This isn't the first Guy Humphrey I've seen. Last year I worked on a Guy Humphrey alto clarinet and I remember it being quite nice.
I really don't know who made these, folks seem to say Guy Humphrey is a trade name but I can't really say this seems like a Malerne product, although it could be from another French firm.
The instrument is nice! The wood is crack free, the keywork is well made and feels good under the fingers. The key plating is quite worn, its showing alot of patina!
The bore is on the narrow side, approx 14.65mm. This clarinet didn't come with a mouthpiece and I had to go through my whole box to find one that worked well. I always try to match the exit bore of the mouthpiece to the entrance bore of the barrel, which is common practice.
This clarinet plays well. Its unbelievable how cheaply one can get these sorts of clarinets for!
Of course one has to consider condition. I won't reveal how little I got this clarinet for, but it was very little. It needed almost everything. I think I kept one tenon cork and maybe a few key corks but otherwise it took pretty much everything a clarinet could need including swedging and pivot countersinking. As usual I re padded with Ferrees tan leather pads which are my go to pad for clarinets.
I just played this instrument in rehearsal today and I'm happy to have it back among the living again!
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