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Re: Louis & Co 'Chas Draper' vs Yamaha 650

Author: Tony F
Date: 2019-04-14 10:38

I own a Louis of Chelsea clarinet, although not one marked as Chas Draper Approved. I think the price quoted of 930 pounds is a bit on the steep side for what is a possibly a 90-y-o instrument. In their day they were top of the line professional instruments, being based on the designs of Martel, but it's probably not possible to compare one with a modern Yamaha, which has benefited from technological advances that were not available in the early 1900's.
Mine was bought from an antique dealer in Scotland who had no idea what he was selling and it cost me 90 pounds in good playable condition. It tunes very well and plays beautifully with a modern mouthpiece, in this case a Clark Fobes CF+. I looked for a Louis instrument for some years and found only 2 others before I bought mine. One was for sale in Canada for $1000 Canadian (I think this one might still be available, although the price may be different. Email me if you want details), and one in Sydney, which looked like a piece of firewood and which was offered for $A600.
Offered the same choice, much as I love the Louis I would get the Yamaha 650. The Louis were to a large extend hand finished, parts for them no longer exist and you might find it difficult to find a tech prepared to work on it.
I also own a Martel, and I don't think it is as well finished as the Louis. It doesn't play as well.

Tony F.

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