 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: stlclardr
Date: 2006-09-09 01:45
I just received a Selmer Recital Bb clarinet to play test. I currently play on a Buffet R-13 and have been wanting to play test a Recital. Wow...what a rich, dark centered sound! Has anyone else tried these or currently playing on one? Please offer your knowledge, wisdom, advise, etc. Thanks!
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Author: Bill
Date: 2006-09-09 02:44
If you can live with the pinched B-flat, you have a winner! They are good, and so in tune.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2006-09-09 03:48
To me, it seemed a lot like holding an alto clarinet at an odd angle, but the tone was worth the confusion. I don't think that the added body bulk adds to the tone, but whatever makes it work is well worth the change.
(I didn't mind the Bb that much, but the horn that I used had been tweaked, so this may have been pre-addressed.)
If they had been offered with my bells and whistles (articulated G#, side lever Eb), I'd have bought a set twenty years ago. And, the equivalent bass horn would be worth the price as well.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-09-09 04:52
At a convention a year ago I had the chance to play lots of Selmer sopranos. For years every time I play a Selmer I think the sound is really good, but the keywork is just very uncomfortable. Especially the left pinky keys were too close. If you like the sound and keywork, there is no problem.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-09-09 06:58
"If they had been offered with my bells and whistles (articulated G#, side lever Eb), I'd have bought a set twenty years ago. And, the equivalent bass horn would be worth the price as well."
I saw one a while back on eBay in France that had an artic. G# and LH Eb! I kept it on my watching list, but I didn't think they offered this system with them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2006-09-09 07:32)
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Author: stlclardr
Date: 2006-09-09 12:58
Bill,
What did you mean by the "pinched B-Flat"? I haven't noticed any "pinching" in the sound or tone anywhere!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-09-09 13:23
My good friend, Bill Viseur [Tulsa] has one which really sounds good to my OLD ears. I'll ask him about the Bb and keyings. Have wanted one myself to compare with my CT. Will look "arournd". Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-09-09 15:38
Pinch Bb: refers to the fingering --left forefinger on the A key, left thumb on the register key --sort of like "pinching" the instrument between thumb and forefinger. The conventional fingering for Bb4.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-09-09 15:50
I only found out recently the resonance key fitted on the bottom joint on some Recitals is operated NOT by the RH thumb as I imagined it to be (as it is on full Oehlers) but by a link right the way up to the speaker key touch.
But Selmer do like to defy logic, so I suppose this isn't out of the ordinary by their standards.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2006-09-09 18:57
My Recital (long since sold) had that extra resonance key. The "bar" (rod, whatever) for it ran from the top the bottom of the clarinet on my left handm side. That, more than anything, is why I gave it up. Something about having a sort of elongated cocktail stirrer on the side of my clarinet bothered me. Hasty assembly could be fatal.
The throat B-flat was atrocious! No tone. But that is because the 12ths were really, really great. So something had to go to create this above-average intonation.
Listen to James Campbell, who sounds so wonderful on his.
Bill.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
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Author: hans
Date: 2006-09-09 19:37
stlclardr,
I bought my Recital, serial #D7202, in 1988 and like it very much, with one exception: I wish it were a little lighter. Mine has no resonance key and as far as I'm concerned it doesn't need one. It plays better for me with a 5RV than it did with the Selmer mouthpiece. The quality of the wood is exceptionally good.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: stlclardr
Date: 2006-09-11 02:20
The more I play the instrument, the better feel I get for the key placement. It seems that the left hand pinky keys are much closer together compared to the Buffet keywork. Unfortunately, the keywork and pads are brand new and need to be worked on by a technicnian to balance the entire instrument and get the pads to seal properly. However possible, this needs to be overlooked while play testing the instrument. Not an easy task!!!
Otherwise, the instrument is fairly heavy. has anybody tried the Kooiman thumb rests? What are your thoughts on these?
Post Edited (2006-09-11 03:30)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2006-09-11 10:42
Kooiman is GREAT if you really need it. All the weight goes to the heel of the thumb and you get all the control of NOT having a neck strap.
..........Paul Aviles
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Author: ghuba
Date: 2006-09-11 13:03
Try one of the small rubber slide on pads for the thumb rest (actually the fattest one you can find). For $3 you can change the balance of the instrument which for me is a big improvement. These little pads make more of a difference on a Recital than on any other clarinet I own because of the size and (lack of) balance around the thumb rest on this model.
George
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Author: ghuba
Date: 2006-09-11 13:04
Try one of the small rubber slide on pads for the thumb rest (actually the fattest one you can find). For $3 you can change the balance of the instrument which for me is a big improvement. These little pads make more of a difference on a Recital than on any other clarinet I own because of the size and (lack of) balance around the thumb rest on this model.
George
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Author: stlclardr
Date: 2006-09-13 13:27
After doing a little research on other bulletin boards, particularly the Selmer Clarinet Corner, I have read several postings that the Selmer C85 mouthpiece was specifically designed to be used with the Recital model. Has anyone else heard about this or read this?
For those of you currently playing on the Recital, which mouthpieces are you using? Thanks for your assistance.
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