CLARINETS DIRECT

020 85811113 or 07787 770071

MATCHED PAIR OF FRITZ WURLITZER, SCHMIDT REFORM BOEHM CLARINETS, £POA

Clarinets Direct is Europe's leading specialist clarinet dealer. We are fortunate indeed to be able to offer these rare and fine Fritz Wurlitzer Schmidt Reform Boehm system clarinets. For many players these clarinets are the ultimate Boehm system: in tune, made with consumate craftsmanship and offering a uniquely characterful tone, which contrasts sharply with some modern mass produced instruments. Fritz Wurlitzer has a reputation second to none: He is considered the pre-eminent German maker, he was succeeded by his son Herbert, and these days the firm of Schwenke and Seggelke are generally accepted as the most highly regarded clarinet makers in the World. Unlike many modern manufacturers who claim to make a Schmidt Reform Boehm, these clarinets are the genuine and superb article.
These clarinets feature: A booster mechanism for throat Bb. An additional vent for the D/A twelfth, working off the LH 3rd ring. An additional vent for RH middle finger B/F#, a much neater system than the B&H 1010 Acton Vent. A compensating low G/D pad. A hole in the bell to improve low E/B. RH rollers between Eb/Ab and low F/C. A LH Ab/Eb lever. All of this results in a clarinet of superb evenness and unmatched security of intonation. Indeed the problem confronting the player used to the inherent shortcomings of the standard Boehm, is learning not to adjust embouchure pressure to correct the non existent faults on this instrument! These late Fritz Wurlitzer instrument features a small bore of 14.60mm, something which his son Herbert continued with in his own designs. These instruments play very well with modern French bore m'pieces aspecially those made for, our sourced from the American market. The Vandoren "M" range m'pieces will also work, but beware of a gap left at the bottom of the tenon of the barrel, by the shorter tenon of the m'piece into the receiver tenon of the Wurlitzer barrrel. If this gap is left unfilled, i.e. by a tuning ring, wide 12ths in the LH will be the result.
The Bb has serial no. 2322, which makes it a very late example, dating to the late 1960s, and has Silver plate in very good condition throughout, with no discernable wear. The wood is excellent condition, without cracks or repairs. The thumb rest screws have been replaced. The instrument has just been re-padded by ourselves in white leather, and is sold with our full 1 year warranty. The instrument is stamped " Fritz Wurlitzer, Erlbach. V, Made in Germany". All pieces are matching and original, and the 2 supplied barrels measure 54.0mm & 55.5mm.
The A has serial no. 2494 and has Silver plate in very good condition throughout. The wood is again in excellent condition, in the main body, but the bell has cracked in the past, and the 3 cracks have been glued and filled, with the bell ring removed, probably as part of the repair. The cracks are only visible from the inside of the bell, see photo 8. The pads are used white leather, but all in very good condition. The instrument is stamped " Fritz Wurlitzer, Erlbach. V, Made in Germany". There are again 2 original barrels of 56.0mm and 56.5mm. The m'pieces are an "as new" Herbert Wurlitzer 3M+ which tunes the instruments in an exemplary fashion, and a J&D Hite in good used condition. The supplied case is much used but functional and comes with a Herbert Wurlitzer leather outer cover.