Klarinet Archive - Posting 000722.txt from 2003/09

From: "David C Kumpf" <dkumpf@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] A Clarinet Suggestions
Date: Thu, 25 Sep 2003 17:41:39 -0400

Tom Henson wrote:
> I have found a couple of very nice Selmer 10's and 10G's=20
> available well
> within this price range. Even an excellent condition Series=20
> 9. I also found
> a Leblanc Symphonie A clarinet from the 50's in the price=20
> range. Has anyone
> played on one of these clarinets in A that can give me an=20
> opinion on them or
> warnings about them.

I bought a Selmer Series 9 last year from a local music store for well =
below
your budget. The instrument was in nearly new condition and came with a
double case and three extra barrels. I gather it had been rented
occasionally to high schools, but the rentals must have been quite rare.

Performance of the instrument: tone is excellent, except for the C#/G#,
which is a bit stuffy, despite some fiddling by my repairman. Intonation =
is
another matter, but it's not all the instrument. I am currently using a
Vandoren M15 13 series - love the tone, but it isn't necessarily the =
right
mouthpiece for this instrument. I recently purchased a vintage Selmer =
HS* on
eBay, which improved the intonation dramatically - but now I need to =
find
some different reeds for it, as the tone isn't quite what I want. (Tony =
Pay
wrote what I thought was an excellent observation on these kinds of =
issues
at http://www.woodwind.org/Databases/Logs/2003/08/000625.txt, =
particularly
the last few paragraphs. It reminded me of working in the guitar shop, =
when
great players would walk in, pick up *junk* guitars, and still sound =
great.
But they would still complain about the bridge, or the frets, or ... you
name it.)

The problem with buying on eBay, of course, is that you might get a =
"kit"
that you have to assemble. But, if you find an essentially sound =
instrument
for $500, and invest $500 in having an excellent reconditioning job =
done,
you're still within budget. (Although it would certainly be nicer to =
spend
the $500 on an instrument that needs only $75 worth of work. That's the
gamble, isn't it?)

I'm sure you'll be able to find something that works for you. Best of =
luck
in the search.

Dave Kumpf
dkumpf@-----.com

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