 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-08-11 08:13
I've just finished restoring an old Rampone Albert system Bb that I bought in a fairly dilapidated state on Ebay a while ago. It's the first of the breed I've come across, so I was interested to see how it would come out. I must say that I was pleasantly surprised at the result.
While neglected, it was in quite good order mechanically, although well used at some point. The keywork was tight and well made, although a bit more bendy than I like. The woodwork was good, although I was surprised to find that the wood was painted rather than stained. Where there were a few chips the underlying wood was much lighter than I've generally seen. I removed the paint and the result is a better-looking instrument, with good grain showing.
Repadding was a bit fiddly, some of the pad angles were a bit odd. Eventually I chased all the leaks away and it all worked as advertised. It tunes well and the tone is much sweeter than my other horns except an old Jerome Thibouville-Lamy. It produces good volume with a Selmer HS** and will be good for jazz.
Tony F.
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Author: ned
Date: 2014-08-11 10:28
Tony F wrote: ''It produces good volume with a Selmer HS** and will be good for jazz.''
Is there any particular reason it will be good for jazz?
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-08-11 12:22
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Only that I've sold quite a few Alberts of various persuasions to jazz players, who seem to particularly favour them. This one sounds a lot better than most that I've come across.
Tony F.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-08-11 16:42
Tony: I'll bet Woody Allen would buy this in a flash.......Fabulous looking restoration..
Bob Draznik
Post Edited (2014-08-11 19:48)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2014-08-11 19:52
I'm aware of the reputation the Albert System horns had and continue to have among jazz musicians but I always wonder if that system clarinet actually did have a different sound or not. My impression is that the early guys only had Albert system horns available to them.
Bob Draznik
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2014-08-11 20:06
Hi Bob,
I don't think it's a matter of what they sound like, more a matter of the agility of fingering. Most jazz Albert players I've spoken to like them because they say that they're easier to play fast. Boehm system horns have been readily available since the late 1800's. I personally prefer the Boehm system, but each to his own.
Tony F.
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Author: ErezK
Date: 2014-08-13 00:23
If I were a jazz player I'd get one on looks factor alone...
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2014-08-13 03:41
I think that in early days of jazz most players used ex-military instruments since these were fairly common and fairly cheap.
Almost invariably these early miltary clarinets were Albert or simple system, partly I suspect because they were mechanically simpler and more robust (and probably cheaper).
Several retired military clarinetists I played with in the mid 1950s were still using simple system instruments.
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Author: modernicus
Date: 2014-08-16 00:53
I believe early jazz players used Albert because of the influence of the Tio family.
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