Vintage Bb (B-Flat) Clarinet W/ Custom Robert Miller Mouthpiece
- Regular Price
- $325.00
- Sale Price
- $325.00
- Regular Price
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Item Specifics
- Brand: Unbranded / Unknown Stencil (Features historical traits of Penzel Mueller / French Artist builds)
- Instrument: Clarinet
- Key: Bb (B-Flat)
- Design/System: Modern Boehm System
- Body Material: Grenadilla Wood (African Blackwood)
- Key Finish: Nickel Silver / German Silver
- Pitch/Tuning: Low Pitch (Modern A=440Hz Concert Pitch)
- Mouthpiece Included: Yes – Custom Robert "Rob" Miller (Milwaukee, WIS) Hard Rod Rubber
- Era: Vintage (Circa 1910s–1940s)
Item Description
A magnificent, sleeper-find vintage Grenadilla Wood Bb Clarinet outfit from the golden era of woodwind manufacturing (circa 1910–1940s). This instrument is completely unmarked by a brand stamp but displays all the characteristics of an artist-grade, professional stencil clarinet built by an elite workshop like Penzel Mueller (New York) or a premium pre-war French house (like Malerne).
Key Historical & Structural Highlights
- Premium Wood Body: Beautiful, dense grain African blackwood/grenadilla.
- The "LPB" Specification Stamps: The upper joint, lower joint, and barrel ring feature clear historical factory alignment stamps (LP B). The LP stands for Low Pitch, meaning this instrument was manufactured to modern A=440Hz concert pitch and will tune beautifully with modern ensembles, pianos, and bands. The B denotes the standard key of Bb.
- Durable Nickel Silver Keywork: The mechanisms are constructed from solid, unplated nickel silver (German silver). They feature a beautiful vintage patina that can easily be hand-polished to a brilliant satin luster if desired.
Includes Rare Custom Mouthpiece!
The absolute crown jewel of this package is the included mouthpiece. It is a highly sought-after, hand-finished custom Robert "Rob" Miller (Milwaukee, WIS) mouthpiece, milled from premium hard rod rubber stock. Rob Miller is a legendary mid-century craftsman famous for manufacturing the earliest custom mouthpieces for Bernard Portnoy and working with elite Chedeville blanks. This piece alone holds incredible value for orchestral players and vintage collectors seeking a dark, rich, resonant tone.
Condition Note
Good vintage condition. Sold as is. Note that there is a chip/crack along the lower rim of the bell, right along the inside edge where the body meets the metal ring. The chip/crack is on the rim only and does not extend up the body of the bell. There also seems to be a hairline crack on the metal bell ring in the same location. A prime candidate for an overhaul or reconditioning. The keys move smoothly. Please see photos.
Included in Listing:
- Vintage Grenadilla Wood Clarinet Body (Barrel, Upper Joint, Lower Joint, Bell)
- Rare Rob Miller Milwaukee Rod Rubber Mouthpiece