 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 1999-11-24 12:56
I've got two selmer CT clarinets: one is a "P" series and the other is a "Q" series. The Q plays much more freely than the Q. I noticed it had a * above the serial number and was wondering the significance of the "star", if any.
John
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 1999-11-24 12:58
Sorry, I meant to write: The Q plays much more freely than the P.
John
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Author: MikeH
Date: 1999-11-24 15:00
I also have a Selmer CT clarinet Q series with a star above the serial number. I am also curious about the meaning of the star. I might add: a great clarinet ( my preferred listening and playing style is straight-ahead mainstream bop). Great for this style.
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 1999-11-24 23:52
Just received word that the * may mean that the joint may be a replacement part. I don't know if Selmer would go through the trouble of stamping a replacement part with an existing serial number. Any other ideas? If not there are a lot of CT's out there with replacement joints. I know three people who have these with the * on them. What are the odds of 3 of 4 CT owners all having a replacement part for an upper joint?
John
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-11-25 00:03
J. Butler wrote:
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Just received word that the * may mean that the joint may be a replacement part.
=--------
That's downright wrong! I don't know what the '*' means, but I've been seeing 9 star Selmers advertised for some time. Somewhere else on the BBoard I swear someone said it was Selmer's stab at a polycylindrical bore ...
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 1999-11-25 00:09
Thanks, Mark. I've got Ralph Morgan's phone number and if I don't get a consensus of opinion on the BB, I'll give him a call and see if he can give me the answer.
John
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-11-25 00:23
Here's the reference (search selmer polycylindrical)
<A HREF=http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?id=12774>http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?id=12774</A>
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Author: Doug P.
Date: 1999-11-25 00:38
I can't testify that this information is really correct, but what I have heard, with no substantiation from anyone at Selmer, is: the CT had unfraised (not undercut) tone holes, but some later examples were undercut at the Elkhart factory and a * put on the instrument. You might examine the clarinet to see if the star looks added on after the serial number was already there, (the depth of the marking could well seem different.) Doug P.
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 1999-11-25 01:09
Doug,
The stamping is as perfect as the factory serial number and after overhauling the piece myself I can tell you that the tone holes are not undercut.
John
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Author: mad dog
Date: 1999-11-25 05:11
The CT was never polycylindrical. According to Ralph Morgan, who worked for Selmer for many years, the CT was the same as the BT except there was a slight modification in the bore in first three inches of the top joint, as well as a slightly different (and noticably larger) register key vent, but it was never polycylindrical. The Series 9 was a move to a smaller bore. The series 9-star had a slightly smaller bore than the Series 9, and was indeed polycylindrical. However, the "star" that is referred to in this topic of discussion is a star above the serial number on a CT, and it has nothing to do with the "Star" in a Series 9-Star.
By the way, Ralph Morgan is preserving some of his knowledge by way of a series of video tapes which should be available soon. Having talked to Ralph on many occasions, I believe that these will be well worth the investment, and that you may even learn a thing or two about Selmer clarinets that will surprise you. When Ralph's information becomes more widely known in the clarinet community, I believe you will see an increase in popularity of certain specific models of Selmers for both jazz and classical players, and especially those jazzers who want a BT and don't realize that there was another Selmer clarinet which was identical to the BT.
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Author: mad dog
Date: 1999-11-25 05:14
...and when I refer to another clarinet which is identical to the BT, I don't mean a CT. The CT was very similar, but not identical.
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 1999-11-25 12:35
mad dog,
I would be very interested in the video tapes. I'm going to try to contact Ralph after the holiday. I'll ask him the significance of the star, if any. I will also ask him about the videos. Keep us posted, however and thanks,
John
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-11-25 17:46
I have a 1954 [P series 25xx] non-marked other than Selmer that I am told was purchased in France and imported to US with "scoring" of the Sel names, a big-voice cl to me. Showing it to a older teacher-pro in Tulsa, he first said it was a non-BT or CT, but on trying it out, revised his opinion by describing it as a "French" model!! , so I'll pursue his definition and will be interested in any other info re: the Selmer dynasty! Don
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Author: John Dean
Date: 1999-11-26 00:05
Hi John,
I was examining my CT the other day and also wondered what the star meant particularly after the info on the 9star series. I find the Selmer clarinet history to be quite fascinating. As you know from previous communication I have a CT -R series and a K series which I believe to be a BT import without the BT logo. They both have different sounds and my repair man has a N series which is possibly superior to both of mine so I may acquire another Selmer soon!BTW Ralph Morgan told me some months ago that the M series BT was better than the L series which most jazz people look for. Confused? His videos will be interesting!
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 1999-11-26 00:52
Hello John,
It's been awhile since we've chatted. I guess you have your "L" series in fine shape by now. Did you get the keys replated?
I found a small problem with the "P" and corrected it and it does play much better. I think the "Q" still plays a tad bit better.
By the way, I've got another "L" series waiting to be restored. It has the extra ring on the upper joint and an articulated G#. I can't wait to get started on it, but I've got some cutomer instruments to work on first. I will probably send the keys and rings for silver plate on this one also.
John
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Author: Doug P.
Date: 1999-11-26 13:44
Since you're getting all this Selmer info on the board, I thought I'd add this: a while ago I was going through old copies of the Clarinet magazine, the really old one published by James Collis and before the current clarinet association magazine. There was an interesting notice that Benny Goodman was looking for his old Selmer clarinet which he had sold, to use again for the soundtrack of the Benny Goodman film. The really interesting part was that the serial number of the Selmer he was looking for was given: L3682.
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Author: J. Butler
Date: 1999-11-26 13:58
The BT that I overhauled for my wife has the serial number of L3617, not too far off. It really plays well and would rather sell me than sell that clarinet!
John
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