 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2024-07-24 20:43
I've just had a bass clari in for a quote on restoration.
It's an Albert system by E. Albert. I can find nothing on it to indicate low or high pitch. The length of the assembled body (no bell, no crook) is 31 inches or 78 Cm. The wood is in excellent condition, the nickel silver keywork is corroded in places and patinated, but easily restorable. The pads and corks are history and it comed in a solid leather case. I could either restore it to playing condition or carry out a cosmetic restoration for it to become a display piece. I've never worked on a bass this old (E. Albert ceased production in 1895, so it's at least that old), and I'd be interested to hear what this forum thinks about the proposed restoration. Playing or display. Could anybody hazard a guess as to approximate value?
Thanks.
Tony F.
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Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2024-07-25 11:53
It sounds like an instrument that, once restored, would likely fall into quite a narrow market. Something that will tend to make its resale value come down largely to what some particular individual is willing to pay for it, rather than something one can establish in a more general way beforehand.
Obviously any factor that would broaden its general appeal will help to better set its value.
Perhaps there are some Albert system players ( probably in Europe) who will come forth here.
It's always a fine thing if one can somehow justify a proper restoration .
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
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Author: m1964
Date: 2024-07-28 05:36
How likely is it to be in tune and have a good tone quality after you restore it to "playing condition"?
If the chances are that after the restoration it will not tune and/or sound good, then it would be difficult to justify the labor.
Also considering the smaller market for an Albert system bass...
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2024-07-31 07:34
FWIW the length doesn't really mean much to high or low pitch. It's the tone hole locations in relation to the mouthpiece that is important and especially on a bass the difference would be too small. Meaning just a longer or shorter length of the tenons, neck, bell could make a high pitch clarinet main sections alone shorter than a low pitch.
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Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2024-08-01 02:23
No guess on its value. I'd suggest getting up to playing condition...otherwise how does one know?
Fuzzy
;^)>>>
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-08-01 12:43
Seal off any unnecessary toneholes (trill keys, side keys, etc.) with Blu-Tack or tape and see what pitch some of the basic fingerings in the lower register give you using a tuner and more specifically, try to determine what pitch it's calibrated to (440Hz or 452Hz). If the main action pads are leaky, cover them in cling film to get them to seal.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2024-08-01 18:53
Many thanks for your input. Chris, I did as you suggested and it looks to be either high pitch or a low pitch with major tuning issues, so I'll suggest to the owner that it would make a nice display piece with a cosmetic restoration.
Tony F.
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