 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: RichyRich
Date: 2007-07-30 04:50
I was given a silver/metal clarinet from one of my family members who was a music teacher. It is a C Bettony Clarinet Model A4573. Can anyone give me any background history on this instrument? I can't seem to find info on the web for this particular model. I'd like to learn how to play this wonderful instrument. Also where can I purchase a replacement mouthpiece since it currently does not have one. I can't seem to find that information either when I google mouthpiece for this particular model. I would much appreciate input from anyone who may possess knowledge with regard to this instrument...Thanks and much Aloha's!! RichyRich.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2007-07-30 14:51
Hi- RR, Perhaps some of your info retrieval problems are due to slight misspellings. BettonEy's initial is/was H [Harry]. The C is prob. for Cundy, a partner [I believe] in his later cl making efforts. Our Search should produce many hits, as perhaps will a Google search. Jim Lande, on this great BBoard, is our metal cl's expert, and has put many lists into our archives for searches such as yours. In my limited experience with them, I'd suggest trying-out a number of Bb sop. cl mps to find one which pleases you. The lesser-exoensive metal cl's, being intended for beginning students, and outdoor use, were/are often quite poor re: intonation as compared to the higher quality plastics and good woods. Luck, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Kruzi
Date: 2007-07-30 15:59
Hi!
If you are referring to a number engraved into the clarinet like this one:
http://i10.tinypic.com/6hdi7o5.jpg it is the serial number of your instrument. The Bettoney clarinets don`t have their models determined by numbers but by names instead, like "Cadet" (student), "Three Star" , "H.Bettoney"(intermediate) and "Silva-Bet"(pro).
And there are also no replacement mouthpieces available for a clarinet.
This is so because each mouthpiece is different, even within the same make, series and chamber design you won`t find two mouthpieces that are completely identical. It`s the player who has to choose a mouthpiece that fits his or her needs. If you don`t want to go through the hassle of choosing a mouthpiece as a beginner you can get a Vandoren M13 and
play some Reeds from Rico Royal, reed strength 2.5, on it. The M13 is one of the best stock mouthpieces around these days, and works fine with these medium light Rico reeds on a Bettoney metal clarinet. And don`t get shocked by the price of the mouthpiece - a good mouthpiece has its`price. But it is worth every cent and lasts a life long.
Another important thing is that you have a barrel on your clarinet. The barrel is the part in which the mouthpiece is inserted. Here`s a pic with two clarinet barrels in comparison, one from a silver clarinet and the other from a "normal" wooden one, both with the mouthpiece half-inserted:
http://i16.tinypic.com/6cn2gli.jpg
The barrel of a silver clarinet is a crucial part that often gets lost and cannot be replaced easily. The only makers of metal clarinets that are still around today and can make a new barrel for a metal clarinet are Martin Foag in Bavaria and some makers of G-clarinets in Greece and Turkey.
If you consider learning to play on your silver clarinet get it to a repair tech for cleaning and repadding it with leather pads. Don`t let it be replated -this has a negative effect on the clarinet`s tone. I had a Silver King that was ruined this way. It looked like brandnew after the replating, but it sounded terrible too:-(. My current metal clarinet was just cleaned, highgloss-polished and got new corks and pads and minor adjustments.
It looks old and worn with the plating partly vanished, but it still sounds great -instant 40s swing jazz inside kinda;-)
Here`s a website with more specific information about silver clarinets in general:
http://www.silver-clarinet.com/
Greetings,
Kruzi
Take what you`ve got and make the best of it!
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