Magniere / Paul Magniere

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PAUL MAGNIERE

PARIS

This clarinet wins my prize for the Best in Class French Stencil, of all those I have tried. Now my question is, WHO was Paul Magniere?! If someone knows, please send word!

**PHIL'S FAVORITE**

Who made this wonderful instrument?! I am guessing SML, largely because of key quality and shapes (G# throat tone key, left pinkie keys end with hooks). Because of the aluminum Samsonite-style case, I am thinking this is from around 1968 to close to the time SML acquired Malerne.

[Update 9Apr2013] woodwind.org has provided great information about this.

Serial #19962 Wood: I fixed a small chip at the bottom of the RH joint.

Barrel: 63.6mm

Bore LH joint top: 14.8mm

Bore LH joint at bottom: 15mm Wide bore! No wonder it plays so freely.

Intonation results taken when playing loud and not lipping. See how to interpret these results on the Model Comparison Page.

For this test, I pulled 1.4mm at the barrel and .5mm in the center for this horn.

Intonation summary: I award this clarinet as BEST IN CLASS, for French Stencil clarinets that I have tried! This has superb intonation and terrific response. The sharp middle C may be improved a bit by lowing the first RH pad. The flat throat tones are because of my playing loudly when testing.

Key work quality: I recognized while I was disassembling this clarinet that the keys seemed a big sturdier than most. They have a pleasing heft to them. Excellent hard metal and nice thickness. The rings are nice and wide. There is a bit of SML hook to the end of the two upper left pinkie keys. However the middle tenon is not the short SML variety. One woodwind.org contributor said that the wide flanges for the posts (found mainly on the right hand joint) are a sign of Malerne/Marigaux.

Vitas Krass added This is a student level clarinet "5 Star" later model made by SML. The Left-Hand levers aren't pinned to the F#/C# and E/B keys.

This clarinet is most appropriate for: I think this will compete very well with better-known wide bore clarinets used by jazz professionals. Anyone, beginner to pro, would enjoy the way this horn plays.