Hi,

My son plays a C-clarinet as he's only 8. However, a friend of ours (who needed some cash and I've known for a number of years as being generally honest) asked us to buy a clarinet he had but wasn't using.

It's a Bb clarinet and I have tried to find out the make and/or any other information. The only markings on it are:

J.J.Riley which is inscribed on one part and T21051 stamped under the keys on one section with what looks to be a C5 mouthpiece.

It's black and chrome in a presentation case, that has an 'Eminent' plastic label inside.

Could anyone help in identifying the manufacturer?

Also, is it a decent make - the thought is that we'd then keep it for my son as he moves onto a Bb clarinet.

Thanks,

David

I've done a quick search for it on this site, google and woodwind.org but can't find out anything about it.

Depending on its condition, you might need to get it serviced - for instance it might need new pads or cork, or other work. This could add anything from £50 to maybe £150 to your initial cost. On the other hand it may be perfect and might not need any servicing!

If you decide not to go ahead with the Riley, you might like to know for future budgeting that you can get a Hanson student clarinet for just over £200 and they have a rental scheme available as well. A number of people on this forum have a Hanson clarinet and are very happy with them.

Welcome to the forums by the way!

It might be worth getting his teacher to check it out if that's possible.

That's the best advice I can give too.

It's not a name I have come across before. There is a Rico mouthpiece called a C5, which suggests the mouthpiece is not made by the same manufacturer as the main body of the clarinet (Rico don't make clarinets).

It crossed my mind that it might be of Chinese origin, but I cannot be at all sure of this.

I'd agree with speaking ot the Teacher.

The first Sax I bought was a bargain that turned into a mistake, didn't have a name and I now know it's a Chineese one of dubious manufacture.

We now have two Hanson Saxes and a third hiding behind the drawers waiting for Christmas morning. We also have a Clarinet and they are definately worth speaking to about student instruments. If you buy through your sons school or your local Music Service you will be able to save the VAT. It's worth waiting until your Son is old enough to need a Bb instrument.

If it were a very old looking wooden clarinet, it could maybe be an old french stencil - a copy of a well known clarinet made by another firm.

However, I reckon that Barry's right. There are lots of chinese imports around, all with different names. They're usually very nice to look at, shiny silver keys, smart case etc.

If teacher is not aware of the many problems that these instruments pose, he/she may think it's a decent instrument without realising that these clarinets can play well at the beginning but soon start falling apart.

I second the Hanson idea. Excellent clarinets for the price!

Steve

Thanks - it doesn't look new - I'd suggest 40 years old. It's wooden - there's black wood and cork there.

The case did have some stickers on but it looks like the previous owner(s) have removed them.

I do know that it's been serviced recently, and all the previous owner was told was that it was old and a "well made clarinet".

I'll ask the teacher - and thanks for all your advice.

David

Hmm, intruiging! Some of these older clarinets are really amazing.

You may have a collector's item on your hands!

Steve

PS

If you have a digi camera, could you post some pics?

I think pics would really help in identifying the clari, yes, if you can.

It does sound interesting!...

It might well be that it is from a lokal woodwind instrument maker. You could ask the guild for a hint. I now there is a flute maker guild in London. Probably they can tell you more about clarinet makers, maybe even provide you with an address as they usually have members lists. If it is, than it might be well worth a general inspection as the materials used are very likely high quality. You only should make sure that the wood isn't split anywhere, as it changes the tone of the instrument.

Not only that, if a crack is bad enough, it could render the instrument unplayable, so do check.

I've added photos below:










Hopefully that will help!

you could try asking at the clarinet board: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/list.html?f=1

Chris

Yes, they always seem to know the answer.

But I'm amazed that there is no logo at the top of the upper joint!!

Also, I just wonder if the J.J.Riley may be the owner who had his name engraved on the bell.

A mystery!

Steve

Are you sure about it being wooden? Looks a bit like plastic to me.

May be the light, but can I see a tiny trace of logo at the top of the top joint? Maybe a close up pic would be useful if you can?

Wasn't J J Riley a jazz player or have I imagined that?

I disagree - you can see the grain and my plastic one wouldn't photograph up like this - It would look much more shiny. (just my opinion)

Unfortunately some of the cheap platic ones these days are dressed up with a brushed/grained matt finish to make them look quite like wood. I was going more by the look of the tenons, and the lack of reinforcement rings (usually a sign of a better quality wooden one, although they don't all have them). But these things are always hard to judge from a photo (one of the dangers of E-bay!), which is why I was asking too double check!

Other than that all I can say is that the side keys on the top joint look quite massively engineered! I've seen keys like that on some better American made clarinets, but also on cheap Chinese copies so that doesn't really help.

I suppose it really depends on what they were asking for it. If it's only £20 it's probably not worth worry about, but if it's £200 you might be better off going for a new plastic one like a Buffet B12, or one of the Hanson student models, that can be got for not much more than that.

I once bought a clarinet that was described as wood, and honestly, it looked like wood! It's a very old instrument 'Selmer Studente Consort London'. Before you all get excited, it's the worst clarinet I ever had, and I used it to practise repadding, spring changing etc!

But it really did look like wood!!! I finally realised that it couldn't be wood when I left all my instruments down in the cellar during a very humid autumn, winter, sping. It was the only clarinet not covered in mould!! :ph34r

A well brushed ebonite clarinet can look remarkably like wood.

Steve

Ok. Point taken.