CLARINETS DIRECT

020 8893 3172 or 07787 770071

LUCIAN BASSI C CLARINET, £725

A very rare Bassi C clarinet, which is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct. The instrument is part of the estate of the late David Hamilton, an excellent teacher, who numbered amongst his many fine pupils Michael Collins. 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. 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. We have just fully overhauled and re-padded the instrument in double bladder fish skin, and it is sold with our full 1 year Clarinets Direct warranty. The m'piece is a dedicated C clarinet m'piece of the period, which tunes well at A=440, though the instrument could be played with a modern Bb m'piece shortened by approx. 2.5mm. 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.