 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dave
Date: 2000-03-20 02:25
I have been playing clarinet since December, and have been using a student model plastic rental -- a Beuscher Aristocrat. I play alto sax and had to learn clarinet and bass clarinet for the musical Mame. I was about ready to buy the student horn for $250, but now I'm not so sure. The store has a Selmer Signet 100 for $575, that sounds nice, but the intonation varies +5 -15 on various notes. I have a Selmer Goldentone 3 with the Beuscher that played easier than what the Signet came with (I don't remember, but I think it was a Selmer MP of some sort). It has been repadded for sale by the store, and I know the repairman well. I live in Farmington, N.M. so "hands on" evaluation of clarinets is limited!
Last week in Denver, I found a work associate that had a "wooden" clarinet she hadn't played in years. So she brought it in and it was also a Selmer Signet 100 (s/n 173606). The pads looked pretty stained but it played surprisingly well! Against the tuner, it seemed to zero everywhere with the 3rd register E (the one "in" the treble cleff) at -5. The MP was B. Portnoy BP02.
I doubt she want's to sell it, so my question is whether the "right" MP will get the store's Signet's intonation on track?
One other possibility locally is another store's Selmer Series 10. I played it briefly with the the Goldentone, but the action seemed rough and I think a crack has been repaired just below the middle tenon. I'm sure the would let me take it home and play it more carefully. They want $1000. Would a Series 10 inherently be superior to a Signet?
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2000-03-20 02:28
Dave wrote:
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One other possibility locally is another store's Selmer Series 10. I played it briefly with the the Goldentone, but the action seemed rough and I think a crack has been repaired just below the middle tenon.
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A 10G should have very nice action - I like my 10G's keywork. If it isn't a 10G or 10S then it's probably not worth the $1000.00. A new 10G is about $1800-$1900.
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Author: Cholé
Date: 2000-03-20 19:26
I had a Selmer Signet for 2 years as an intermediate clarinet. I paid the equivilent of $350 USA for it. It also had tuning problems to an extent that when I swapped teachers she insisted I swapped. It did have a beautiful full tone.
Hope my ramblings can help,
Chloe
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Author: Fred McKenzie
Date: 2000-03-20 20:42
Dave wrote:
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The store has a Selmer Signet 100 for $575, that sounds nice, but the intonation varies +5 -15 on various notes.
Dave-
The Signets are considered to be an intermediate level instrument. There were three versions of the signet. The 100 was the least expensive of the three.
Since the Signet line is no longer in production, this one is probably old stock. If you would be willing to play a used instrument, I think you should be able to find one for around $250 in good condition. In about 1976, I could have bought a new Signet 100 for $250. Instead, I purchased a used Signet Special, the middle version, for $150.
I suspect intonation can be affected by the mouthpiece, but wouldn't depend on that correcting the problems you have noted.
Fred
<A HREF="http://www.dreamnetstudios.com/music/mmb/index.htm">MMB</A>
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Author: Tim
Date: 2000-03-20 21:29
I agree that any Signet for $500+ is way over priced, especially a Signet 100 (they never sold new for anything close to that price).
I particularly liked the Signet Special which had good intonation, a big sound and was free blowing. You should be able to find one of these in the $200 price range. I have regularly found these for $150 at Houston pawn shops and often all they need is a new pad job. When it was introduced, the Special was the top of the Signet line. A few years later a new Signet model (I think it was Soloist) was introduced, but mostly it had better keywork. My biggest complaint with the entire line was the metal they cast the keys with was too soft and the keys would go out of adjustment with the abuse typical of most Jr. High and High School students.
The original Series 10 (it won't have a G or and S on the body) was a great horn. I still prefer my 10 over the 10G (also a good horn) and especially over the 10S (no S I've played could I ever get in tune). $1000 for a pinned horn, even a pro model, might be pushing it a bit.
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