 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Jon Hill
Date: 2002-10-08 01:56
Some time back I purchased a grenadilla clarinet for $30 from an
antiques dealer. It is in pretty good shape & looks very much like
an Evette and Schaefer instrument, but the labels on barrel, joints
and bell read:
R.M.
R. Marlorne
Paris
Standard
The case it was in looked ancient, 20's or 30's vintage, but I doubt
that it's original to the instrument. The clarinet itself looks
more 40's or 50's to me, but I would like to know more about it.
The serial no. appearing on the left & right joints is A3681.
I tried searching this symposium on the name but found no matches.
Anyone out there ever heard of this maker?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jbutler
Date: 2002-10-08 02:00
Probably <b>R Malerne</b>. If you do a search you will get more information than you probably need.
jbutler
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jon Hill
Date: 2002-10-08 02:28
Thanks. I now know more about R. Malerne than I really wanted
to. Turns out the Standard model I got for $30 wasn't such
a steal after all. This was Malern's bottom-rung, entry-level,
student model clarinet. Probably paid too much for it .......
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Fred
Date: 2002-10-08 12:16
Probably not . . . even the standard Malernes were pretty decent clarinets.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tim k
Date: 2002-10-08 15:03
I played a wood Malerne Standard for years. It was a good clarinet, probably closer to intermediate than student.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2002-10-08 15:15
It plays for 30 bucks and you complain?
I'll swap ya straight for a Hungarian garden hose, perforated by my Garden Weasel...
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-10-08 16:15
Let's see: Dinner at a cheap diner for my family: $30 plus tip.
A working, wood intermediate-quality Malerne clarinet for $30.....Hmmm, guess 'ole Jon got ripped off big-time, eh?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Vytas
Date: 2002-10-08 17:19
Jon, I'll give you $50 for it any time.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jon Hill
Date: 2002-10-08 23:53
Yes, it plays, but it is in need of an overhaul so that will
add about $200 to the tab. Now does it seem like such a good
deal?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Willie
Date: 2002-10-09 00:20
Keep it for a back-up. It may a good one for you to learn repadding and corking on also. The Malerne I had played quite well, even with a non original bell.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ron b
Date: 2002-10-09 03:50
I've seen, but not played, a few (wood) Robert Malernes. They 'look okay'. I haven't heard any specific complaints about them. In my opinion, $230 doesn't seem too bad for a decent back up horn. You'll look far and wide to find a fair Bundy or Vito for that amount. I like Willie's suggestion; learn to do your own fixin' and maintenance on it, save money in the process and have a nice horn as well. How can you beat a deal like that??? ))
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2002-10-09 11:04
There used to be a few of them around here, and I was never too impressed. Similar standard to the Italian Grassi.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: J. C. Boyd
Date: 2002-10-09 19:25
I just finished rebuilding a R.Malerne clarinet. The serial number is A3651, so yours was probably made at the same time. I'm just guessing but it's probably late sixties. The Standard was not an expensive instrument, nevertheless it was well-built and played in tune. I have a much older Malerne with a nice jazzy sound. The A3651 sound is a bit more refined. Good luck with yours. Don't turn it into a lamp just yet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bill
Date: 2002-10-10 19:48
I have a "Professional" sitting around at home awaiting a restoration. "Should he or shouldn't he?" I paid $100. Then again, I'm a fool for interesting old clarinets. --Bill.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jon Hill
Date: 2002-10-11 16:13
Thanks for all the useful feedback. I now have
a new appreciation for the cheapo Malerne I picked up for $30.
I will keep it as a backup and maybe use it as an instrument to
practice doing my own repairs. So thanks for those useful
suggestions. -- Jon Hill
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
