The Clarinet BBoard

The Clarinet BBoard The C4 standard

New Topic | Go to Top | Go to Topic | Search | Help/Rules | Smileys/Notes | Log In

Newer Topic | Older Topic

E.J. Albert (Boehm) Brussels 1940

Author: Bill
Date: 2005-12-17 14:19
Attachment: key.jpg (72k)
Attachment: thumb.jpg (58k)

I just got my E. J. Albert (Boehm, not Albert, system) clarinet back from John Butler's shop. It had not been playable before repadding.

I haven't played anything with a tone quality like this one. I have an older Selmer (1931) and Buffet (1936) also, but there is little comparison (re: sound). The clarinet I've played that is the closest to this E. J. Albert is Selmer L6911, which had a sort of "Improved Albert" keywork scheme. L6911 had the kind of keywork you sometimes see in photos of Jimmy Noone's clarinet. Below the right hand were three pad cups in a row. How I regret selling it.

Anyway, the E. J. Albert is a Boehm, but it plays like that old Albert Selmer. At first, it's a bit kazoo-like. After my ears started getting used to it I'd describe it as very light, sweet, and "constrained." It's in perfect physical condition and made to professional standards. The G# is bizarrely enlongated and the register key "cuts in" to the thumb ring. (See photos.)

I'm still trying to decide on a mouthpiece to use with it, and I've tried a Selmer table HS*, an old Selmer HS** crystal (I think from before the "Clarion" designation), and a Selmer table HS**. Still working on this. The bore of the barrel appears "offset" or not centered within the barrel, so matching a mouthpiece to it visually is a challenge

Oh well - I'm excited. Something new (or old) and different.

Bill..

Reply To Message

Re: E.J. Albert (Boehm) Brussels 1940

Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-12-17 14:35

I've worked on an old covered hole Boehm system J Albert clarinet - the throat G vent was set towards the G# touch for better venting, and it had the humungous G# touch, that's so it can be used with finger 2 as well - some Italian clarinets had this, but it'sa throwback to Albert systems that have the long G# touch.

But the quality of the wood on the one I saw was impeccable! Very dense, close grained and the grain was dead straight - possibly the time when the best timber was axe split rather than saw cut, so no wavy or funny angled grain that could leave end grain in the bore.

Reply To Message

Avail. Forums | Threaded View

Newer Topic | Older Topic

The Clarinet Pages

For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.