 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2001-11-15 00:45
Hello,
From time to time I see redish brown Conn Pan American clarinets for sale on ebay.
The looks of these things intrigue me, but I don't have the money to start a museum, so I would only want one if they are decent players.
Has anyone played one of these things, or short of that, is anyone out there familiar with the reputation of these clarinets as far as playability (is that a word?) goes?
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Peter
Date: 2001-11-15 01:09
Most metal clarinets don't play very well, for various reasons, but there are some better and some worse, and none of this stopped me from having bought two.
There are some double bore metal clarinets (I believe even Noblet made some of these) that are, reputedly, the cream of the crop of metal clarinets, but I've never seen one up close. Some could be opened by way of a cap to allow the player to breathe into it to help warm it up before playing.
The double bore part did not mean it had two bores, but that it was hollow inside the body around the bore. I probably didn't explain that right. I hope you understood me anyway. They were two concentric cylinders. Maybe that's better.
Then there are two-piece, single bore or skeleton bodies, which are the most commonly seen. these are the two I have, one is an open hole design and one is a closed hole design. These also come in five piece-instruments. Mine are two-piece body and barrel.
I know some other people who have them, none of them play very well. They are pretty impossible to tune, intonation and response is not exactly great.
Aside from that, they are great just to have. I enjoy playing one of mine periodically. It's a cool thing to play with as well as just play.
Oh, and mine will not play at all with any cheap mouthpieces I've ever tried on them.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John Gibson
Date: 2001-11-15 01:37
John
Peter's answer to your question was in regards to the PanAmerican brand of metal clarinets, not the wooden ones that are reddish brown in color.
The PanAmericans you're referring to are intriguing in terms of looks. The "wood"
though is not solid but rather a laminate. I've never had the chance to play one or examine one in person, but I hear they're not a very good player. I've also heard through the grapevine that they're a cheap knock off of the more expensive rosewood clarinet like those made by LeBlanc, Patricola and Rossi.
I would say if you can get one in the ballpark of $100, go for it. they're unique but certainly not something you'd want as a primary horn.
Maybe someone else can give you a better answer and advice.
JG
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: willie
Date: 2001-11-15 01:42
The reddish brown clarinets were made from a block of laminated wood sorta like plywood, only thicker and prettier wood. The concept was OK, I guess, but they had a lot of trouble with cracks between the laminations and production was stopped. They were beautiful to look at. I'd like to see someone try this again with todays more modern adhiesives and see if it could be done better. After all the new Greenline is just ground up wood mixed with an epoxy.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2001-11-15 01:43
The reddish brown Pan Americans are indeed a laminate but they were not intended to be a cheap imitation of the rosewood clarinets. They were an experiment by Conn to come up with an instrument that would not crack. However, they didn't get all the bugs out of the lamination process and too many of the instruments delaminated (i.e. split between the layers). Conn discontinued them due to this problem.
The Pan American line was Conn's bottom of the line, cheap student horns. The sound was big and bold and pleasant BUT the intonation was terrible. Initially, Conn didn't even put the Conn name on the Pan Americans when they brought out the line. This has led some people to think that Pan American was an independent company later bought by Conn. However that is not true. Conn founded Pan American as a wholly owned subsidiary to produce student instruments. You can check it out at the Shrine to Music Museum web site.
Don't buy one to play. If you want to own an interesting piece of clarinet history that's fine.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Peter
Date: 2001-11-15 02:23
My turn to oops!
Oops, I re-read the post and realized it was not about the pinkish hued metal horns that appear on e-bay sometimes. My most humble apologies!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2001-11-15 06:29
I've seen them and heard them referred to as 'propeller wood' clarinets. I suppose that's because the wood looks like -- duhhh -- laminated propeller wood? They looked pretty but, because of the problems Dee refers to, were never popular among serious players.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-11-15 13:33
I did a bit of repair on a Pan AM some time back, yes beautiful, and yes mediocre even with it holding together. Tried to buy it, but was a family "heirloom" ! Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-11-15 14:48
Dee exploded the myth that the laminate clarinets were made from airplane propellers. See http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=10594&t=10492 . Conn made the material itself. Too bad it didn't hold up. Double too bad that they used it on their bottom of the line Pan American instruments, which were truly awful. I started on one and was very happy to move up to a plastic Bundy.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2001-11-15 15:30
They Look like propeller wood, for lack of a better comparison is my guess. They are Not recycled propellers. I didn't mean to imply they were  Too bad they didn't hold up a well as propellers though... they were pretty.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dee
Date: 2001-11-15 15:44
Yes they are pretty and for that reason I own one but don't intend to play it though I will get it into playing condition. However, I wouldn't pay much for one although the collectors are bidding up to $200 to $300 on ebay for ones in good shape. I got mine for about $25 as it needs a lot of work.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: John O'Janpa
Date: 2001-11-15 19:41
Thanks everyone,
Looks like I'll let the "collectors" buy these up,
since although they are pretty, the consensus is that they are at best mediocre as players.
You let me know exactly what I needed to know.
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vjones
Date: 2013-09-07 04:24
I have owned one of these for better than 45 years. I wish I knew more about it. Here is what I do know.
Got it as a kid and learned to play on it in Junior high school band. Played through high school. (Never got very good, enjoyed Saxaphone more)
I STILL enjoy playing the horn from time to time and even played in the Danville California concert band about 15 years ago.
the key travel is a little long and it is difficult to move about the instrument very rapidly. I've never broken a key on the horn but have bent one from time to time and have had the pads replaced occasionally. All the shine is gone from the keys but they all still function well.
If you know how I might get more specific information on the history of these horns or history of this one, based on the serial number I would appreciate that information. Since it was originally designed as a student horn there does not seem to be much information available by serial number, etc.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2013-09-07 12:56
When you mentioned these clarinets, you brought back some old memories from the early 60s!
I was about nine years-old, and playing on a school-supplied metal clarinet. Parents were expected to purchase an instrument after a few months, and I, like everyone else, wanted a wood clarinet. There was a music store in our neighborhood that had one of these Conn's on display, and when I first saw it, I thought it might be a great instrument to own--it did look nice. The funny thing was that I never saw anyone play one of these clarinets.
It looked new, but it might have been a refurbished older instrument.
Does anyone know if Conn was still making them in the 60s?
I ended up with a used Evette, and it was a nice clarinet. Many others, though, played Conns, which were very popular student clarinets at the time.
Post Edited (2013-09-07 13:05)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2013-09-07 22:20
Yes, I have one of these "violin finish" clarinets as Conn advertized them in the 1950s. It has been overhaulled and adjusted well so it plays like an intermediate clarinet. As I recall, the 12th are quite good on it. I prefer to use my R13 Prestige.
When I get around to auctioning off my items, I expect to get $250-300 for it. The wood body and finish are just fine, but some complain about them, even with no personal experience.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
