 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Bill
Date: 2022-01-23 01:12
Help me decide which of the following clarinets to send off for the next overhaul! (And, yes, I'm sure many of you would say "none of them"; I get it.):
(1) 1915 swan's neck Buffet
(2) old (pre-1930) JTL Boehm
(3) old (pre-1930) Couesnon
(4) 1936 Buffet
(5) c. 1940s E.J. Albert Boehm (interesting key work, huge bore)
(6) E. Albert (Simple system; rosewood?)
(7) c. 1954 Leblanc "176"
(8) old (pre-1930) Boosey & Co. hard rubber Clinton system
(9) Any of 7 "Bohemia" Kohlerts
(10) old (pre-1935) Penzel-Mueller swan's neck register key
(11) old (pre-1940) Penzel-Mueller pre-"Artist"
(12) Barklee "Artist" (1950s?)
All are in fairly good shape; some hairlines but nothing serious. Thanks!
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2022-01-23 01:40
I've got a c. 1918 high pitch E.J. Albert Boehm and it has a magical tone. If you have one of those that is potentially salvagable, I'd give it a go. Having said that, I had mine restored four times and it never really worked so it's a finely balanced decision. I'm not sure if mine has a huge bore, but it does have a lovely sound.
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Author: seabreeze
Date: 2022-01-23 07:23
It's hard to know exactly what is the Leblanc 176 model. Vytas posted photos of a Leblanc that he had restored with the numbers "176" in gold above the Leblanc name.
He said that instrument had a small bore (around the diameter of a Buffet R13.) But an early 1960s Leblanc catalog assigns the number 176 to its LL clarinet, an instrument with a medium-large bore and the model "LL" letters appearing above the Leblanc name.
In either case, the Leblanc would probably be worth restoring. The Buffet from 1936 might be as well.
Post Edited (2022-01-23 17:02)
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Author: John Peacock
Date: 2022-01-23 15:24
I'd vote for the 1936 Buffet. I have one of these, and it's wonderful to play: a distinct and resonant sound, and pretty good tuning given that it pre-dates the polycylindrical revolution. I think Buffet reached a peak of perfection in their pre-War instruments, and their offerings from the 1945-1955 period were not in the same league.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2022-01-23 18:18
John Peacock wrote:
> I'd vote for the 1936 Buffet. I have one of these, and it's
> wonderful to play: a distinct and resonant sound, and pretty
> good tuning given that it pre-dates the polycylindrical
> revolution. I think Buffet reached a peak of perfection in
> their pre-War instruments, and their offerings from the
> 1945-1955 period were not in the same league.
John,
We are of the exact same opinion here. I have been collecting instruments for years, but my luckiest moment was finding an A clarinet from the 21xxx (1936) series (two clarinets away from one of my Bb's on the assembly line). These are truly the "sweetest clarinets ever made" as the ribbon says, with a compact, resonant sound -- a bee buzzing in a jug.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: jim sclater
Date: 2022-01-23 18:43
I have a swan's neck Buffet A clarinet of around the same vintage as the one mentioned in the list. Had it overhauled last year and it plays very well. I don't know if it would pass muster in today's orchestral setting, but it is fun to play.
jsclater@comcast.net
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2022-01-23 20:01
I have a JTL Bb Boehm which I restored a while ago. It's a great player with a very sweet tone from its narrow bore. Mine tunes surprisingly well and I give it an occasional outing at concerts. If yours is like mine you wouldn't be disappointed if that was the one to restore. Couesnon made high quality clarinets too, so yours might also be a good choice.
Tony F.
Post Edited (2022-01-23 20:01)
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Author: donald
Date: 2022-01-24 01:51
"A bee buzzing in a jug"
Thanks Bill Fogle, I'll remember that one!
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Author: ACCA
Date: 2022-01-24 11:59
(3) old (pre-1930) Couesnon
(4) 1936 Buffet
There are some gems among both brands in this period. At least on some examples, the quality of both the wood, and the hand-finishing, undercutting etc. is exceptional.
Caveats: the keywork may feel different than modern horns, and you may need to fuss around with reeds and mouthpieces to find the setup that does it justice.
you'll never know, until it's restored, how good a horn you have here.
good luck
Post Edited (2022-01-24 15:06)
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Author: Bill
Date: 2022-01-30 01:03
Donald,
It's what George Bernard Shaw said about the soprano Adelina Patti.
Bill.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: crazyclari
Date: 2022-02-03 11:51
Great collection.
I have a Koehlert with plateau keys that rocks and a high pitched boosey similar to the one described, perhaps the nicest sounding clarinet I own
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