Klarinet Archive - Posting 000634.txt from 2004/01

From: Erik Tkal <bbtkal@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Selmer Brevete
Date: Mon, 19 Jan 2004 23:11:55 -0500

Dan,

Yes, it is in fact the full Boehm, and it does have the three rings on the upper joint. My g/f and I were wondering what the extra trill was that that gives you, thanks, will have to try it. It does play well, I've only tried it a little, and it could probably use new pads and some cleaning. It also has the extra key for the left pinky articulated Ab/Eb, which will get some getting used to I guess. It does not have a low Eb that I can tell, though, it only has the usual 4 right pinky keys.

What really threw me was that it really looks like a Buffet - the log is exactly like Buffet's, the gold oval with the lyre on top, except that is says H. SELMER A PARIS inside, with a script overlaid HS underneath (instead of the Buffet Crampon BC). The serial number shows the horn to be about 1930, is that the old Selmer logo? Why is it almost exactly the same as Buffet? Was there something in common between the companies then?

Erik

At 04:39 PM 1/19/2004, Dan wrote:
>Erik Tkal wrote:
>
>>An A clarinet I bought on ebay arrived today, though despite the fact
>>that it was listed as a Buffet, it's apparently really a Selmer
>>Brevete, the 8xxx S/N indicates around 1930, also it's full Boehm.
>>Can anyone tell me anything about the model and what "Brevete"
>>indicates? Since what I received was clearly not what was advertised
>>I still have recourse through ebay and PayPal, but before I raise a
>>stink I'm now curious as to what I actually have.
>>Erik
>
>Eric, I have a Selmer full Boehm from roughly the same era and it is a perfectly satisfactory clarinet. However, if you have three rings for the left hand (and a hole in the upper joint's tenon), then you have the kind of instrument that allows a g to b-flat tremulo by lifting the middle finger. It's a nice feature but there can be intonation problems caused by that mechanism which is one of the reasons why the full Boehm clarinet had marketing difficulties.
>
>In any event, you were told that it was a Buffet and you can annul the sale through ebay and paypal because of that. Still, if it is a good clarinet you might consider keeping it. I presume it has the low e-flat and articulated g-sharp so characteristic of the full Boehm instrument.
>
>Dan Leeson

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