- Joined
- Jun 26, 2010
Hello Friends,
If I were a woodwind player rather than a brasser, I could wet a reed and answer most of my own questions. Failing that, I hope I can rely on some of you for guidance.
Description: it's a B&H 2-20 Bb soprano that turned up in a relative's closet. Serial number: 254641. It was stored under favorable conditions, so it should be fine, structurally speaking. I would judge it as made of nice-quality, tightly-grained grenadilla. The only other distinguishing mark is the familiar Globe-with-Superimposed 8th-Note logo which is stamped on the barrel, not on the bell section as one would expect. It is in a molded plastic case, which would probably mean it was manufactured after 1960.
To my eye, it presents as an intermediate-level instrument, but remember, I'm a brass player.
Questions: Can anyone pinpoint the date of manufacture? (My own searching turns up conflicting dates.) Were these B&H clarinets much esteemed? Or, in other words, how would this B&H compare to other intermediate clarinets of past decades, like the LeBlanc Vito? After a competent cork-and-pad overhaul and key adjustment, would this instrument be a nice gift for a young player? Could it fetch an honorable price if offered for sale, even though it's not of FRENCH origin?
If I were a woodwind player rather than a brasser, I could wet a reed and answer most of my own questions. Failing that, I hope I can rely on some of you for guidance.
Description: it's a B&H 2-20 Bb soprano that turned up in a relative's closet. Serial number: 254641. It was stored under favorable conditions, so it should be fine, structurally speaking. I would judge it as made of nice-quality, tightly-grained grenadilla. The only other distinguishing mark is the familiar Globe-with-Superimposed 8th-Note logo which is stamped on the barrel, not on the bell section as one would expect. It is in a molded plastic case, which would probably mean it was manufactured after 1960.
To my eye, it presents as an intermediate-level instrument, but remember, I'm a brass player.
Questions: Can anyone pinpoint the date of manufacture? (My own searching turns up conflicting dates.) Were these B&H clarinets much esteemed? Or, in other words, how would this B&H compare to other intermediate clarinets of past decades, like the LeBlanc Vito? After a competent cork-and-pad overhaul and key adjustment, would this instrument be a nice gift for a young player? Could it fetch an honorable price if offered for sale, even though it's not of FRENCH origin?