B&H 1010 Symphony - Bb/A Clarinet Pair - 408064/408333

Product Information

The Boosey & Hawkes Symphony 1010 is an excellent example of what the post-war clarinettist wanted from their instrument, reflecting the changing preferences in orchestral and solo playing of the time. Made in England, it was the premium professional clarinet on the market for many years, and there are still prominent orchestral players using them in the UK and further afield.

The large bore design gives a very big 'English' sound, a balance of response, projection and depth of tone that is a difficult thing to put into words but unmistakable when you hear it. It is perfect for an orchestral or solo player needing to fill a large concert venue, and good condition examples remain sought after in certain parts of the world. A pair like this is the natural way to own them, and it makes a top level upgrade for a very reasonable price against anything comparable new.

One thing worth knowing before you buy. Because of the large bore, modern small bore mouthpieces will not feel comfortable on these instruments and the tuning will suffer. You need a large bore mouthpiece to unlock the sound these clarinets can produce. Most outfits still include the older style mouthpieces such as this one (it has 2!), and a new Vandoren can be reamed out to the correct bore size by a mouthpiece technician if you would rather play something current. Also supplied is the original double case (which itself is in good condition on the inside), two 64mm barrels (one for each clarinet) and the two original B&H 1010 large bore mouthpieces (both in decent condition) are supplied with ligatures and caps.

This particular pair is in excellent condition. The silver-plated keys pop against the matte-finished wood. The painted logos have worn away over time, moreso on the Bb rather than the A. Both instruments have been fully overhauled, checked and set up in our on-site workshop prior to sale, so you can buy with total confidence.

• Professional wooden model, made in England
• Large bore design for the classic big 'English' sound
• Requires a large bore mouthpiece - cannot be played with modern small bore mouthpieces
• New equivalent model = £4000+
• Fully workshop checked with 6 month warranty
• Try in store or at home on 14 day approval with return option

Instrument Info