Klarinet Archive - Posting 000459.txt from 2002/09

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Selmer Signet Special
Date: Sun, 22 Sep 2002 07:33:55 -0400

Bill Hausmann wrote,
>The Selmer Signet Special is a wood clarinet
>made by Selmer USA, and as such, would
>qualify as an intermediate instrument.

FWIW (I'm a 54-year-old amateur), I bought a Selmer Signet Special in Bb at a
yard sale in 1999. Although my favorite Bb clarinet is a 1937 Buffet pro
model, I like the Signet Special a lot, and use it as my regular woodshedding
instrument now, to save wear and tear on the vintage clarinet. Judging from
the age of the former owner (who quit after high school), I think my Selmer
dates from the early 1980s.

With the "W C Sumner Accusticut" #3 mouthpiece the original owner's teacher
helped her choose for this clarinet, my Signet Special has better intonation
than other intermediate clarinets I've played. The other major
distinguishing characteristic is better than average projection. I think it
would be an excellent clarinet for a jazz band or a dance band, because at
top volume (easy to obtain, but I throttle back on it, here in the house),
this clarinet holds its tone quality even though it can *scream*--loud and
piercing enough to hold its own even if you have to sit in front of the
trumpets. ;-)

Lelia

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