 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Swingaroo
Date: 2006-01-27 17:04
Hello all,
First, thanks for the site. It's extremely useful.
Second, thanks for the "Clarinets of questionable quality" thread. Splendid. I needed that list badly. Now what I'd really appreciate (and not only me I suppose) is the "Cheap clarinets of unquestionable quality" thread. You know beginners should play something.
Now regarding subject. I happened to have a Conn Director, bought it at the auction site.
Well it does have a bell with Conn Director etched on it, possibly wooden one, and it does have a case, which is one 60's Conn Directors were provided with, no mistake. But the serial at the lower joint is C51365. No serial at the upper j. Joints have some discoloration, they are lighter than the bell.
Now, did Director series have different kind of serials or the horn is 1920's make with the newer bell/case?
First, I thought it is really '20s make, but recently I saw another horn on auction site and it also had the same features, i.e. lighter joints.
Thanks for reply and sorry my poor English.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tim P
Date: 2006-01-30 13:11
I own a conn director. in fact it was my first instrument 35 years ago. It has the same serial number on both joints. However, it is very hard to see the number on the upper joint. take it into very bright sunlight and look again.
my director is wooden except for the bell which is plastic of some sort. if this is what you have then it would explain the difference in color.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chazman
Date: 2006-01-30 15:15
I have in my collection a Conn Director too. I will tell you this, that in spite of it appearance of being constructed from wood it (and they) is not. This one (and I suspect others) have been treated with a finish to give it the appearance and texture of wood. Be very careful when cleaning this type of surface treatment, for it will wipe off and the resultant effect will show the green resin from which it was truly constructed. I hope this helps.
Chuck
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Swingaroo
Date: 2006-01-30 19:36
Thanks for reply.
I examined the horn once again and still sure it's wooden. The bell looks strange - it can be ebonite, pretty well woodgrained, but still ebonite. Joints show some grain and some very wood-looking stripes, just like ones on light rosewood pan-ams and good smoking pipes. I looked inside and into holes and saw the same - some grain and stripes. Some surface imperfections looks like they're on wood too. I also found some cracks (i'd better stop looking) and they look like wood as well. I crashed ebonite clarinet once and it looked different.
Maybe there were some different makes, some wooden ones and some wood-grain ebonite ones. The one I have is in white-and-green case, very fifties-looking.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chazman
Date: 2006-01-31 00:15
Yep, the same 50's looking case I have and suspect the same your looking at. Perhaps they made a wood one, but Conn was very clever with creating texture and the finish of wood (gain and all). However, under this false facade is ebonite and in an ugly green to boot. It’s more of a conversation piece than a practical instrument for me, I much more prefer my LeBlanc’s (L7, LL, Symphony or Dynamic).
Good luck
Chuck
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tim P
Date: 2006-01-31 12:12
My Conn director is very definitely wood. They did make wood instruments. My bell is not wood. But of course being wood does not necessarily make it any better than plastic. It is not my best playing instrument by a long shot. Kept mostly because it was my first clarinet.
The case is awesome. Nice and big. In high school I could carry my music instrument some of my school books. On Friday I could even fit in a half pint of cherry vodka to all the football games. (This was the '70 and such things were not as frowned upon as they are today.)
I still use the case but for mundane things. tuner, metronome, reeds, reed scraper, cork grease, drying rag, pliers, screwdriver, pad adhesive, matches, pencil, earplugs (trumpets are every where) oh yeah I also carry music. It is kind-of like the SUV of cases.
I just bought a director just to get the case.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: chazman
Date: 2006-01-31 14:38
Yes, it is most defiantly the 747 of clarinet cases. Or an upgrade from coach to first class....I love it too for the same reason…it’s large and in charge.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
