have as standard.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-07-15 15:40
Gordon and Hank are correct, there ARE shortcomings to Mazzeo's systemS, which ?would? be troublesome to your re-learning clarinet. I have a Bundy model and still try to play it on occasion! {This is prob. why it didn't succeed in the cl marketplace!] Brymer et al may describe these "problems", off-hand, I'd suggest your at least beginning-again on a "standard 17/6 Boehm. M's basic patent is US 2,867,146 and 3,035,473, 3,150,553, 3,204,512, and 3,379,086 are additions [legally CIP's or Div's, all expired!]. Need more info?? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CalypsoFlamingo
Date: 2004-07-15 17:14
For all the responses!
Justy to throw one more clarinet in the mix: Evette Resonite B-flat Soprano Clarinet model by Buffet Crampon, W.Germany
any thoughts, comments, etc?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-07-15 18:34
German Evette-Schaeffer clarinets are made by Schreiber --- I have not been impressed with the few I've played (some were wood, some plastic or hard rubber, none played very well).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CalypsoFlamingo
Date: 2004-07-15 18:49
Hi,
Heres links to the 2 selmers I just bought... hopefully one will be a good sounding instrument that will serve me well as a recreational player
1. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3736203806&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT
2. http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3734421417&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT
I'm very hesitant about buying them from ebay, but, you either get a really good deal or royally *****ed... hopefully these aren't the latter.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2004-07-15 23:27
Re Mazzeo, the following link may be useful if you haven't already searched and found it:
http://test.woodwind.org/Databases/Klarinet/2000/12/001211.txt
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2004-07-16 00:49
Calypso ... welcome back to the wonderful world of clarinetting.
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
Post Edited (2004-07-16 00:50)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2004-07-17 19:38
On overhauling a full Mazzeo system Selmer clarinet I decided that the best place for them is in a museum. The extra mechanism was difficult to adjust and, for me, too late to learn. The wood was gorgeous and the sound was beautiful, however.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CalypsoFlamingo
Date: 2004-07-19 12:10
There seems to be a concurrence on the difficulty of learning the mazzeo system...
I'm wondering if I will have an easier time of it being 15 years out of playing? I'm pretty much going to have to re-learn everything anyway. Since I already have the Selmer Bundy in my possession, but the mazzeo is on the way, should I wait until the mazzeo gets here and learn that first and then take on the "regular" style? Or should I attempt to re-establish myself with the basic model and go from there?
I've been playing piano all this time, and since I have no room for it, (a piano) I'm going back to my original instrument of choice. I've also played bass guiter, electric guitar, flute, and sax, so I don't anticipate problems learning... maybe I'm underestimating the difficulty of the key setup, having never actually seen it?
THANKS!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-07-19 12:28
Stephanie,
You can always play the Mazzeo like a regular clarinet but the only technical thing you can not do is hold the RH down and go below the break as I described above. IMHO the power of the Mazzeo is that the pinch Bb can be played with the A key and any RH finger ring but after that the main differences are the covered thumb hole and the cool bell.
I think the learning curve problem is to internalize the new Bb fingering as your primary choice in all appropriate passages. This task would take some time and a good bit of mental as well as psychomotor conditioning.
HRL
PS I remember Mazzeo having me play the clarinet at the Selmer booth at the Midwest many years ago. Talk about a good salesman and an interesting guy! But I did not buy one at the time.
Post Edited (2004-07-19 13:50)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
