 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: acermak
Date: 2013-11-13 22:09
I had an iillness occur to my alto clarinet. I knew she was an older model (Bundy, serial #6, low E and 3 open tone holes), but when I took it into the repair shop, one of the guys there confidently asserted Eisenhower era, which places this instrument older than me!
My contra alto might very well date from the same era.
So, I'm wondering, is this unusual (to play on an instrument older than oneself?) Until its recent event, the alto was playing fine, with a lovely voice (especially for a plastic instrument). I plan to get her repadded next year (she's in a queue, first the contra gets her pads after the holiday season as I couldn't bear not to play carols on her, then the alto), so the repair tech is just going to see if she can be given a bridge fix to tide me over until then.
Anyone else play on a vintage clarinet family member?
And yes, I know I could replace her with a wooden one for cheaper than her repad job, but she (along with her big cousin, the contra) were gifts and, like I said, she was playing well.
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Author: escher
Date: 2013-11-13 22:22
My Evette and Schaeffer is pre 1952. And my first wood clarinet was an Evette Academy model... Probably from the 1960's... I was born in '73..
I think it's quite common to play an instrument that predates yourself...
There are great deals to be found in these old horns...
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2013-11-13 23:18
For clarinets, I think the oldest instrument I played and owned an R13 that was about 10 years older than I am. (the instrument was made in 1968 according to the serial number) My school's bass clarinet in the mid-90s and their three Noblet clarinets may be older however.
The oldest instruments I've played on however, are Heintzman and Steinway pianos around 100 years old, uprights and grands.
Meri
Please check out my website at: http://donmillsmusicstudio.weebly.com and my blog at: http://clariniano.wordpress.com
Post Edited (2013-11-13 23:23)
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Author: MSK
Date: 2013-11-13 23:28
My first and still primary wooden clarinet is an R13 manufactured when I was in kindergarten. My first A clarinet (now my backup) is a 1929 Buffet. I also have a 1961 Selmer which is older than I am. It's a fine instrument but is seldom played only because I'm a Buffet gal at heart.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2013-11-13 23:35
My "vintage" collection:
·1952 buffet clarinet
·1942 buffet A clarinet
·1930s metal clarinet
·1930s martin tenor sax
·1904 bass clarinet (my main instrument, plays great!)
·1890s 12 key clarinet
I'm a bit of a vintage instrument hoarder but as I always say if it plays well then why not? Also bundys last FOREVER!
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Author: acermak
Date: 2013-11-13 23:40
Yes, absolutely, Bundy seems to have made durable instruments. In addition to my alto, my contra alto, one of my basses (the low Eb one), and my sopranino are all Bundys.
The plating seems to have worn off the keys but other than that, they're all still ticking. Fortunately I have access to a very good tech and I'm fairly certain he will be able to revive my poor alto.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-11-14 00:21
A full-Boehm, one-piece-bodied Jerome Thibouville-Lamy "A" clarinet from around 1890, and a silver-plated Hawkes & Son alto sax of about the same vintage.
I'm 55 years old and at least half of the instruments I play regularly (for fun and sometimes for pay) are at least as old as I am. Vintage instruments rock!
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Author: MichaelW
Date: 2013-11-14 00:22
F.A. Uebel: Bb, Oehler system, grenadilla, 1936, played daily,
love it in spite of the bruises it has from its time in a miners' band.
Selmer Paris: Alto, Q-series, grenadilla, 1955, playable, great sound
H.N.White: Silver King Bb, 1928, playable
Carl Kruspe: C, German system, boxwood, ca. 1870, playable
Carl Kruspe: Eb, 12 keys, boxwood, ca. 1830, playable
Goulding & Co London: Bb, boxwood, ca. 1800, not playable
...etc.
(at least some of them are older than me).
Post Edited (2013-11-14 00:27)
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Author: Wes
Date: 2013-11-14 02:43
Firth Hall and Pond boxwood clarinet from 1840 which I have. It plays about A440, but the mouthpiece could use work and the few pads on it are not good.
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Author: Pastor Rob
Date: 2013-11-14 03:08
I don't know how old my Bundy bass is, but it's pretty old. My full-boehm Selmer was apparently made in 1927-28 and my Jean de Blaye eefer about the same time (or so reckoned Jeremy Soule who did the rebuild on it).
Pastor Rob Oetman
Leblanc LL (today)
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2013-11-14 04:48
My daily instrument is a Louis and Co Bb from 1927, which tunes better than anything else I've got. My oldest instrument is a 1890's Jerome Thibouville Lamy Bb. It has some tuning issues but sounds superb.
Tony F.
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2013-11-14 08:06
I have a Conn alto sax from 1924 that I regularly play in a sax ensemble and in a street band. I was born in late 1960's.
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Author: super20bu6
Date: 2013-11-14 11:56
H Bettoney Bb Clarinet....made around 1940. Plays perfectly in tune...top to bottom. First Bb Clarinet I ever bought and I still have it.
