Hi
I am new to this forum but as a sax player also partake in the SOTW forum so many here may well be forum "doublers"!!
I constantly lookout for Ebay bargains for clarinets and have bid successfully on a number over the past year. In particular my Noblet 40, 1973, which I find extremely forgiving to play and the only setback is the "non-wood" bell. I have a number waiting restoration. A Normandy Special is all but finished and I am looking forward to playing it "sorted". There are some excellend bargains to be found on Ebay but you have to be careful and read between the lines. I have made errors and managed to correct them thankfully but that usually is due to mis-advertising or a moment of brain blindness. Many advertise without understanding their instuments, indeed the majority I suspect are not players. This is contrary I think to the sax for sale section where the players appear to prevail. As such the opportunity to find the proverbial bargain is better with clarinets. also an easier instrument and cheaper, to work on.
I have recently developed interest in older simple system style clarinets. In particular Thibouville Lamy and have a couple about to go under the screwdriver! When you consider the sound instruments such as the Normandy and Noblet 40 above, that come with plastic bells there are opportunities to buy older unfashionable instruments that come with lovely wooden bells, many of which can fit immediately in place of the plastic versions. Obviously note needs to be taken of the tonal changes etc but a darn sight cheaper than buying a replacement matched bell!! also, many of these instruments clean up to reveal beautiful wood and as I love working with wood this is an added pleasure. The big bonus is revealing a good playing instrument.
Perhaps many people focus on the big name models and forget that the craftsmen of years gone by were just that, specialists in every respect and producers of excellent clarinets. If I can find an older clarinet that looks and feels good and plays beautifully then I am happy.
Do any of you folk out there feel the same or have definitive thoughts on older clarinets? Mind you judging from the Ebay ads almost every clarinet of 10 years age or more is "vintage" !!! Also any thoughts on mouthpiece matching for these older horns?
I will be interested in your responses
I am new to this forum but as a sax player also partake in the SOTW forum so many here may well be forum "doublers"!!
I constantly lookout for Ebay bargains for clarinets and have bid successfully on a number over the past year. In particular my Noblet 40, 1973, which I find extremely forgiving to play and the only setback is the "non-wood" bell. I have a number waiting restoration. A Normandy Special is all but finished and I am looking forward to playing it "sorted". There are some excellend bargains to be found on Ebay but you have to be careful and read between the lines. I have made errors and managed to correct them thankfully but that usually is due to mis-advertising or a moment of brain blindness. Many advertise without understanding their instuments, indeed the majority I suspect are not players. This is contrary I think to the sax for sale section where the players appear to prevail. As such the opportunity to find the proverbial bargain is better with clarinets. also an easier instrument and cheaper, to work on.
I have recently developed interest in older simple system style clarinets. In particular Thibouville Lamy and have a couple about to go under the screwdriver! When you consider the sound instruments such as the Normandy and Noblet 40 above, that come with plastic bells there are opportunities to buy older unfashionable instruments that come with lovely wooden bells, many of which can fit immediately in place of the plastic versions. Obviously note needs to be taken of the tonal changes etc but a darn sight cheaper than buying a replacement matched bell!! also, many of these instruments clean up to reveal beautiful wood and as I love working with wood this is an added pleasure. The big bonus is revealing a good playing instrument.
Perhaps many people focus on the big name models and forget that the craftsmen of years gone by were just that, specialists in every respect and producers of excellent clarinets. If I can find an older clarinet that looks and feels good and plays beautifully then I am happy.
Do any of you folk out there feel the same or have definitive thoughts on older clarinets? Mind you judging from the Ebay ads almost every clarinet of 10 years age or more is "vintage" !!! Also any thoughts on mouthpiece matching for these older horns?
I will be interested in your responses