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I very recently became the owner of a Boosey & Hawkes Symphony Imperial 1010 Bb clarinet.
Not a venerated pre-WWII but it does lack the somewhat debated Acton vent, and its 150xxx serial probably dates it to around 1958. Cared for and immediately playable out of its very, very stinky case, but totally filthy and smelly. Gross but with no other flaws.
So a sweet almond oil soak, strip down, clean, oil and polish has improved things immensely. Things were really crusty in the register vent and many toneholes :tongue6:
The pads are 'okay' but I'm guessing some stuffiness and resistance is their fault. Corks and regulation all seem in goodish order. However a visit to my tech is definitely due.
I got lucky in that it included the original BM2 1010 bore mouthpiece and that it plays rather nicely. Some say bore size match is required on these (and all) horns. My Vandoren 5RV sounded not too different on it honestly. Tuning was slightly adversely effected but not direly.
I play modern Leblanc and Yamaha Eb and Bb so the spread, open smooth tone of this 1010 is very different.
All other clarinets I've owned/played have had a more narrow core, focussed tone.
I'm curious to know if this is the big bore sound or just the so-called British clarinet sound that Boosey was famous for?
Any 1010 or other B&H players here?
V



Not a venerated pre-WWII but it does lack the somewhat debated Acton vent, and its 150xxx serial probably dates it to around 1958. Cared for and immediately playable out of its very, very stinky case, but totally filthy and smelly. Gross but with no other flaws.
So a sweet almond oil soak, strip down, clean, oil and polish has improved things immensely. Things were really crusty in the register vent and many toneholes :tongue6:


The pads are 'okay' but I'm guessing some stuffiness and resistance is their fault. Corks and regulation all seem in goodish order. However a visit to my tech is definitely due.
I got lucky in that it included the original BM2 1010 bore mouthpiece and that it plays rather nicely. Some say bore size match is required on these (and all) horns. My Vandoren 5RV sounded not too different on it honestly. Tuning was slightly adversely effected but not direly.
I play modern Leblanc and Yamaha Eb and Bb so the spread, open smooth tone of this 1010 is very different.
All other clarinets I've owned/played have had a more narrow core, focussed tone.
I'm curious to know if this is the big bore sound or just the so-called British clarinet sound that Boosey was famous for?
Any 1010 or other B&H players here?
V