 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2004-03-22 06:30
Old Selmer Bass Clarinet
I have an old Selmer Bass to try out for possible purchase. It has a serial number in the 600's, which makes it late 1920's according to rough SN lists I've found. Is has a number of pros and cons for buying it. I want to ask about just a few
of the issues.
(Hey, I just found this: http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=101232&t=101004 in which Ken shaw says old Selmers like this one are greatly valued but other folk said no, they're not valued so much.) Now, I've asked about bass clarinets before here (for example <http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html f=1&i=138255&t=138230>), and I've read a lot of the archives. I hope for more specific help with these two issues.
* It has the old fashioned dual register keys, i. e. two actual touch pieces. The entire clarion sounds using the upper key/vent, though the lower clarion, D#, D, C#, C, and B grow progressively stuffy and more difficult. And of course, using the lower key/vent these five notes speak better, though no higher notes will sound at all with it. Dave Spiegalthal has said that some players prefer this simple system. How do they use it? Any special tricks? Or just lots of practice?
* Also the neck is nearly straight out, and it is strange to me and I don't like it. My new Vito bass neck angle seems ok. Now I know that Bay necks are available; I've read here that Modern Selmer necks are still straighter than Buffet, but both provide the alternative for the asking. What are these angles? Anyone got a protractor? I measure 15° (from the perpendicular) for the 1928 Selmer and 35 to 40° for the Vito. Is this old Selmer a smaller angle than new Selmers?
* Some other observations I'll make just for the record: It has no floor peg. It does seem to play nicely, with pretty tone, when I squeeze hard enough to seal the ancient pads.
Wayne Thompson
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Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2004-03-22 06:44
It should play OK with a full overhaul. I did one on an old Selmer of a similar vintage late last year. Strangely, the one I worked on only went down to low E. The overhaul was a bit of a battle but the end result was good. Like a low C bass, the low E was 'easier' to play above the break. The wood was beautiful and the manufacture flawless. I can't remember the serial number, it will be in an invoice book somewhere, but it was 3 digit. The neck was definitely straighter than modern horns, a bit more of a tenor sax type of profile.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-03-22 17:59
I had a double manual register key on one of the basses I overhauled and eventually sold, and found it a bit awkward even after I more or less had gotten used to it. The straight-in neck angle is something I can't stand --- whenever I've gotten a bass like that I've re-angled the neck myself (a la early Charles Bay). As for the instrument itself, I think the earlier Selmers are probably analogous to the Mark VI saxes --- their reputation far exceeds their actual qualities in most cases --- a few gems among them, but the majority are probably just average. Test very carefully before buying, and get as many expert players to try it for you as possible.
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Author: John25
Date: 2004-03-24 18:56
I have played a bass clarinet with two speaker keys for over 40 years. remember that the bottom speaker key is for middle Bb, C, C#, D and D#. The second speaker is for E (top space) and all notes above. My apologies if you already know this.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-24 19:08
It'll probably seem hard to manipulate the two speaker keys off the bat, but with practice it'll be second nature. Just think about how people automatically put down that pinky key whenever they get to altissimo E and above. It'll take a while to get used to, but once used to it, you won't even realize yourself doing it.
Alexi
PS - I never played something like this, but I just notice how easily people do these finger manipulations. Flutes with that pinky vent key, clarinets with the altissimo and the Eb/Ab key, tubas and that fourth valve, trombones and their triggers, etc.
US Army Japan Band
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Author: paulwl
Date: 2004-03-24 22:57
(Corno di bassetto) >> remember that the bottom speaker key is for middle Bb, C, C#, D and D#. <<
B is, presumably, hopeless...
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-24 23:14
lol. The old models didn't have B! They had to lip up the Bb or cover the bell with their foot while playing a C to get the B. Remember? The rarely seen Bboehm system.![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2004-03-26 03:00
Corno di bassetto,
Yes I knew generally what the two keys were for, but thankyou. I wanted to hear from someone who actually plays one of these instruments.
Wayne
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-26 14:17
As for angling the neck, I think Dave Speigelthal can do that for you. A quick phone call to him would do it. His number is listed under www.grahams-music.com (forget which page). I know in addition to refacing mouthpieces he can do a lot more. It's worth the time to call him and see what, if anything, he can do for you.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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