Obscure Brands and Great Players

6/10/2013

Recently, I posted a blog on Thibouville Freres clarinets, (an obscure French brand with which I've always had good luck), and it got me thinking about all the good playing horns I've handled in the last decade and how many of them weren't Buffets or Selmers.

Just yesterday I finished this 1920's Pruefer 7 ring - obviously a pro instrument - and was really impressed: Great wood, well shaped keys, nicely assembly touches (like post locks on the lower stack), a large bore and an even, free-blowing response. Why spend $2600 if you can get something like this for less than $500?

I wish there were more people out there on the net giving thumbs - up to good old makes like this, so people would have the courage to step up and try something different. Does anyone else have a similar experience ?

3 Comments

John McIntyre

9/24/2013 12:29:07 pm

I've been the proud owner of the Pruefer for a few months. Looks great, sounds great, and plays freely just as described. I love to do show and tell with it, and last night at a rehearsal encountered a piece that had an Ab Bb trill, made easy by the 7th ring. Vintage instruments are great. A friend recently bought a 50's era bassoon that looks and sounds wonderful.

Art

11/22/2015 10:46:31 pm

Beats me why anyone would spend what they all for the likes of a new E11 when any of the following will do as well or better..
Evette, evette and schaeffer, thibouville, cousenon, penzel mueller, conn, ..not to mention that buying a clarinet that hasn't cracked in decades is a better bet than the new one staying crack free. Another important point is that people's hands are different...some makers key layout fit some hands better...and a better fit means easier fast passages. As long as you get yesteryears pro model no earlier than mid fifties if you need tuning good enough for classical playing you'll be fine. For klezmer, jazz etc...you can go back into the thirties or forties. Nothing like trying a lot of them! I have literally hundreds of vintage clarinets...no end of fun! :-)

S S

2/10/2018 04:39:29 am

My first clarinet (which I still like to play) is a stencil stamped Andre Piccard Paris, made sometime in the 50s or 60s. I got it on Craigslist for next to nothing, and had to get it overhauled because it hadn't left its case in years. Every repairman I have asked about it has made the same assessment: I may not have gotten a professional model, but it is a very well-made instrument. What's funny is that no one has agreed on who actually made it. But I really do love playing it, and still think of how unbelievably lucky I was to get a decent instrument off Craigslist when I had no idea what I was doing or looking for.

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Obscure Brands and Great Players

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