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Re: is an o/haul for my Couesnon worth it?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-07-31 11:41

I just had a look at a Couesnon Monopole Conservatoire this morning belonging to a local(ish) sax player - he didn't know much about it other than it doesn't play very well due to a poor overhaul as it leaks like a sieve (plus the use of too thick pads, wobbly middle tenon and dodgy tenon cork work - in fact, the whole 'overhaul' done to it is dire), but I had a look at it in sunlight (yes, it does shine here sometimes!) and the wood is in remarkable condition. Highly polished, yet the light shines through the grain and highlights all the features of unstained, well machined and exquisitely polished grenadilla.

The serial number (129xx) is stamped on every section (barrel and bell included), and I don't think the barrel has been shortened. He wasn't sure if it's worth having rebuilt considering he paid very little for it. Though I told him I've read good reviews of these clarinets, and from what I can see it's a top quality item and well worth having a thorough going over to get it into top notch form.

Do all Couesnon clarinets have the C#/G# tonehole left as a plain hole drilled into the body but covered with a pad rather than having it countersunk as all the others covered by pads? I've seen a Couesnon A clarinet with the same thing. I'll probably countersink it so I can at least seat a cork pad on there as and when he decides to have all the work done, but at present the last person to do their (dirty) work on it put a cork pad on there, and it only adds to the rest of the leaking pads.

What his main concern was, "Is it worth the cost of a full overhaul when I can buy a student Yamaha for around the same price?" I reckon it's well worth doing, and will outlast any student or intermediate clarinet.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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