 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jimk
Date: 2023-01-22 23:12
I've been watching YouTube videos of a New Orleans jazz group named Tuba Skinny, enjoying a musical style different from what I play. This video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF3dp_FKA6c
by the group includes a clarinetist I haven't seen before playing a clarinet with an unusual bell. It reminds me of some historic sax designs. Any idea why someone would use this sort of bell or where someone would go to get one?
I wish the clarinet was more prominent in this video.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2023-01-23 20:48
The clarinetist in the link you provided is James Evans. He 3d printed the bell to look like an older model clarinet (some call it a saxonette, though I'm not 100% certain that term is official). The usual characteristics are a metal barrel and metal bell turned outward/upward.
Tom Sharpsteen played one, and Alphonse Picou sometimes played one (or at least used the bell from one).
Here's an article about Tom Sharpsteen, showing a photo of the real deal. http://www.clintbakerjazz.com/sharpsteen.html as well as links to Tom playing the instrument. There are some videos out there of Alphonse Picou playing what looks like a normal clarinet with the metal bell...not sure. Alphonse Picou
As for "why" - you'd need to ask James. He doesn't always use one. ;^)>>>
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
PS: Tuba Skinny is a lot of fun in all of its versions. No matter whether it is Craig Flory, Jonathan Doyle, James Evans, or Ewan Bleach on clarinet. Fun times. Glad you found them!
[Edit: added a PS]
Post Edited (2023-01-23 21:13)
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2023-01-23 23:01
On Second thought....
I researched this idea of a "Saxonette" or "Clariphone" a number of years ago, but can't remember my findings (and can't find my notes).
However, your post got me to thinking...I did find some photos of the bells inscribed as "Saxonette" - but I'm curious whether the clarinet bodies were any different than a normal clarinet, or whether marketers just wanted to tap into the Saxophone craze, and created metal barrels and bells to sell with a standard clarinet in order to cash in on the fad...rebranding it as a Saxonette?
Hopefully someone here has some personal experience with "Saxonettes" and might address these questions.
Warmest Regards,
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2023-01-24 07:42
Hi Ed,
Thank you for the links. I had visited both sites and looked at the pictures before replying earlier, but my curiosity became piqued.
I began realizing that I've only seen the Gretsch model with the word Saxonette on it. I've never seen that on the Buescher or other models (perhaps I just missed it.) JW Pepper seems to be associated with the term Saxonette as well, but I haven't been able to see photos which establish the term on the instrument, or on a label on/in the case. I've never seen advertisements for these instruments, so I'm curious how they were marketed (and if each brand was marketed under the same name of "Saxonette").
Add to the above - that by today's standards a Saxonette (as displayed by the various search engines) appears to be nothing like the instrument we are currently discussing.
I've always thought of the instruments in question (metal barrel and bell) as being "Saxonettes" - but perhaps I made too many assumptions based on a handful of photos on the net. That's what piqued my interested today...that I've possibly been wrong in the way I was looking at these instruments in the past. I'd sure enjoy seeing some further information to give historical context to the idea/marketing behind these instruments.
Thanks again for the links,
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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