 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-03-27 12:43
Getting close to the top on my list of instruments to tinker with and overhaul are 2 old alto clarinets. Both currently too leaky to play any more than a few notes. Once one is in playable condition, it will be the first alto I will have ever played! (already bought a Grabner mouthpiece in anticipation...)
Both are wood.
One is a Noblet - looks solidly built, has a repaired crack that I am not worried about
The other is Evette and Schaefer. Has the most amazingly overcomplicated looking register key mechanism. Nice looking wood. Is this likely to be a Malerne stencil? (I have a very nice K series Evette and Schaeffer soprano clarinet that punches well above its weight)
They both need the same level of overhaul - but if you were gambling people, which would you put money on that will turn out the better of the two instruments?
I will start on one soon - but which!?....
I can give serial numbers when I get home if that influences things
Chris
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2009-03-27 13:59
The old LeBlancs and Noblets were workhorses so I'm betting on the Noblet. I still have my LeBlanc as a backup horn to my Prestige alto but I probably should sell it as I'm only using the Prestige now as it is such an amazing horn.
The Grabner is a really good choice as a mouthpiece. It works well with the Java alto sax reeds. Gives a very full sound. The Hites are very good too.
Have fun!
Eefer guy
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-03-27 15:16
Eefer guy
Thanks for your opinion
As I mentioned, I have an E&S soprano clarinet - but also have a family of LeBlancs with Opus and LL 18/7 sopranos and L400 Bass.
The Noblet is serial 1934 and a faint 25 above the register key. The logo is a diamond with an intertwined ND above Noblet above Paris
The E&S is serial 19954
I have seen the occasional post about Noblets, but anybody with experience of E&S altos?
Chris
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-03-27 16:12
Every E&S alto or bass clarinet I've seen has been a Malerne stencil, but without seeing a photograph of yours I can't guarantee it's one as well.
In terms of playing qualities the Malerne and Noblet altos and basses are comparable; but the Leblanc products have sturdier keywork (less flexible metal used).
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-03-27 16:36
And the nickel plating on the Noblets is really thick.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2009-03-27 17:59
-- "And the nickel plating on the Noblets is really thick." --
Chris, I have a very old Noblet 45 (Diamond Logo) with keys that refuse to be polished, or if they do, they soon lose it. Yes, the metal is 'strong'!
Would this be uncovered nickel?
Steve
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2009-03-27 18:14
Hi Chris J - Have much fun with the altos, in my experience, I found that they CAN'T be played like a sop or a bass, they are "a thing apart". With a good mp/reed combo they can have a beautiful/different sound ! Your comment on register keying interested me. Are you blessed with TWO reg. keys, high and low, if so which "touch" actuates the change-over? Like a sax or a pro bass cl? AFAIK they all have the vent for the mid staff Bb as well. Just curious, Tks, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-03-27 18:51
Steve,
I did a minor keywork alteration on a Noblet alto which involved repositioning the side Eb/Bb touch so it ponted straight down (a la Reginald Kell/German style).
The nickel plating was so thick it took ages to cut through - files just skated across the plating without biting so I used a diamond file and also emery paper wrapped around a file to cut through it.
The nickel plate must have been around 25 microns minimum rather than the usual thickness found on most instruments (between 5 and 10 microns tops), and I removed the plating from the key touch as it bubbled with the heat from silver soldering. There was a thin layer of copper plated under the nickel as well.
Just out of curiosity, I wonder why two seemingly identical clarinets with nickel plated keys can tarnish at such different rates. Some clarinets over 30 years old and regularly played can still have very bright shiny nickel plated keywork whereas some only a few years old have gone all dull and grey.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-03-27 19:49
I've done much bending of Leblanc/Noblet/Vito bass clarinet keys, and they have such thick plating on them that the metal creaks quite audibly when being bent! It's kind of freaky.........
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2009-03-28 00:53
I would bet Hank Lehrer's next paycheck that the E&S alto clarinet is a Malerne product, based on those photos. The register mechanism is a dead giveaway.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2009-03-28 16:03
For an old horn it looks in pretty good shape. Key plating looks remarkably non-worn. I'll be interested in how they play once they are all in good shape.
As Don has mentioned alto is a bit different beast than the other clarinets. It is closer to a bass in feel than the Bb. My new Prestige feels like a SMALL bass and I use reed and mouthpiece options more like what I use on the bass rather than the Bb or Eefer, where I used stiffer reeds. Right now I'm using Java alto sax reeds #3 on the Hite and Grabner mouthpieces. That seems to work especially well. The Gonzalez 2 3/4 alto sax reeds are my second choice, Van Doren alto clarinet reeds third.
There is a good book "Introduction to the Low Clarinets" that has some info if you've not dabbled in this end of the clarinet spectrum before.
Eefer guy
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Author: stevesklar
Date: 2009-03-28 17:04
I just finished a Boblet 45 alto clarinet overhaul. The only problem with the register vent which wasn't wide enough. It would give the right 3 fingers squeaks. After opening it up a bit the DEF mid staff are much more full and resonating. A very nice alto after that fixup. But the upper joint looks exactly like yours.
The nickel, albeit thick, cleaned up quite nicely and fairly easily.
Chris - in your pics the E&S throat Bb looks like ot broke at one time and was fixed.
==========
Stephen Sklar
My YouTube Channel of Clarinet Information
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2009-03-30 13:38
Just received a sale email from WWBW and they are having a sale on the Noblet altos for anyone looking.
Eefer guy
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Author: William
Date: 2009-03-30 14:44
FWIW, I once owned a Nobet alto clarinet and it was a wonderfully playing instrument. No gigs, so I decided to sell it a few years ago--have often since wished that I had not.
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Author: Michelle
Date: 2009-03-31 18:11
I'd do the E&S ... and if you don't want it, send it to me! Overhauled or not
Good Luck...
Michelle
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Author: Chris J
Date: 2009-04-02 21:32
"Chris - in your pics the E&S throat Bb looks like ot broke at one time and was fixed."
Hi Steve
Where are you seeing the repair? I don't think I can see what you have noticed.
Chris
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