 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LostInBias
Date: 2013-10-04 14:22
Hi.
To begin with, I'm a brass player and never really got into woodwind any more than brief experimentation, however I recently purchased a Boosey and Hawkes clarinet off of a guy at an event for AU$40 (because why not?). He said he'd had it for quite a while. It looks as if it once belonged to the Sydney Conservatorium of Music judging by a sticker on the case and the fact that another number has been engraved onto the instrument below the serial number. I'm guessing it was a student model and isn't worth a lot. Looks like I'm learning clarinet then.
The seller didn't know much about it and said it had been sitting in his garage for 20 years. I can't find the make anywhere on there, but the serial number is 258944. Would anyone be so kind as to tell me what sort of instrument I'm dealing with here?
Cheers,
Declan
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-10-04 14:38
Made in 1984 per this list: http://www.musictrader.com/boosey.html
Wood, plastic or hard rubber? Should have a model name or number somewhere too (Regent? Edgware? Series 1-10? etc.)
Decent instruments all.
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Author: LostInBias
Date: 2013-10-04 14:54
Is Oxford a make? Because that's written on the bell (do you even call it a bell on a clarinet?). It seems plasticy to me.
It's still probably worth what I paid for it, but I suspect I should get it looked at to see if it needs a bit of service.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-10-04 16:04
The B & H Oxford was the same as the Edgware, which was an advanced student instrument. Some will say that it was never a professional instrument, but a lot of professionals used them. Roughly equivalent to today's Buffet E11 or Yamaha YCL450. It may have intonation/tuning issues, some did. In good working order it could be a nice instrument. I have 2 Edgwares that play very well.
Tony F.
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Author: LostInBias
Date: 2013-10-04 16:27
Thanks David and Tony.
I'm planning on taking it to a music shop with a woodwind specialist when I can (I need to buy reeds anyway, no way am I touching the reed that came with it!), if there are any tuning or intonation issues in this clarinet will they be able to identify them?
...now to find a way to learn clarinet without having to pay for a teacher...
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-10-04 17:30
This clarinet is from 1965-66 - the musictrader list and many others found online are way out.
For far more accurate B&H serial number lists, see this one:
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/clsnBH.htm
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clancy
Date: 2013-10-04 19:04
This is the most trusted list:
http://www.horniman.ac.uk/media/_file/bandh_handlists_web.pdf
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-10-04 19:39
I had an A4 copy of Boosey&Co., Besson, Hawkes&Sons and B&H serial number lists back in the late '80s which went up to 1984 when clarinet and oboe production finished - at the time I had a Series 2-20 clarinet with the number 234701 which, according to this list, was made in 1965. I also had a new-old-stock Regent oboe with the number 550025 which had a quality control sticker on the case dated 1983 which also tallied up with the same list.
Apart from the http://www.horniman.ac.uk/media/_file/bandh_handlists_web.pdf list which is probably the most comprehensive, the summarised one on clarinetperfection is far more accurate than the one on musictrader or others I've seen online.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-10-04 23:08
2 minutes with a tuner will identify any tuning problems. Some can be fixed or improved by careful setting up, some may take a bit more. Mine both tend to play flat, as do my Emperor and Imperial, but play in tune using the B & H short barrel.
Tony F.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-10-04 23:45
I've found B&H clarinets with the narrower 926 bore (Regent/Series 1-10 through to the Imperial 926, excluding the 1010) generally play best in tune with themselves with a 67mm barrel and with it pulled out to 1-2mm as the throat notes are very often on the sharp side.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-10-05 01:47
That's exactly what I'm using, Chris. Marked B & H Short.
Tony F.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2013-10-05 10:45
The B&H barrels marked 'SHORT' are usually 62mm.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-10-05 14:06
You're right Chris, I didn't measure it. Mine actually measures 63mm, and I play with it pulled about 1mm. I also have a lovely Penzel Mueller barrel of the same length which sounds and tunes better than the B & H barrel. Pity the rings don't match.
Tony F.
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