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Bundy (and Signet Special) Mazzeo Clarinets
- Thread starter pete
- Start date
While I have quite a collection of clarinets by some standards....
...I am by no means a "collector" in the traditional sense of the term.
In terms of saxophones, I am even less so - these days I only own a Conn alto of 1920's vintage and a Yamaha YBS 62 baritone - hardly the "collection" of a collector.
If I blundered across a mint condition Selmer (Paris) alto clarinet, I would not even soil my hands picking it up, leaving it in the middle of the road for some other lucky person to enjoy, or to profit from (ha!) by turning a quick sale on eBay, or even to be run down by a passing vehicle. Contempt takes many forms.
And, again, I make that statement with the distinction of having earned my first money as a musician whilst playing the alto clarinet - how many of you have earned a franc, cent, mark or penny in the same fashion?
It was telling that, when offered my pick of mouthpieces as additional compensation by the same Selmer rep who handed me my double sawbuck payday, I quickly homed in on a C* bass clarinet mouthpiece and ligature. The similar alto clarinet mouthpiece that I had used that evening (we were all gifted with the mouthpiece that we used, for obvious sanitary reasons) has long ago been consigned to the junk bin in the jumble room, while that gratuitously gifted bass mouthpiece gets occasional use to this very day.
...I am by no means a "collector" in the traditional sense of the term.
In terms of saxophones, I am even less so - these days I only own a Conn alto of 1920's vintage and a Yamaha YBS 62 baritone - hardly the "collection" of a collector.
If I blundered across a mint condition Selmer (Paris) alto clarinet, I would not even soil my hands picking it up, leaving it in the middle of the road for some other lucky person to enjoy, or to profit from (ha!) by turning a quick sale on eBay, or even to be run down by a passing vehicle. Contempt takes many forms.
And, again, I make that statement with the distinction of having earned my first money as a musician whilst playing the alto clarinet - how many of you have earned a franc, cent, mark or penny in the same fashion?
It was telling that, when offered my pick of mouthpieces as additional compensation by the same Selmer rep who handed me my double sawbuck payday, I quickly homed in on a C* bass clarinet mouthpiece and ligature. The similar alto clarinet mouthpiece that I had used that evening (we were all gifted with the mouthpiece that we used, for obvious sanitary reasons) has long ago been consigned to the junk bin in the jumble room, while that gratuitously gifted bass mouthpiece gets occasional use to this very day.
<raises hand>
...
Okay, okay, it was a Christmas fundraising gig for the Salvation Army. We were short of saxes, so I took my Bundy.
(In that process I learned that at temperatures below 0°C the plastic body contracts more than beyond the end play of the metal keywork. But the brass was little better off, with frozen valves and stuck slides)
I've never even touched an alto, let alone seen one (though I have seen the case of one, which I suspect may have been occupied !).
But I do have a Mazzeo system Bundy Sop I could be persuaded to part with (may include a converted ex-Mazzeo in the deal for a spare bell...)
But I do have a Mazzeo system Bundy Sop I could be persuaded to part with (may include a converted ex-Mazzeo in the deal for a spare bell...)
Salvation Army, Smalvation Army...
I can top that one with ease. When I was a young stud, I used to work a second job during the winter as a rink attendant at the Saint Louis Municipal Ice Rink, down in Forest Park.
Most of it was skating backwards for hours at a time, picking up the pretty girls who fell, and running the Zamboni once an hour. It was easy work for us young hockey players, and Georgia (the top dog in the parks department) used to take care of us guys well, with plenty of hours and adjustments to work hours when we needed it.
However, at Christmas time, there were some additional duties, one of which being the annual Christmas skating party, usually on Christmas Eve. For that day, we half frozen guys shed our wool rink attendant garb and dressed up in costumes. There were Santa, Santa's elves, various storybook characters and animals, all kept in a room back behind the locker room during the summer, serving as a home for wayward mice.
One year, there were four of us who were musically inclined, and one climber among us suggested that we form a small band to blow Christmas carols while so costumed. I opted for an Eb clarinet, figuring light and plastic was best for the situation, and I spent about six hours, dressed as a polar bear (I fit the costume the best), skating backwards in sub-freezing temperatures, faking my way through the canon of carols and other Christmas songs with frozen lips and stiff fingers.
