 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetdoubler
Date: 2008-05-19 19:16
I'm a saxophonist looking to strengthen my clarinet doubling. I recently purchased a very old Diplomat Clarinet, serial 43762, from an estate sale for cheap. It is wooden and in good condition. The pads are shot however. This is going to require a lot of work to get into playing condition. I have been unable to locate any information on this type of clarinet on the internet. Please help!
I was hoping a clarinetist could advise me as to whether or not this is worth overhauling as well as its approx. value. It is not cracked and all keys are in nice shape.
Also, it came with a selmer goldentone size 3 mouthpiece. Is this a mouthpiece I should stick with or should I purchase something different? On the saxophone I use large tip openings so possibly I should invest in a more open mouthpiece.
Thanks for your help. I'm helpless!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2008-05-20 13:47
Good for you, C D, many of us "double", some on more than 2 horns !. I guess I still play sax like a cl, not v.v., starting on the cl, so , luck. I made a couple of quickie searches , see the above "clicks" on the BB, but didn't find Diplomat mentioned in what I read of our previous discussions . I did find an older post of mine re: Old Craftsman among a very large group of "mid 1900's" French-made cl imports for "stencilled" sale in the US, the most prolific maker being Malerne of Paris. Dave Spiegelthal prob. is our "best acquainted" cl player-repairer re: Malerne, perhaps he and others can give you some help. My 2 cents worth re: future work-expense, If the wood is still good and the keys "appear" to NOT be "pot-metal" , I'd rebuild it and "tweak " it, it might be a VG player. LUCK, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2008-05-20 18:02
I'm an amateur and no expert, but I've played on Selmer "Goldentone" mouthpieces for both sax and clarinet, and imho the Goldentone isn't very golden. It's not atrocious, either, but it's one of that company's cheaper offerings, sold for many years as a throw-in with new student instruments. Since you're not a beginner, you could probably do better--but ymmv, so give it a try and see what you think.
For a doubler who started on saxophone and probably is more comfortable on saxophone, it's usually easier to make the transition to the more open-tipped clarinet mouthpieces. Good, reasonably priced choices include the Fobes Debut and the Hite Premiere. They're sold for beginners and intermediates, but they're better than that (reverse snob appeal!). A lot of jazz players like them.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2008-05-21 00:24
What does your tech think about the quality of the instrument vs. the value of the instrument?
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
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Author: clarinetdoubler
Date: 2008-05-21 14:45
Don, thanks for your research. Lelia, thanks for the mouthpiece ID and suggestions. Jim and Suzy, i agree that it may be best to take this to my tech. I was hoping to identify the clarinet first and know its value before having a tech overhaul a clarinet of possibly low or moderate value.
What should I expect to pay a tech for the replacement of all pads and regular adjustment? As mentioned before, the clarinet is in very good shape aside from the pads that look as if they've been chewed on.
Don, if its any more help, the clarinet says "made in USA." I forgot to include this and your mention of "stenciled" french horns reminded me. Do I understand correctly that saxophone as well as clarinet stenciled horns were often made in other countries but branded (stenciled) in the USA. That being said, would it be acceptable to stamp "made in USA" on a stenciled horn produced elsewhere? Part of me thinks that is very misleading and wouldn't have happened.
Maybe I just have an American Diplomat...and just in time for the election.
bad humor, sorry.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2008-05-23 14:37
Sorry to be slow answering, C D, busy on many things [for a retiree !]. It would prob. be only "reprehensible" to label a foreing-made cl as USA, don't know of laws. Is there a number 7 digits like 1,705,xxx on it , if so you could safely assume it was one of Harry Bettoney's many models, Boston early 1900's. Other US mfgrs included Pruefer, Pedler, Penzel-Mueller, Conn, King-White. A "plahyability repair-restoration [minimal,] might only be about $100, perhaps. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: clarinetdoubler
Date: 2008-05-27 14:01
Lori-
I see that you are located in Wash. DC. Could you recommend any good but affordable clarinet repair persons for my overhaul in the NYC area? If not, one in DC could also be helpful.
Thanks,
Stuart
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