 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rezn
Date: 2002-03-05 19:54
Have any of you ever seen or better yet played, a one piece ( except for the mouthpiece ) silver/nickle Bb clarinet ? How did it sound? How did it play ? Known issues ? Any input would greatly apreciated.
P.S. I am waiting for one from a ebay auction.
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Author: madvax
Date: 2002-03-06 00:35
Hello rezn,
As with wood or plastic clarinets, each clarinet is unique. You can't judge all metal one-piece clarinets by playing just one.
Most metal clarinets were targeted towards the student market. As a result, they were cheaply constructed and very poor players. Typically you would find them stuffy with poor intonation, and they would be inferior to a student model made today by the Big 4. Because of this, metal clarinets gained a reputation as being junk.
However, a few makers produced metal clarinets that were targeted towards the intermediate and professional players. These clarinets actually play pretty well. Some of the more well known pro-models are:
Bettoney Silva-Bet
H.N. White Silver King
Selmer Pro Line
Conn Pro Line
Some of the better known intermediate models are:
Bettoney Columbia
H.N. White Cleveland Model
Noblet
Selmer - Barbier or Bundy Lines
Boston Wonder
All the above horns are worth fixing up and are fun to play. They are also better constructed than the cheap ones.
If it were my dime, I would try to find one of the intermediate or pro models. Some more research on this bulletin board will probably turn up more decent models.
I personally think metal clarinets are a kick to play. I think I have about 20 of them now. My clarinet friends think its a sickness.
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Author: willie
Date: 2002-03-06 06:23
Like madvax sez, they're all different. Most were low caliber student horns for schools who needed a cheap rugged horn for kids. Add to that they, like most clarinets of today came with terrible mouthpieces and with a young student playing this, they sounded terrible for the most part and got a terrible reputation. But, there were some better ones made, even some pro models. If you have one, get it playable and then try as many different mouthpieces as you can find to get a good match for that horn. Then with a little tweeking here and there with key/pad heigths, you can get them to play reasonally in tune. My best one, an Elkhart, plays great with an old 2RV mouthpiece whereas my Holton sound lousy with it. Gotta experiment. Have fun!
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Author: rezn
Date: 2002-03-07 14:43
Well thanks to everyone who answered my questions. I receved the silver clarinet from ebay, the woman I happend to buy it from didnt know anything about clarinets. I was sceptical at first, she didnt know what model it was or anything about them, because she wasnt a musician. I bought it anyway because of the low price of $21 dollars. Turns out when I opened the delapatated case, it is a silver king. There was a tear in the case material so I lifted it and found 4 extra mouthpieces. 2 of which i think to be very old vandoren that have definately never been used. The B45 is the best for this horn I believe, I have only been playing for about 2 years of and on, I play sax mostly. I play in a alternative/experimental jazz group similar to John Zorn type music. The material we are preparing for our new CD is somewhat toned down klezmer derivitive. This is why I was in need of a clarinet, the alto sax was just to abrasive to compliment the rest of the music. If anyone would like to hear a song or two post a message letting me know, or if anyone would like to comment on the purchase. all would be appreciated.
keep music interesting
rezn
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2002-03-07 15:20
Here's a comment: I would be delighted to double your money on that great buy!
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Author: madvax
Date: 2002-03-07 16:46
Rezn,
Wow! Did you ever score. The Silver King is one of the finest metal clarinets ever made. Definitely worth restoring and a great jazz horn. You may want to consider having leather pads put on it.
If memory serves me right, the Silver King was played by Jazz great Lester Young.
Enjoy
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Author: rezn
Date: 2002-03-08 21:16
Well its been a few days,and about all the diffrent reeds I could find. My conclusion on the sliver king is that its awsome!!! best tone my lips have ever felt, I think. The highs of this horn seem limitless, the lows are ritch enough to be described as chocolate. lol. Brought it out to band practice last night and the responce from the rest of my band was the same as my own. Sorry JMcaulay its difinately not for sale.
I was wondering MADVAX what advantage leather pads would have?? The horn actually with a bit of oil ended up playing pretty much perfectly as it is. It will need an overhaul before long but everything on it seems very well built. Its Probably been about 30yrs since its seen any work so I can imagine how wicked it will be after an overhaul. ( that is if i can put it down long enough to get it done. lol ) I think it will get me through the six song we have to record. I can't wait to hear it on CD. After that i'll have to give it up to the luthier.
Thanks to all the great people who have replyed.
You guys thing i should just drill holes into my sax and hang it on the wall?
Here's a download of one of our songs if anyone is board and feels like listening and maybe commenting on what you think ? just keep in mind its experimental. Tanks in advance to anyone who replys.
you can download it here...
http://64.177.6.117/downloads/Fortissimo_Legato_-_Vizzta_Lotzza.mp3
its kinds big (7502 kb)but worth it I think. Let me know what you think of the sax?
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