Notes on mechanism:
The upper joint has a 3rd ring, to actuate Eb/Bb, so-called forked fingering. This is a feature normally found on "Reform Boehm" clarinets.
The little extra pad attached to 3rd ring allows the ring to be placed higher, so there is no stretch-challenge on the L hand.
The double RH F/C key pad cups are to vent (or effectively 'unfork') the G/D, so when playing that note, there isn’t a closed tone hole immediately below the active one. This is an unusual feature on a Boehm clarinet. But, it is inherent on German system clarinets. Illustrated here in this German G clarinet:
http://www.dietz-klarinetten.de/low_g_boehm_eng.htmlI think it’s needed because the bore is small and nearly straight in that area, like the German system instruments, and seems to need more venting. To confirm, if I close the extra hole, the G/D goes half-dead.
These two extra features are well designed and constructed, and work very nicely except the extra spring action is a bit excessive. I loosened springs all over this horn, to make it feel normal.
The left-hand low-Ab/Eb (extra) key is the only part of the keywork that was not well implemented. It was adding friction even to the normal right-hand key. Rather than refine it, I removed it. I don’t want to get accustomed to it and then find it missing on my other clarinets.
Total length with MP originally 78cm. 80cm after I extended the bell.
I use a neck strap because my right thumb was starting to get sore at the first joint, from the weight. I made a deluxe thumb rest, from epoxy putty.
Pads are double-skin, with the two skins bonded together. They seem to be good tough pads. I replaced one leaky one, and found it labeled on the backside: Lucien Deluxe - same brand as the leather pads on the Chinese C clarinets (they have been flawless).
I was wondering what European importer or designer has made this product possible. I don't know, but I searched and found the same horn sold in Bulgaria. This fellow shows a branded stencil of the Chinese G clarinets in both wood and hard rubber:
http://folkmusic123.com/clarinets-1.html scroll to bottom
or another source in Bulgaria:
http://gemamusic.net/product/2814/sol-g-klarinet-clemens-schnider-wood.htmlThe "Clemens-Schnider Germany“ stencil seems to be fictitious – they spelled the name wrong! Google finds no such company, even when Schneider is spelled correctly! So I still have no clue who designed it.
Youtube has music on G clarinets, mostly WILD ethnic stuff!
But first, watch how this wizard Jared De Leon converted the German (Albert) version of this G to a semi-Boehm. Brilliant! and he demonstrates the sound very well, in a classical context. Thank you Jared!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvavGoOsTmgI’ll note here that it helps to try a variety of mouthpieces. My vintage Vito or Noblet FRANCE 2V MPs work very nicely. Some other MPs I tried have lots of resistance, or other mismatch issues.
I opened the bore slightly in the top half of the barrel. This made the tone beautiful, and improved throat tuning. I enlarged the hole in the register key stem and … more about that later. I shortened the barrel top a bit to eliminate an air gap – all to get a good thumb-Bb.
Even unfinished, I performed several songs in Sabbath service last Friday night, and got several compliments! The contrast with the C clarinet is dramatic and wonderful.