We did get to have all the free hot cocoa that we wanted...
Mind you, I got paid for that as well. (However, I didn't get scale, since this was municipal work rather than union work. We had no worries about the business agent from the musicians' union; they were all staying inside where it was warm.) Was the Salvation Army gig a pay job?
I can top that one with ease. When I was a young stud, I used to work a second job during the winter as a rink attendant at the Saint Louis Municipal Ice Rink, down in Forest Park.
Most of it was skating backwards for hours at a time, picking up the pretty girls who fell, and running the Zamboni once an hour. It was easy work for us young hockey players, and Georgia (the top dog in the parks department) used to take care of us guys well, with plenty of hours and adjustments to work hours when we needed it.
However, at Christmas time, there were some additional duties, one of which being the annual Christmas skating party, usually on Christmas Eve. For that day, we half frozen guys shed our wool rink attendant garb and dressed up in costumes. There were Santa, Santa's elves, various storybook characters and animals, all kept in a room back behind the locker room during the summer, serving as a home for wayward mice.
One year, there were four of us who were musically inclined, and one climber among us suggested that we form a small band to blow Christmas carols while so costumed. I opted for an Eb clarinet, figuring light and plastic was best for the situation, and I spent about six hours, dressed as a polar bear (I fit the costume the best), skating backwards in sub-freezing temperatures, faking my way through the canon of carols and other Christmas songs with frozen lips and stiff fingers.
We did get to have all the free hot cocoa that we wanted...
Mind you, I got paid for that as well. (However, I didn't get scale, since this was municipal work rather than union work. We had no worries about the business agent from the musicians' union; they were all staying inside where it was warm.) Was the Salvation Army gig a pay job?
> Was the Salvation Army gig a pay job?
Good lord, no. After our Winter concert we thought it'd be nice to fill the last week before Christmas with some caroling, but you need a permit for busking here, whether or not you play with a hat or an open case in front of you, and getting a permit for the Zurich Bahnhofstrasse is difficult throughout the year and impossible before Christmas. Unless, of course, you're the Salvation Army doing their seasonal donation drive...you get the idea. Win-win.
On the way to the venue we had a lil' warmup at a train station (thaw the brass etc), and there an elderly lady tipped our bassist with a $20 bill, so technically we were paid.
Good lord, no. After our Winter concert we thought it'd be nice to fill the last week before Christmas with some caroling, but you need a permit for busking here, whether or not you play with a hat or an open case in front of you, and getting a permit for the Zurich Bahnhofstrasse is difficult throughout the year and impossible before Christmas. Unless, of course, you're the Salvation Army doing their seasonal donation drive...you get the idea. Win-win.
On the way to the venue we had a lil' warmup at a train station (thaw the brass etc), and there an elderly lady tipped our bassist with a $20 bill, so technically we were paid.
I got paid a couple years at minimum wage, including volunteer years maybe about 8, as a bell ringer in store fronts besides a Christmas donation kettle. I would play my different saxes (SATB) dressed in my motorcycle ballistic gear, jacket and overpants. They kept me warm bell ringing down to 22°F (-6°C). Later bought battery operated electric heating gloves, which kept my hands warm in the freezies for a couple hours.
Then a bit younger in my late 50's and 60's, I'd play for 2 hours straight A Capella traditional Christmas caroles, take a short break, do another 2 hours. Have someone come up to me saying, "I thought I was hearing a radio, and it is you!"
I was the highest kettle earner. A good ringer could bring in $25 -$35 per hour. As soon as I played, it jumped over $100 per hour. A lot of fun, but now that I am past 70, am starting to slow down.
Looking for a decent Bundy, recently I bought on EBay a Selmer 1400 Bb soprano clarinet in a Yamaha case. Price was $73, appears to be in reasonable shape, tenon corks appeared to be low mileage. I gather that the 1400 replaced the Bundy. Will know more when it is in. I wanted the bigger bore for jazz play.
Seems the 1400 is at the end of its production cycle. A few music stores advertise them new in stock at $1,400 - $1,500 US, but not listed on main on-line high volume stores like Musician's Friend and Sweetwater. They show the 300 series. Seems brand names are now asking pretty pennies.
