I have just lucked into a Selmer professional quality Mazzeo system clarinet. It belongs to a professional musician father of a friend of mine, and he is liquidating all of his non-plateau clarinets due to his suffering from the shakes and his inability to securely seat his fingers on the tone holes.
From the photos, it looks to be of Series 9 vintage, nickel plated keywork with some wear, but no cracks or other damage. It is not the "full Boehm" version (you see those occasionally, and they command high prices), but (most importantly) it has all of the parts for the "clutch" that I have always found missing on other, cheaper Mazzeo horns. And, based upon the condition of the other instruments in his collection (some of which I have played), it's going to be in first class order.
Jim, the sax playing son of the owner, has played it and really enjoyed the regularity of the throat tones. He said they were the best he has ever heard from a clarinet. I point out to him that he too can have a clear and strong Bb if he would only use the side key for those notes when feasible. He scoffs at the idea, but he is (after all) a bassoon player by training, so what can you expect?
Once it's here, I'll play it for a week or so, and then send it off to Marvin at St. Louis Woodwind and Brasswind for an overhaul and silver plating of the bright work.
Another holy grail off of the list...
From the photos, it looks to be of Series 9 vintage, nickel plated keywork with some wear, but no cracks or other damage. It is not the "full Boehm" version (you see those occasionally, and they command high prices), but (most importantly) it has all of the parts for the "clutch" that I have always found missing on other, cheaper Mazzeo horns. And, based upon the condition of the other instruments in his collection (some of which I have played), it's going to be in first class order.
Jim, the sax playing son of the owner, has played it and really enjoyed the regularity of the throat tones. He said they were the best he has ever heard from a clarinet. I point out to him that he too can have a clear and strong Bb if he would only use the side key for those notes when feasible. He scoffs at the idea, but he is (after all) a bassoon player by training, so what can you expect?
Once it's here, I'll play it for a week or so, and then send it off to Marvin at St. Louis Woodwind and Brasswind for an overhaul and silver plating of the bright work.
Another holy grail off of the list...