Klarinet Archive - Posting 000243.txt from 1999/01

From: "Frederick S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Selmer 33/37 Bass Clarinet Differences?
Date: Thu, 7 Jan 1999 22:41:28 -0500

I was fortunate some months ago to obtain what Selmer tells me is a model
33 bass clarinet first sold in 1994 by the vendor from whom I subsequently
repurchased it. It seems to have an interesting history, although Selmer
could give only limited information.

The instrument evidently cracked shortly after the original purchaser
bought it and it was returned to the Selmer factory where the crack was
banded. The question is, did they then add some additional keys that were
not on the original 33?

There are six keys for the right little finger; five keys for the left
little finger, and two for the right thumb. They operate the same as the
keying for the model 37 except low Eb is the last key in the top row, while
the last key in the bottom row is the low C#.

The two extra keys for the left little finger are low D and an alternate Eb/Ab.

The thumb keys are low D [a second option] and the bottom of the horn, low C.

No one I know has seen a model 33 with these extra keys...but of course my
circle of musicians familiar with long bass clarinets is limited.

Do I have a "standard" 1990s model 33...or did Selmer add some keys when
they banded the instrument after it cracked?

If anyone is interested, it has proved to be an excellent instrument and
plays warmly and in good tune from the very bottom to super-C. I'm most
pleased with my acquisition!

Thanks for any comments or observations...Fred S.

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