 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: CameraSith
Date: 2010-06-25 04:49
Basically, is it possible to fulfill both of my requirements? Can I get a reasonable metal clarinet for somewhere around $100? I know this is probably asking a lot, but I mainly want it just for fun and to say I have one but would also like it to be somewhat mediocre. Two metal clarinets that I have found next to nothing about are a Madelon and a Challenger. Any information on these and others would be much appreciated. Thanks.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2010-06-25 05:10
A few months back I bought an old Conn on a well-known auction site for $102.50. It was in excellent order, with good pads and a good mouthpiece. The intonation isn't perfect, but is acceptabe, and while I probably wouldn't use it in an orchestra I have no hesitation in using it as a jazz instrument. Do a search on this site for metal clarinets and you'll find a lot of information. So, the anwer to your question is yes, they are out there if you look for them. This site also gives a lot of information about quality.
http://www.angelfire.com/in2/easyliving/Vintage/Silver-Clarinet.html
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Molloy
Date: 2010-06-25 13:30
Madelon was a Bettoney stencil, so it won't be the worst clarinet in the world, but it's a student model. Bettoney's top shelf metal clarinet, the Silva-Bet, usually costs quite a bit more than $100. The "H Bettoney" model, the one they supplied to the military in large quantities, is really a good instrument and often sells for around $100 at the auction site. A Boston Wonder (another Bettoney mark) will also be ok (better than a Madelon), and sometimes those go dirt cheap.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2010-06-25 15:08
I bought a metal Noblet clarinet from a local "buy & sell" for $20 and it is an excellant instrument--not quite in the catagory of the R13, but "good enough for jazz" and most casual music. It has a three digit serial number, so I think it was made years ago for military marching band use and made to higher specifications than those millions of cheap metal clarinets that followed. It is gold lacquered, sharp look'n and really fun to drag out and frequently play with. Short answer to your post I guess would be, "YES", you can find an economical but still *quality* metal clarinet if you search in the right places. Auction sites or local pawn shoppes, like I did. FWIW, this clarinet is exactly like mine, even the color of the case: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Noblet-Brass-Clarinet-Case-Super-Condit-/200485926729?cmd=ViewItem&pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2eade47749
BTW, a friend of mine was recently given an old Selmer metal clarinet that had been laying in a repairpersons back room. He had it fixed up and now uses it on all of his jazz gigs. Also, a well-known brand name and a great playing metal clarinet.
I also have another metal CSO (clarinet shaped object) that serves as wall decoration for my home practice room. It plays terribly but hangs nicely......
Post Edited (2010-06-25 15:53)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2010-06-25 16:05
I have a silver-plated Cleveland (H.N. White) which appears very similar in design to the top-of-the-line Silver King by the same parent company, and after a good overhaul it plays really well. Despite being metal it feels and sounds remarkably like a wood R-13, albeit with perhaps a bit more resistance than the average R-13 (but not to the point of stuffiness). I brought it to orchestra rehearsal once last year and had my standmate the 2nd clarinetist play it back-to-back with his Buffet. Although he denies it, I believe he actually sounded better on my metal clarinet than on his wood R-13.
I have some Penzel-Mueller "Artist Model" metal clarinets that are also nice players, and very well made.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ursa
Date: 2010-06-26 04:29
The Pan American "Brilliante" I own plays quite nicely, though the RH keywork isn't very ergonomic for my small hands. The "Moderne" model is similar. They can sometimes be found for under $100.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: CameraSith
Date: 2010-06-26 05:43
Thank you all for your input so far, it has been really helpful. On a random note, I did not want to start a new thread but what do you all think about the Selmer Raymond Paris wood clarinets? The one I am looking at appears to be from the 1920's and is very reasonably priced (under $100) though it would need a little work. What do you think? This would just be an extra horn to have as I love playing and collecting equally.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-06-26 13:50
A metal clarinet makes a very nice clarinet lamp.
Any really old wood clarinet can have sever intonation problems due to the bore changing over the years. Especially if it was not very good to begin with but for under $100 how can you go wrong? That could always become a lamp too, I own one myself. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2010-06-26 15:51
Ed, one thing I've never seen is a floor lamp made from an old bass or contra clarinet. Wouldn't that be a fine piece of furniture? ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: WoodyBb
Date: 2010-07-06 00:23
If you really believe all metal clarinets are crap, it's not particularly ghoulish at all.
You'd be missing out on some great clarinets, but the metal thing really is too much for a lot of players to overcome.
Conn 514Ns (one piece, silver plated) are pretty good and not expensive. Their older metal horns are better yet, but more collectible and priced as such.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2010-07-06 00:54
There's a gentleman around this here parts who's got a matched pair of silver-plated double-walled Haynes metal clarinets which he allowed me to play on for a bit, and I can assure you they sounded as good as the best wood Buffet R-13s you've ever heard. They were most definitely not lamp material.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
