 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Charlie
Date: 2007-07-18 19:46
I found a Barclay clarinet (sn E1619) in a pawn shop today. I do not need a primary clarinet, but I could use a backup. I currently play on a Buffet R13 from the 90s and a B12 student model when the R13 is in the shop. I would like to learn about repairing clarinets, so I am wondering, do I buy it? They are asking $79.99 but I would not pay more than about $50. It also comes with a brown mouthpiece that says "France" although I cannot tell what brand it is.. sorry i forgot to mention it is wood.. which makes it very curious.
rockerchar@gmail.com
Post Edited (2007-07-18 20:40)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2007-07-18 20:11
I wouldn't buy one for $7.99 let alone $79.99. I had one in the junk pile that was complete and finally just put it out with the trash a few months ago.
jbutler
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2007-07-18 20:18
But it looks like such a fine horn.... and it's only $199 NEW!!! ![[right]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie8.gif) ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif) Such an incredible deal!
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Charlie
Date: 2007-07-18 20:42
hey sorry i forgot to mention that it was wooden. i see that they are crap (at least the plastic ones) but what about a wooden one? not even for one to mess around with?
rockerchar@gmail.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2007-07-18 22:02
Many, many years ago there was a Barclay clarinet that was actually used by at least one of the better known players. My flaking brain cells aren't letting me remember who it was, but I definitely remember reading an interview about the person playing a Barclay. Maybe this is what you have stumbled across in the pawn shop. Don't know whether the ancient ones are related to the modern ones or not.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: susieray
Date: 2007-07-18 22:33
John,
It was Kal Opperman but I think it was a Barklee, not Barklay.
Sue
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Charlie
Date: 2007-07-18 23:50
i could try it out but i didn't happen to have a reed on me at the time. it looked and felt like it was in playable condition with no cracks in the wood. i could tell it was wood b/c you could see the bore oil on the inside. it has a special bottom joint cap that has an adaptation for a lyre, which is completely loose, but all the parts fit together and the keys feel fine. my main concern is just with the brand/model itself.
rockerchar@gmail.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2007-07-19 13:42
Sue,
I've seen older Barclay-Boston clarinets in plastic/hard rubber. I'm not sure who made them but they looked like Vito stencils.
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: susieray
Date: 2007-07-19 15:41
John B,
I'm sure there are old Barklays out there; but I also recall having read
the Opperman interview in The Clarinet which I believe is the
article John O'Janpa is referring too.....and I'm pretty sure the one he
spoke of was a wooden Barklee. I've seen those on the auction site
from time to time also. This is probably unrelated to the clarinet the
original poster found at the pawn shop though.
Sue
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2007-07-19 17:52
Sue,
I'm not doubting you whatsoever, just adding to the discussion.
The clarinet of which I speak was a rather old model and the spelling was "Barclay". It also had "Boston" stamped on it I believe just under the "Barclay". I remember it well because it came in a very old musty case. I purchased a lot of five to six clarinets from a dealer several years ago to have as parts instruments and this was one of them of that group. I wasn't interested in it but had to purchase it with the group to get the others I wanted.
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-07-19 17:56
I'm glad to read of the possibility of distinguishing an Old [1950's] WOOD Barclay[ee] from a likely ?new? plastic CSO as J B reported. The oldie might be a stencil by Malerne [D S?] or Martin Freres of that [French cl] "importation time", and possibly worth its "salt". I also visit P S's, and try to evaluate insts before buying a "cheapie". Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Charlie
Date: 2007-07-19 19:35
Hey, Just an update for you all.
I bought the Barclay for $50 which included for free a bundy model. not really interested in the bundy, just trying to get my money's worth. XD
It seems to be in good shape, except the lower joint-bell cork just started to come off while i was taking it home. i played it without the bell, has a great open sound and sounds great in all registers. played with the included mouthpiece and lig and used one of the vandoren 2.5 reeds that i had outgrown. only problem is that the Fsharp/Csharp key does not produce the correct note.
it says made in france on the top joint, and on the bottom joint is says E1619. the bell says "Barclay" in plain letters with no kind of logo or insignia. It also came with a mouthpece that says "France" and a "Martin"-France lig
rockerchar@gmail.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-07-20 10:54
I think you did all right, getting a Bundy and a student instrument that's probably a student clarinet by Martin-Freres for $50. You may be able to pop the Bundy for that much--or use it for playing outdoors. The French mouthpiece may turn out to be decent, too. Or not, of course. I think these kinds of bargains are best for people who do their own repadding and other restoration as a hobby--I wouldn't want to put serious money into restoration on a deal this iffy.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-07-20 12:52
I agree with LL, this is educational pleasure. I recently bot a DuPont plus a Kohlert for $100, music store closing sale. The DP required very little repair-tweaking, and is a ?dark?, good player, the K is a challenge [help D S !] Its fun, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: claritoot26
Date: 2007-07-20 14:49
Don,
re your comment "the K is a challenge"
Last week I had a student's Kohlert alto sax repaired, and the repairman suggested it may have been a cheap Chinese import, which we hear about lately in the news. The bell wasn't soldered on at the factory, so it wobbled and the low notes couldn't seal properly. Also, the pads were held in with the least amount of contact cement possible. A poorly made instrument altogether, although the student did a number on it, wacking the bell and bending keys which made the repair job time-consuming and costly. I guess she dropped it.
Anyway, maybe the clarinets are of the same ilk?
Apparently there were older saxes sold with the name Kohlert from Germany which were slightly better, at least put together right at the factory.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2007-07-20 21:30
Sue,
Sure enough it was Kalman Opperman. I didn't remember the spelling of Barklee, but you are probably right.
You did a great job of reading my mind, when I couldn't. Thanks.
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
