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Workshop for innovative clarinet making

„Tradition is tending the flame, not worshiping the ashes.”

Gustav Mahler

Workshop History

With the goal in mind, to implement innovative concepts in the field of manual clarinet making, Werner Schwenk (Master woodwind instrument maker) and Jochen Seggelke (clarinettist and woodwind instrument maker) founded a private cooperation based in Tübingen and Bamberg in 1995, after two years of collaboration.

In 1999, the continually rising demand for newly designed instruments made a merging of the two locations inevitable. The new headquarters were located at the very heart of Bamberg, at a former leather goods factory. In 2009, Jochen Seggelke acquired Werner Schwenk’s shares and has since been running the company as sole proprietor. In January 2021 the company converted to Seggelke Klarinetten GmbH & Co. KG.

Our Philosophy

The ideal fusion between excellent craftsmanship and musical experience in the professional field allowed for both founders to approach their work as instrument makers from a completely different angle. For SCHWENK & SEGGELKE clarinet building entails taking both the historical development, as well as the requirements and possibilities of the present into consideration. Only by doing so SCHWENK & SEGGELKE are able to provide the hobby musician, as well as the world-renowned artist with the right tool for realising their musical ambitions. During the manual manufacturing process the mechanic pieces are made to fit their future corpus from the start and can therefore by designed individually. What sets this process apart from industrial mass production is the accuracy of fit which guarantees a high longevity. Also, the mechanic’s ergonometric can be customized.

Products

As the only manufacturer worldwide, SCHWENK & SEGGELKE offers a range of period clarinets from the 18th and 19th century, as well as a comprehensive assortment of modern clarinets. We manufacture clarinets tuned from high A flat to bass, with German and French fingering (the so-called Boehm system). Moreover, we offer a variety of system combinations.

Apart from the popular grenadilla wood, we have also been using other types of wood for our clarinets. E.g., having used boxwood for our instruments since 1997, we are the only manufacturer, able to offer a wide range of boxwood clarinets, today. Furthermore, since 2004, we have built numerous instruments using mopane wood. For basset horns and bass clarinets we also use cocobolo. If you would like to know more about the different types of wood and their properties, please click here.

In collaboration with international research institutes, we are broadening our knowledge of (historical) clarinet building and use said knowledge in creating our (period) instruments. Our sensorially dynamic contrabass clarinet prototype “Clex” is a result of this collaboration.

All instruments, manufactured at our workshop are made specifically tailored to our customers’ wishes. Our configurator tool offers a vast range of possible combinations in which to assemble your desired instrument.

Utility model protection

Several of the mechanical innovations, made on our clarinets and basset horns, have been registered with the German Patent and Trademark Office:

  • No. 20 2004 011 818.1 “Relocation of the keys in order to simplify the open half tone hole mechanisms on the lower joint of Boehm clarinets and Boehm basset horns”
  • No. 20 2004 010 147.5 “b’-c’’ sharp mechanism for clarinets with German fingering“
  • No. 20 2004 010 146.7 “B flat mechanism for clarinets and basset horns“
  • No. 20 2004 011 817.3 “Optimised tone hole for G on Boehm clarinets and Boehm basset horns“
  • No. 20 2005 009 879.5 “Wooden bell combinations with prefixed brass bend for basset horns and bass clarinets“
  • No. 200 10 805.0 “Wooden neck for basset horns“

Successes in Competitions

2006 Bayerischer Staatspreis (Bavarian state price) “for extraordinary design work and craftsmanship (Basset horn innovation)”

2013 First price for the clarinet in E flat (Model 2000) at the German musical instrument building competition

We take part in national and international symposia, exhibitions and festivals, where we present our work (e.g. Nuremberg, Ostende, Paris, Prag, Katowice, ClarinetFest, Los Angeles, Tokyo etc.).

Vocational Training

The majority of our employees became journeyman and master woodwind instrument makers here at the SCHWENK & SEGGELKE workshop. Some of our former trainees have even opened their own workshops and are thereby enriching the international building and mending scene.

Almost all of our employees play the clarinet themselves and let all their accumulated musical experiences flow into their instrument building and customer consultations. Our innovations are being tested in-house for functionality right away. Our musicianship, technical know-how, knowledge of our instruments’ history, the requirements of a multitude of players and our vision for the future of clarinet building find resonance in our work.

Consultation

We are convinced that reed, mouthpiece and instrument form an inseparable unit. Mouthpieces and reeds, manufactured according to SCHWENK & SEGGELKE’s specifications help our customers individually to find the best possible material combinations.

We are a team of both young and young at heart women and men from East, West, North and South and would gladly welcome you at our workshop to help you find the perfect instrument and equipment. If you would like to pay us a visit, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Our workshop is more than just a place where we handcraft your clarinet. We communicate, philosophize, make music and lecture – everything that has to do with the clarinet, even in the broadest sense, takes place here.

  • We hold concerts at our KLAngwerkstatt (german language version) with current and future renowned musicians
  • We provide training through workshops and courses on different topics surrounding the clarinet
  • We hold an annual in-house fair which brings musicians, composers and interested parties together
  • We cooperate with other instrument makers and musicians

Buying an instrument is a matter of trust – if you would like to visit us and our workshop,
please don’t hesitate to contact us!