 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Marco
Date: 2004-12-26 16:03
I found a selmer omega s/n: 3825 in a 2nd hand shop. The Clarinet in good condition. The price is $435 USD. Is it a reasonable price?
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2004-12-26 16:19
Selmer Omega, USA? Selmer Omega, Paris? Or maybe an original Selmer 'Centered Tone-Omega'? Which one?
Every one of these instruments is very different from each other.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: Marco
Date: 2004-12-27 00:33
Dear Vytas,
Thanks you for let me know Selmer Paris is better than Selmer USA. Could you mind tell me about "original Selmer 'Centered Tone-Omega'"
Marco
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Author: earlthomas
Date: 2004-12-27 01:25
Dear Marco:
Does your Omega have an unusual register key/throat B-flat mechanism? If it does, I would think that iit is a Paris Omega, made around the middle 1950's.
If it does, you've found a real collector's item and definitely worth the money!
Because I met Maurice Selmer and purchased a set of Selmer "n-Sreies" clarinets in Paris shortly after VE day during WW II, he agreed to meke a set of the Omega Selmers for me in the "K-series" bore. They were shipped to me in early 1954 and cost around $3200 USD at that time. They were terrifice instruments with six tuning barrels, extra register vent tubes and a stunning case. I understood that Benny Goodman tried them in NYC before they reached me and was no happy with the register key mechanism's response in the difficulty throat passage of the Debussy Premiere Rhapsodie. I thought
they handled that passage and all others quite well, including the finger-breaker in "The Gypsy Baron" Overture. I played that set of paris Omegas from '54 through '71, when I acquired a great set of Buffets that I asked to be made to tune 440 on a hot stage (quite a request, nes pas?) They were tremendous, but since then I found two vintage Buffets (1938 B-flat - tweaked by Moenig) (1928 A made like new by Frank Kaspar and his apprentice John Snyder of Ann Arbor, MI) I sold the Omegas in the late '90s to a Studio Musician in L.A.
I think you have found a really great buy if the instrument is a Paris Omega.
Good Luck!
All the very best,
E.Thomas
PS By the way, as I recall the serial numbers on my Omega set were 153 & 154
Post Edited (2004-12-27 01:33)
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Author: Marco
Date: 2004-12-27 05:52
Dear E.Thomas,
I had sent a picture to Vytas about the Clarinet. And he reply me very fast and he told me that the Clarinet which I saw is a Selmer Omega USA (Too bad, is not Paris). He also told me that if the Clarinet is in good conditions it worth $435. I am still thinking about that. Because, I used to play violin and I will learn Clarinet very soon. Therefore, I am looking for a Clarinet (brand new beginner Clarinet or 2nd hand good Clarinet) for my first lesson. Thanks you for your information.
Marco
(Hong Kong)
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2004-12-27 16:57
A modern Paris Omega is quite good instrument but it's not the same as the earlier original version. I believe Selmer introduced Centered Tone Omega in 1950s and they had two models; one with a double register vent (http://www.sneezy.org/clarinet/Equipment/SK.jpg) and the other with a 'regular' CT futures.
I own Q-series (89XX) Selmer 'Centered Tone Omega' from 1957. It doesn't have double register vent and it looks like a regular 'CT' for exception the name (Omega) and the wreath carved on the bell and the bottom of the Lower-Joint. I've never seen or heard of another 'Omega' clarinet like this. So it might be really rare.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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