 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jackinmilton
Date: 2006-10-27 14:23
Hi, Has anyone played this clarinet? Would like opinions on quality of this instrument.
Post Edited (2006-10-27 14:50)
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2006-10-27 22:26
The Selmer Odyssee doesn't look like an R13 neither it sounds like one. In fact the current Selmer designs have nothing to do with their older clarinets neither they resemble Buffet as far as design is concern.
Selmer finally got rid of the large bore without tone hole undercutting and moved to absolutely new direction to a small (around .571") reverse cone bore. IMO, these are new generation designs that will place Selmer on the top of the game in a near future.
Recently I was more than impressed with the sound of Selmer Omega Paris. This led me to play testing and finally purchase of Selmer 'Odyssee' in key of A.
The Odyssee sounds completely different. It doesn't resemble a sound of any clarinet I've played before. The difference is not in the tone color but how I hear it. The sound of Odyssee fills the room like a surround system would. I do not feel any direction of the sound which is the case with other clarinets. The sound is all over and around me. I love my vintage R13, King 'Marigaux 350' and I adore the looks and tone of my Selmer 'Centered Tone Omega' but I can not compare them with my Odyssee. It's just different. I haven't recorded or played the Odyssee in the concert setting yet. So it's hard to tell if it will replace my other clarinets. One thing is absolutely clear. The Odyssee is my favorite clarinet for practicing. A new toy!
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
ClarinetHeaven@aol.com
Post Edited (2006-10-27 22:29)
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Author: jmsa
Date: 2006-10-28 06:59
I also liked the Selmer Paris Omega, however I found it extremely heavy. Does the Odyssee weigh as much as the Paris Omega?
jmsa
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-10-28 09:02
I've played several Selmer models and really a lot of other models. I agree with Vytas that the Selmers have a different sound than pretty much anything else (imho). I really like their sound, and I might even play a Selmer if not for their really uncomfortable keywork. Many play them so the keywork is good for some people, but I found it is very different to most other clarinets, so you should definitely try it before buying even for that reason alone.
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Author: Vytas
Date: 2006-11-01 00:37
The "Odyssee" is lighter than Omega. I find the keywork to be excellent. This clarinet was playable right out of the box. Padded with leather pads. Love it! Every other key will require height adjustment but that is not a problem.
The worst part is a wood. It's unfinished. Even the wood grain was left out unfilled. I've never seen this before from any company. I'm going to refinish the bore because I do not want to end up with dimensionally unstable wood.
The logos on the clarinet applied very lightly so they will wear out very quickly and I do not think it will be possible to restore them in the future (especially the name Odyssee)
Other than that, it's a beautiful clarinet!
Vytas Krass
Professional clarinet technician
Custom clarinet mouthpiece maker
Former professional clarinet player
ClarinetHeaven@aol.com
Post Edited (2006-11-03 03:31)
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Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2006-11-01 23:42
I thought it was just me but I' also noticed the Omega weighs alot compared to other clarinets. I know it does over a Signet I borrowed. I personally played an Odysee when I went to get my clarinet. I liked the sound of the Omega because of the thicker wood I assume it has and the smaller bore. I think its somewhere around .563. The keywork on Selmers IMO feels a little heavy and stiff. It has taken me a while to get use the the new springs and keywork on my new Omega. My old one was overhauled with regular springs and pads. The new one I purchased a couple of days ago has Blue Needle Springs and the pads are leather with the cork and felt pads in the upper joint. Selmer clarinets to me are a better choice over R13s. Leblancs are a close second.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-11-02 15:46
If the new Omega has thicker wood and a smaller bore, it may be a clone of the Recital. Does anyone know more?
Ken Shaw
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Author: SVClarinet09
Date: 2006-11-03 01:48
Well from the many stats I've seen on the Omega, it has a .563/561 reversed cone bore. The wood seems to be thicker and the keywork isnt as clean as the keywork on the Signature. The ironic thing is the Omega was discontinued some couple of years ago. They both play very similar.
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Author: graham
Date: 2006-11-03 10:51
according to my metric converter that makes the bore 14.3 mm. That seems too narrow. Have I gone wrong somewhere?
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-11-03 11:34
"according to my metric converter that makes the bore 14.3 mm. That seems too narrow. Have I gone wrong somewhere?
Yes, in your calculation. 0.570" is about 14.48mm.
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2006-11-03 18:29
I have had a number of issues with the Odysseye clarinet...the biggest problem is the sound is quite big which is great for Klezmer or band music but in orchestra it was a bit much...I still prefer the sound of the Recital clarinets but I too am in the mist of changing to a different model clarinet. Right now I am looking for something which is a big more centred and with a slightly smaller sound. That being said on a different set up this may be just fine for other clarinetists....
David Dow
Post Edited (2006-11-03 18:30)
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