Matched Pair of Howarth S1 Clarinets
An extremely fine condition matched pair of Howarth S1 clarinets, which are a commission sale for Clarinets Direct. These instruments have a fine provenance, having formerly been owned and played by Max Benn. Max used these clarinets for his last years as a member of the Halle Orchestra, retiring in 1998, after which Max continued to work as a clarinet repairman.
The unstained Grenadilla wood is in very good condition, with only light surface marks, consistent with careful use. The A clarinet developed a small surface crack above the logo on the top joint soon after purchase. This crack was pinned by Howarth, and has been stable for over 20 years. It is completely invisible to the eye. There is no joint wobble. All the tan leather pads are sealing well, both instruments have been very well maintained. The key work shows no wear or play to the mechanism. The Silver plating throughout is excellent. The Bb has matching serial nos. are 1200, & the A, matching serial nos. 1156. The supplied m'pieces are the original Howarths, both unused. The tuning and scale evenness are very consistent with standard French bore m'pieces. The Buffet case has a replacement handle and is in good used condition.