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Re: Boosey and Hawks 2-20?

Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-06-05 20:36

B&H Series 2-20 clarinets are the next rung up from a beginner level plastic clarinet to a wooden clarinet and have the same bore and tonehole layout as all the B&H clarinets from the plastic Regent through to the pro level Imperial 926.

For £100, they're a solid and reliable instrument and if you're planning on have it fully restored, then it'll be worth it as the current equivalent clarinets to it on the market are the Buffet E11 and the Yamaha YCL-450.

Also if you're spending good money on its restoration, I definitely recommend you have the middle tenon rings rebuilt so there's a decent width upper tenon ring which will offer stability whilst playing. B&H used the exact same width cork slot on all the tenons, so the middle tenon being shorter than the others meant the tenon cork went right up to the tenon shoulder and also have the metal tenon ring either replaced with a new (and wider diameter) one or have the existing metal one shimmed and machined down to the ideal diameter to fit the lower joint socket.

The 2-20 is the same clarinet as a B&H Edgware, B&H Marlborough, Besson Westminster, Besson "55", Rudall Carte Starline and Rudall Carte Romilly Rondo - all were the same stencil model made by B&H. The main features being wooden body with inset ebonite tonehole chimneys, nickel plated keywork, stainless steel screws, either phosphor bronze or beryllium copper springs (later replaced with stainess steel) and were either fitted with or without a metal bell ring.

While you can buy them used for very little, their equivalent insurance value is that of a Buffet E11 or Yamaha YCL-450, so don't base how much you're prepared (or not prepared) to spend on having them restored as the purchase price isn't relative to the actual value.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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