 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2007-04-24 13:24
Given the relative rarity of vintage Couesnon Monopole clarinets, I'm not sure if anyone on the Forum will be able to answer my question. But, let's roll the dice and see....
I've had a 1960 CM clarinet (serial number 28564) for around 4 years and absolutely love it. Just recently I acquired another CM. This one has a 34823 serial number and appears to have been made in the 70's.
One thing I noticed right off the bat is how the parts are not interchangable between the two clarinets. While the bore size appears to be similar, the fitting measurements (barrel, joints, bell) are larger on the 1960 CM. Thus, as an example, the 70's CM bell is too small to fit the 1960 CM's lower joint. Same with the other parts.
I'm curious why this is. Any insights?
It's my impression that the 1960 CM has a naturally darker and fatter sound; whereas, the 70's CM seems to be louder and has more ring (more Buffet-like perhaps).
Thanks for any help that can be offered.
Roger
Post Edited (2007-04-24 15:21)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-04-24 13:37
Was Couesnon acquired by another (or larger) company in the '70s?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2007-04-24 14:29
Here's a link that has some information about the Couesnon company. It's written from the perspective of Couesnon brass instruments.
http://www.dallasmusic.org/gearhead/Couesnon%3F.html%20
PGM Couesnon continues to make brass instruments and drums. Here's a link to their web site (in French).
http://www.pgm-couesnon.com/index.htm
It's my understanding that the factory fire (mentioned on both web sites) was the end of Couesnon clarinet production. Frankly, I'm confused as to the date of the fire. The Dallasmusic site gives a 1969 date and the PGM Couesnon site gives a 1979 date.
Anyway, I think we're on safe ground to say that Couesnon Monopole clarinets have not been produced for approximately 30 years.
Roger
Post Edited (2007-04-24 14:30)
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Author: PE Bb
Date: 2007-04-24 15:38
My Couesnon Monopole is older than both of yours. (Serial #012xx) I extrapolate this to be 1940's or 50's based on other CM instruments that have turned up on the web at times. It can not exchange parts (bell, barrel) with my E11 A clarinet. Also, top socket of the barrell was a bit smaller than most clarinets I compared it to. It had compressed the cork on my mouthpiece to a point where I couldn't use the mouthpiece on another instrument without a piece of paper wrapped around the tenon. I finally opened up the barrel socket a little so that I could swap my mouthpiece easily back and forth with my A clarinet. (I'd love to find an A Couesnon sometime)
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2007-04-24 16:04
I don't have much information, but I've had in my possession at one time or another three variants (keywork-wise) of Monopole clarinets:
1) A totally conventional standard-Boehm design;
2) Same as above, but with an extra ring for the L.H. ring finger permanently fixed to the upper stack rod (this is my current 1952 model); and
3) Standard Boehm but with a roller on the upper/upper R.H. pinky spatula.
Post Edited (2007-04-24 17:12)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2007-04-24 16:06
There's local player witjh a Couesnon A paired with his B&H 926 Bb (the C#/G# tonehole hasn't been countersunk, just like an old Selmer A I've got - maybe it was a trend!), and another local player ha a one-piece body Couesnon Bb with a RH finger 1 throat A lever.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Roger Aldridge
Date: 2007-04-24 16:14
David,
My 1960 CM has the roller as you described in #3. However, my 70's CM does not. Also, the new CM has a different feeling hand-wise as my older one. I have to reach a bit further for the left side B lever.
Overall, it appears to me that the 1960 CM is of higher quality with respect to materials and craftsmanship. But, there's nothing wrong with the new CM. It plays very well and its sound is growing on me. It's just that it's rather different from my 1960 model.
I cannot help but be curious if Couesnon made the later CMs to be more along the lines of Buffet.
Roger
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