For minor repairs, I have found the clarinet to be a bit easier to work on than saxes. Plan to on my clarinet excesses to donate them to the community band in good working order, help them gain musicians.
Also came across a Millbrook without case from the Salvation Army on Ebay. I was the only bidder, seemed to be in reasonably clean condition from photos, appears a low mileage Chinese stencil. Since any proceeds go toward funding their social services, I felt, why not, paid $28 shipping included. I already have a new clarinet aftermarket case that needs a clarinet.
Back in the mid 1980's I was issued a brand new Selmer Bundy Bb soprano clarinet. I was surprised how well this ebonite plastic horn played in tune throughout its range, better than the Buffet Crampon pro woodie I was issued in the early 1970's.
Then a bit younger in my late 50's and 60's, I'd play for 2 hours straight A Capella traditional Christmas caroles, take a short break, do another 2 hours. Have someone come up to me saying, "I thought I was hearing a radio, and it is you!"
I was the highest kettle earner. A good ringer could bring in $25 -$35 per hour. As soon as I played, it jumped over $100 per hour. A lot of fun, but now that I am past 70, am starting to slow down.
Looking for a decent Bundy, recently I bought on EBay a Selmer 1400 Bb soprano clarinet in a Yamaha case. Price was $73, appears to be in reasonable shape, tenon corks appeared to be low mileage. I gather that the 1400 replaced the Bundy. Will know more when it is in. I wanted the bigger bore for jazz play.
Seems the 1400 is at the end of its production cycle. A few music stores advertise them new in stock at $1,400 - $1,500 US, but not listed on main on-line high volume stores like Musician's Friend and Sweetwater. They show the 300 series. Seems brand names are now asking pretty pennies.
For minor repairs, I have found the clarinet to be a bit easier to work on than saxes. Plan to on my clarinet excesses to donate them to the community band in good working order, help them gain musicians.
Also came across a Millbrook without case from the Salvation Army on Ebay. I was the only bidder, seemed to be in reasonably clean condition from photos, appears a low mileage Chinese stencil. Since any proceeds go toward funding their social services, I felt, why not, paid $28 shipping included. I already have a new clarinet aftermarket case that needs a clarinet.
Back in the mid 1980's I was issued a brand new Selmer Bundy Bb soprano clarinet. I was surprised how well this ebonite plastic horn played in tune throughout its range, better than the Buffet Crampon pro woodie I was issued in the early 1970's.
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This is the Millbrook and Selmer 1400 side by side:
The Selmer 1400 is in an earlier like new molded Yamaha clarinet hard case. Today, I cleaned the mouthpiece, appears the previous owner never washed or swabbed it. The inside was nasty. Lo and behold, it is the original Bundy #3, even had the signature of Geo. M. Bundy under the area where the ligature goes.
The lig is an Al Sax D. Bonade nickel plated two-screw one, of better quality than budget metal ones I have purchased. The nickel plating had a few spots that flaked off by corrosion underneath through pinholes in the coating along the edge nearest the player's mouth. A good cleaning with soap, water and a worn toothbrush cleaned the corrosion by-products. Now lig looks quite respectable, maybe of brass.
The Millbrook looks like it was hardly used, corks look new. This one will be a donation to the community band. We are short on clarinet players, and may encourage a former player to join.
The Selmer 1400 is in an earlier like new molded Yamaha clarinet hard case. Today, I cleaned the mouthpiece, appears the previous owner never washed or swabbed it. The inside was nasty. Lo and behold, it is the original Bundy #3, even had the signature of Geo. M. Bundy under the area where the ligature goes.
The lig is an Al Sax D. Bonade nickel plated two-screw one, of better quality than budget metal ones I have purchased. The nickel plating had a few spots that flaked off by corrosion underneath through pinholes in the coating along the edge nearest the player's mouth. A good cleaning with soap, water and a worn toothbrush cleaned the corrosion by-products. Now lig looks quite respectable, maybe of brass.
The Millbrook looks like it was hardly used, corks look new. This one will be a donation to the community band. We are short on clarinet players, and may encourage a former player to join.