Klarinet Archive - Posting 000120.txt from 2006/12

From: Oliver Seely <oseely@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Paris music stores
Date: Fri, 22 Dec 2006 12:52:20 -0500

Hi David,

My knowledge of the matter dates back to my first=20
sabbatical leave in Paris in 1985, so there may=20
be no connection with today's reality.

Giving only a summary of my feeling on the=20
matter, I found that I could purchase the same=20
model in the U.S. for the same price or perhaps a=20
little less. Moreover, when I walked into a=20
store on the rue de R=F4me (where the clarinet=20
stores were located) I felt an unmistakable=20
pressure to buy something, whereas when I do the=20
same thing anywhere in the U.S. there is no=20
similar intimidation. I can try out 3 or 4=20
instruments, say thanks, and be on my way.

At that time the Selmer store wasn't on the rue=20
de R=F4me, but somewhere else. I don't have my=20
Paris map with me here in our mountain cabin so I=20
can't begin to recollect where it might have=20
been. I went in there and bought a mouthpiece in=20
1985. The Selmer S crystal was no longer made so=20
I had to choose another after trying out perhaps a dozen.

The Buffet and Selmer factories, I'm told, are=20
across the street from each other in a suburb=20
outside the P=E9riph=E9rique (ring road) on the west=20
side, well away from terminals of the R.E.R.=20
train (R=E9seau Express R=E9gional). There is=20
probably a bus which goes by the factories, but=20
when I was told that one could neither purchase=20
nor try out instruments at either factory I never followed up on it.

If you will be with 22 colleges students my=20
advice is to forget the factories, even for a=20
tour. In 1985 my French still wasn't so hot,=20
even after studying it for 5 years in the U.S.=20
and taking two months of intensive French at the=20
Alliance Fran=E7aise prior to beginning my=20
sabbatical project, so I was at a distinct=20
disadvantage. I went into one store and was=20
given a couple of Buffets to try out --=20
handpicked by the salesman to be models tuned to=20
U.S. Standards (can't remember the designation=20
right now) and I didn't like the ambiance of the=20
situation. I tried them out, said thanks, and=20
was on my way. Given the same situation in the=20
U.S. I would have hung around a lot longer,=20
talked with the salesman, demonstrated how I felt=20
about the instruments, then maybe been on my=20
way. When I bought a Selmer 10 A Clarinet in the=20
U.S. several years ago, I gave the guy my Master=20
Card impression, tried out the instrument for a=20
whole afternoon playing along with my computer,=20
then called him up and told him to keep the=20
impression -- that it was perfect for me. I=20
doubt that I would have been able to do that in Paris.

Have a good time in the city of lights.

Oliver

At 06:25 AM 12/22/2006, you wrote:
>Greetings to all
>
>I will be in Paris in early January and would like to visit a good
>clarinet store in Paris (on a Saturday) This is my first trip to Paris
>and as I am actually leading a university art tour with 22 college
>students, my time is not flexible. I have heard that Selmer mouthpieces
>are much cheaper if you buy them in France and if that is so, I would
>like to load up on bass mouthpieces if possible.
>
>I know that Selmer has a company store in Paris and I could go there, if
>that is a wise option.
>
>Many thanks
>
>Dave
>
>Dr. David McClune
>Professor of Woodwinds
>Director of Bands
>Union University-1862
>1050 Union University Drive
>Jackson, TN 38305
>
>Office-731-661-5294
>dmcclune@-----.edu
>www.mcclunemouthpiece.com
>
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