CLARINETS DIRECT

020 85811113 or 07787 770071

LUCIAN BASSI C CLARINET, £895

A very rare Bassi C clarinet, which is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct. The instrument was formerly owned by the late David Hamilton, an excellent teacher, who numbered amongst his many fine pupils Michael Collins. More recently it has been owned by an amateur player, who has maintained the clarinet very well, and purchased a Grabner C clarinet m'piece to use on the clarinet. The instrument is stamped also " Sole Agents J. Heyworth & Son Blackpool Paris London". Heyworth were also the agents for the great Albert company. The following is just conjecture, but curiously the instrument features a 5 pointed star: Albert "fakes" or "stencils", as manufactured by the French makers Thibouville, often carried a 5 pointed star rather than a 6 pointed star as found on genuine E J Alberts. I wonder, if in fact, this instrument was also made by Thibouville. Certainly the instrument appears to be of fine French manufacture.
The German Silver key work is in good condition, and is of excellent quality. The Grenadilla wood shows no cracks or damage. All main pieces are matching and original. All fish skin pads are in excellent order throughout, with no wear. David Hamilton has reduced the diameter of the C#/G# hole and also the bore at this point, with what appears to be nail varnish to correct the sharpness of this twelfth. The original m'piece is a dedicated C clarinet m'piece of the period, which tunes well at A=440, though the instrument can also be played with the supplied Grabner C m'piece . The case has repairs in tape to the exterior and additional padding to the interior with a duster cloth and foam. It latches and protects the instrument well.