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The Big List of Small Workshop Clarinet Makers

Author: reedfriendly
Date: 2015-04-06 22:35

I tried this question on reddit but figured I might get some more meaningful responses here.

I'm interested in putting together a list of active, small workshop clarinet makers around the world. I'm probably not alone in considering Buffet instruments as not what they used to be, and not deserving of their large market share. I myself would like to buy an instrument someday from a workshop that has maintained a quality and heritage, but how do you know what you're buying? I think a list of these makers is at least a place to start. Let's set the following parameters for our list:

-No mass production.
-No outsourced labor or materials.
-World class quality
-Produce at least a French-Fingered Bb instrument with the above attributes. (Since we're looking at Buffet alternatives, I think it's safe to count out exclusive German makes)

That said, the following information about the companies would be helpful to include or clarify where missing:

-Price of entry-level Professional Bb instrument
-Bore choices offered (American, French, Reform, French/Reform Hybrid, English wide bore)
-Country of Origin
-Ordering details (is there a storefront with demo models? wait list? lead time?)

I'll prime the pot with the following makers. Some may already be defunct, and I am extremely anxious to find out if Stephen Fox is still in business.

Stephen Fox
http://www.sfoxclarinets.com/Nexus.html
-Eb, C, Bb, A, G, Basset Horn, advertised a bass at one time
-Toronto

Schwenk & Seggelke
http://www.schwenk-und-seggelke.de/englisch/klarinetten_3000.php
-C, Bb, A, Basset Clarinet, Basset Horn in German Bore
-Bb & A in French bore
-French fingered Bass Clarinet available?
-Deluxe model (R13 type bore in Boxwood) Played by Charles Neidich

Rossi
http://www.rossiclarinet.com/
-Eb, D, C, Bb, A
-7 Bores Available: American, French, LR, Reform Boehm, Large Bore, English Bore, Viennese Bore

Guy Chadash
http://www.chadashclarinet.com/Products/Clarinets.html
-Bb and A

Herbert Wurlitzer
http://www.wurlitzerklarinetten.de/Wurlitzer_Clarinets/Reform-Boehm.html
-Has an American Distributor
http://wurlitzerclarinetsamerica.com/products/clarinets.html
-Reform Boehm instruments in Eb, C, Bb, A, A (basset), F (basset), Bass

F. Arthur Uebel
http://uebel-klarinetten.de/deutsch/modelle.html
-Boehm Clarinets in Bb, A, Bass

Otmar Hammerschmidt
http://www.hammerschmidt-klarinetten.at/cgi-bin/frameset.pl?sid=952096301203&vid=605662178570&l=deutsch&f=home&id=
-Boehm Clarinets in Bb and A

Frank Hammerschmidt
http://www.frank-klarinetten.com/html/willkommen.html
-Bb and A reform models?
-Article. http://holz.fureai.or.jp/catalogue/Frank01.html

Eberhard Scherzer
-No Website found. Well spoken of but presumed defunct.

Moennig-Adler/Oscar Adler
http://www.moennig-adler.de/en/instruments/clarinet/french_clarinets/oscar_adler/
-Bb and A, French Bore
-(Note: The 912S is the only instrument on this list I've played personally. It compared extremely favorably to my Buffets and would have been a major consideration had I been shopping at the time.)

Wolfgang Dietz
http://www.dietz-klarinetten.de/boehm_system_eng.html
-Models in Eb, D, C, Bb, A
-Reform, French, and Hybrid Bores

Martin Foag
http://s522394708.online.de//Englisch/frameset.htm
-Reform Boehm in Bb, A, G

Richard Mueller
http://www.klarinettenmueller.de/instrumente.html
-At least Bb and A, possibly, Eb and Basset Horn

Harald Huyng
http://www.hueyng.de/unsere-klarinetten/boehm-system/b-und-a-klarinetten.html
-Reform Boehm in Bb and A

Leitner & Kraus
http://www.leitner-kraus.de/en/?page_id=652
-Reform Boehm in Eb, D, C, Bb, A, A (basset), Basset Horn
-French Bore in Bb and A

Peter Eaton
http://www.eatonclarinets.com/
-French and English Bores
-in Bb and A

Howarth of London
http://www.howarth.uk.com/clarinets.html
-No pro clarinets currently listed but perhaps they are out of stock?

By now you've noticed that the websites are potato-quality at best, which makes this kind of shopping a difficult task for those of us interested in going off the beaten path. Perhaps we can share info here!

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