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BOOSEY & HAWKES IMPERIAL Eb CLARINET, HUNTRISS COLLECTION, £1795

This is a good condition Boosey and Hawkes Imperial, Eb Clarinet in Grenadilla wood, which is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct This Eb has a fine Provenance, and most recently it has been owned by Mike Huntriss, and it has been played professionally by him in both the Scottish National Orchestra and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.
Mike's natural habitat is as a Bass Clarinet player, and this has caused him to make several custom modifications to the key work, in order for his large digits to cope! 1. Both LH and RH sliver keys have been shortened and filed thinner. 2. Also the pad cup between LH 1 and LH2 has been filed back, so that the cork pad fitted there is clearly visible, see photo 6. 3. The thumb rest has been repositioned slightly higher, and the old screw holes filled, see photo 9. The Silver plated key work shows only slight wear, mainly to the tenon rings. There are no cracks or repairs to the wood, which is in good order throughout, with only normal signs of use. The instrument has recently has an overhaul, in tan leather pads [though some are cork], which are all sealing well. The serial nos. are 226696. The mouthpiece is a B&H original but it has been re-layed, to the type of lay favoured by Chris Swann and Michael Pearce, who were Eb clarinettists of the RLPO and Philharmonia respectively. It plays comfortably with Vandoren No. 3 or 3.5 reeds. The case is again original, in fair condition. In summation this Eb plays with a mellow, broad sound, and with excellent intonation.