 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: windplr
Date: 2014-08-30 00:40
One is being offered locally, but I am not familiar with the brand. Just seeking any info regarding the build quality and whether these are considered high end instruments. TIA.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-08-30 01:01
Sounds like it could be a stencil model - most likely made by Malerne.
Can you post any photos of it? The speaker mechanism is a dead giveaway and they (usually) have a LH Ab/Eb lever fitted as standard.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2014-08-30 01:27
Except for the familiar names, you'll get an ACSO (Alto Clarinet Shaped Object).
If you're serious, get a Bundy, which will at least be playable and save up for a good one, such as a Series 9 Selmer or a new Buffet.
Ken Shaw
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2014-08-30 03:03
Ken Shaw wrote:
> Except for the familiar names, you'll get an ACSO (Alto
> Clarinet Shaped Object).
>
> If you're serious, get a Bundy, which will at least be playable
> and save up for a good one, such as a Series 9 Selmer or a new
> Buffet.
>
> Ken Shaw
I would say, after trying many vintage alto clarinets, that in many cases french stencil alto clarinets can be at the same level or much better than most Bundys. This particular one is most likely a Malerne and was probably available in both wood or HR, both of which are better acoustic materials than plastic. Considering that most professional alto clarinets cost upwards of several thousand dollars a French stencil such as this one is a great option in my opinion.
Assuming that it is in perfect playing condition, I would not pay over $500 for it.
Best of luck!
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2014-08-30 20:52
Well, there is at least one person who would disagree. According to the "Vintage Clarinet Doctor," Jean Cartier clarinets were Dolnet stencils. See:
http://www.thevintageclarinetdoctor.com/obscure-makers.html
I don't know if he is any more expert than the experts on this Board but it has occurred to me in the past that Malerne's factory didn't really have the capacity to produce all the clarinets that have been attributed to it. I might also mention that if you Google "dolnet cartier" you will get a number of hits from sax-on-the-web that appear to confirm that Dolnet made Cartier saxes. (And from my limited reading, it looks like Cartier may have been a Dolnet brand rather than a company that commissioned clarinets from Dolnet.)
I have a Jean Cartier Bb clarinet, FWIW. When I put it alongside my Malerne, I see many similarities in design, particularly tone hole size and placement and key cup design. But I also see some obvious differences, e.g., a smaller trill key guide and a shorter register key on the Cartier, quite different looking bridge key mechanisms (both sides), also, there are some differences in size and angle of the right-hand pinky keys. And, the tenon caps on the upper joints of the two clarinets are different. These differences could simply be due to the difference in ages of the clarinets but I wouldn;t rule out a different maker.
I would suggest you take a look at the clarinet. I think Dolnet had a pretty good reputation for quality in its day.
Best regards,'
jnk
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-08-30 21:07
He classes B&H and Conn (among others) as obscure makers on there, so take things with a pinch of salt.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2014-08-30 21:08)
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Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2014-08-30 21:40
I suspect his target audience is not people who frequent this bulletin board, but rather people who are lucky to have heard of anything other than Buffet, Leblanc, Selmer and Yamaha. After those four, everything else is obscure by comparison. Conn hasn't made clarinets in years and Boosey & Hawkes clarinets have never been common on this side of the pond.
jnk
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