Alexandre HR

Revised review: 14Dec2013, reviewing Serial #52431. Thanks to Stephen Heape for giving me this second opportunity to review the Alexandre HR clarinet.

Barrel: 65mm; 52431 barrel is 62.2mm

Bore: 15mm, 52431 has 14.5mm bore

Key work: Sturdy key work, and very comfortable rings. They feel wider than normal.

Pads: Left hand mainly 9mm.

I have reviewed two of these and liked them both.

Alexandre Paris:

Alexandre Paris/USA:

Why does the bell say “Paris” and below that say “Made in USA”?! My guess for the maker would be a late Pruefer product. The keys are unlike any French clarinet I have seen.

I would recommend using barrel rings on this horn, because one needs to pull out fairly far to be in tune.

However pulling out 3.15mm, as I did to test, is too far.

[2013] For 52431 I only pulled 0.3mm at the barrel— even though this is a much shorter barrel! At the center tenon I pulled 1.2mm. So between the two models, I assume there was a change or variation in how long the LH keyed joint was made.

I now think that this was made by Thibouville/Masson. [That guess was from a long time ago. I now think that Thibouville may not have lasted into the 1950s and this is more likely a Malerne product.]