Haven't tried to check the age on my Eb Contra.....but as others have stated, those Selmer/Bundy's are built to last. The thing sounds great and plays great. Bb Contra is NOT quite as old as I am......but it sure has aged better than me....lol
Alto, Tenor & Bari sax are all from the 70's...so I predate them.
Bassoon......made in 1967....one of 10 of that particular model...and still a dream to play.
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Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2013-11-14 14:25
The oldest clarinet I have played is an original August Grenser, made late in his career in 1796.
He stamped the year he made the clarinet on the instrument's stock.
Speaking of years, Peter C I would be interested to know about that early Simiot you tried. If it was indeed from 1790, Simiot would have made it when he was 20 years old. Most extant Simiots date from after 1800.
Simon
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Author: TAS
Date: 2013-11-14 15:30
I have a spare clarinet that is a LeBlanc Symphony clarinet. Probably circa late 1940's.
It is superbly constructed and the wood is of a quality not found nowadays. The throat tones are wonderful and the overall tone quality is excellent, although jst a biit thinner than my vintage R13 from the early 1960's.
TAS
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2013-11-14 19:01
Being an organist, I've perfomed on instruments dating back to the 1800's. By necessity, pipe organs are rebuilt and optionally enhanced over their lifetime, so it's safe to say none of them play anything like they did back when they were first built.
The oldest instrument I have personally owned and performed with was a Conn Double-Bell euphonium which dated to 1894. It was absolutely peerless as a solo instrument.
My oldest clarinet is a Normandy which dates from around 1950. It is one of my favorites. While the wood is not of the finest quality, the keywork is very nice and it plays with an almost-Buffet-like clarity and sweetness. It's not your typical Noblet creation.
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2013-11-14 20:11
Might be an interesting variant to ask what's the oldest instrument you've *performed* on.
I have a number of clarinets around late 1800s and/or first decade of 20th century. But none of them are fit for public display, for one of 3 reasons: (1) They may be high-pitch military band instruments that don't fit with modern tuning; (2) The tone can be inconsistent, with some seriously stuffy notes (and I don't mean something easily fixable i.e. poorly venting pads); (3) Even if basically A=440 and decent enough sound, the tuning of early instruments can be too wild to inflict on an audience or your fellow players.
The earliest instrument I have that escapes these issues to a reasonable extent is a 1936 Buffet. The tuning is a bit harder work than a modern R13, but the sound has a distinct character, and I've used that with pleasure in a couple of concerts. It's a great feeling to be letting it make music again after - who knows - maybe 50 years sitting in an attic.
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Author: BandEE
Date: 2013-11-15 16:00
The oldest instrument I have performed with publicly is a turn of the 20th century Couesnon Eb. It also holds the distinction of playing the highest note I have ever hit in a concert, an altissimo F#. It has its issues, but with the right mouthpiece intonation is surprisingly good (thank you Walter Grabner). This horn is unusually sensitive to mouthpieces, even compared to other Ebs. With the wrong one, intonation is beyond bad, although it plays easily and otherwise sounds good.
For community band it is better than the other 3 eefers I have owned, all of which were much younger. That said, it isn’t up to professional standards.
My regular Bb and A are Leblanc Symphonie 3s that are not quite as old as me, but I also have a set of low pitch Kohlerts from the 1920’s that are surprisingly good players.
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Author: Dick
Date: 2013-11-15 18:17
I know it is a little outside of the stipulated parameters, but - a pocket trumpet from the 1700's
Dick
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2013-11-16 15:28
The oldest clarinet I own is a boxwood C J. Wallis & Son clarinet in C, made between 1884-1891. It's a Victorian replica of a Mozart-era clarinet. I also have a pair of Buffets made in 1921. The oldest clarinets I play regularly are a Buffet in A made in 1931 and a Buffet in Bb from 1937.
My oldest cornet is a C. G. Conn from late 1910 or early 1911. I play like a pig on cornet, alas.
Almost all of my saxophones are older than I am. My oldest sax is a Buescher "True-Tone" C-Melody made between 1915-1920. The ones I play regularly are a 1924 King Saxello soprano (a prototype, made the year before King officially introduced the model), a "Grand Opera" C-Melody (a stencil, made by C. G. Conn in the 1920s), a 1928 C. G. Conn alto , an American Selmer "Modele 22" probably from the mid-1920s, a 1926 C. G. Conn tenor, a 1951 Martin "Committee" tenor and a 1926 C. G. Conn bass.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2013-11-16 15:30)
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Author: Kc2edh
Date: 2013-11-17 08:48
My clarinets are the newest instruments I own, with my R13 Bb being made in 2002 and the Leblanc LX A clarinet from about 1992. But as for the rest:
Kohlert Bass clarinet: 1930's
Buescher True-Tone Soprano sax: 1924
Buffet Alto sax: 1912 (this was my grandfather's, it was old even when he played it!)
Grassi tenor: 1970's
Dolnet bari: 1962
Used to have a 1940's Ambassador cornet and 1936 Holton Ideal trombone which I loved, but sadly they were stolen almost 2 years ago. I miss trombone, used to play that when my community band marched in parades.
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