 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Anon
Date: 2006-01-22 17:58
One of my students brought me a very old, in need of repair, Selmer BT clarinet.
I hadn't seen one in person before but it's kind of cool, with the extra alternate keys, etc. No obvious cracks that I could see at a quick glance.
This one has two stars next to the "BT" though - is that usual?
From looking on the internet, I see that it's probably from the early 1940's. His mother is convinced that it's "valuable" and I'm not convinced that it is anymore since it's in such bad shape...nonetheless, I told her I'd find out what I could about it.
Can anyone shed some light on it please?
Thanks
:-)
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Author: Fred
Date: 2006-01-22 18:40
It's one of the bigger bore Selmers from that era - predating the Centered Tone. They can be good clarinets - but you won't find many being played in legit settings anymore.
I assume you know the "BT" stands for Balanced Tone.
Post Edited (2006-01-22 20:50)
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Author: Chetclarinet
Date: 2006-01-22 22:59
Selmer BT clarinets are quite valuable--they sell for 600-800.00 in good condition and are great jazz instruments. These fine 1940's instruments were made famous by several well known jazz players and were used by many. With an overhaul, this will sell well. I sould not recommend it for classical use.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2006-01-22 23:44
I am available to take it off your hands for $10. OK, $20.
OK, $300.
Bill.
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Author: ghuba
Date: 2006-01-22 23:51
There are many hundreds, if not a thousand, posts on Balanced Tone Selmer clarinets on this web site. These come up for auction fairly frequently and are found on most of the clarinet "want ad" boards -- including this one -- often. The rarer ones are the full Boehm models (down to lower Eb). These seem to generally sell for $450-$1200 with the asking (or at auction, selling) price seemingly generally unrelated to condition, whether it has a recent restoration, etc.
Given the popularity of these instruments during the 1930s and 1940s, it is not unrealistic to think that there will be a steady stream of horns offered for auction from the estates of the original owners or their children over the next decade or two with many of these instruments having been in cases for decades before their sale. Under such circumstances, while the instruments are getting "older," they may not be getting rarer -- as offered for sale -- because more are going to come to market as estates are liquidated.
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Author: Anon
Date: 2006-01-23 17:57
Thanks for the information - I appreciate it and I'm sure it will help my student's mom decide what to do with it.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-01-23 18:09
I don't see any reason why these clarinets have to be branded as specifically 'jazz' instruments and not recommended for classical at all - I've used my Centered Tones in all situations and never encounterd any prejudice from players of the other more popular makes, we've all got on fine.
Even my teacher (who was a Buffet RC player) marvelled at the ease of response and especially the ease in which the altissimo register spoke when he tried mine.
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Author: ghuba
Date: 2006-01-23 23:55
Chris P wrote:
> I don't see any reason why these clarinets have to be branded
> as specifically 'jazz' instruments and not recommended for
> classical at all
-----
... the curse of Benny ....
[and perhaps the jealousy that goes with all of the big full page ads for Selmer clarinets and the fact that he was the best paid musician of his era -- the first popular music superstar]
George
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2006-01-24 00:37
Selmer *BT* and "Centered Tone" are two very different instruments as far as tuning is concern. IMO, *BT* has unacceptable tuning by today's standard. Countless BTs I've worked on played more than 20 cents flat in the lowest register and more than 20 sharp in the high register. Some players somehow can make it work for them.
Selmer Centered Tone is an excellent instrument. Big improvement over the *BT* tuning wise. I own Selmer Centered Tone "Omega". Intonation is fine. Can't complain.
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: blewis
Date: 2006-01-24 14:42
Could someone tell me what the CL stands for on the Selmas..as in Selma CL300?
Thank you,
blewis
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Author: Fred
Date: 2006-01-24 14:58
From an earlier post, I assume you mean "Selmer CL300".
The CL stands for . . . Clarinet.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2006-01-25 01:56
didnt benny and henry questa both play these horns? i have a very fine one and it dosnt have tunning problems at all.
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2006-01-26 00:33
Super20dan,
Yes, Henry C. played on a BT. I worked on his once and he tried one of my out thinking he wanted it for a back up. He decided against buying the BT, but kept the mouthpiece!!!! which was an older Selmer HS*.
jbutler
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Author: BobD
Date: 2006-01-26 16:33
I'm pretty sure Benny Goodman played a "BT"
Bob Draznik
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Author: ghuba
Date: 2006-01-26 19:07
Vytas,
Do you know if there is any difference between the Selmer BT (which I believe are all "L" series), the Selmer Radio Improved Model, and a plain Series L? Are these the same basic clarinets with BT or RI added more a marketing marks than as an indication of any design change.
George
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2006-01-26 21:42
George,
The Selmer BT model started around the serial number L35XX and extended up to the serial number around M6000.
M-series BTs are slightly better instruments than the L-series.
L-series RI followed by the plain/no name L-series are very similar instruments as the early L-series BTs. The difference basically is in the keywork and the bell shape. Pre-BT instruments have a shared post for the throat A/G#, different bridge key design etc...
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
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Author: rfabrizio
Date: 2013-05-15 18:03
this is a vintage, very good collector's item, an excellent clarinet with a beautiful warm tone if it is in good condition.
This is a professional instrument. My uncle had one and he played in New York, LA and vegas professional jazz bands and with Sinatra for years. He loved it and said it was the best.
I overhauled it many years ago and it played like a dream. Smooth and easy with lots of resonance. The best clarinet I ever played.
If it is in good shape, get it appraised and do not sell it for a pittance!
A good player would be delighted to have this and will be wiling to pay for it.
Fabrizio instrument repair
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