 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: klarisa
Date: 2006-11-06 15:06
Hallo,
I have been offered a metal Eb clarinet for sale.
The serial number is 3968. So the clarinet would be from around 1930.
I was wondering would it be a suitable instrument for playing (mostly jazz standards in an amateur band), would the instrument have a good intonation? (I hear old instruments might have a lower or higher pitch)
i would just use it to have some variation from my normal sax and Bb clarinet. (since i'm the only melody instrument in the band some variation is very welcome)
Post Edited (2006-11-06 15:19)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-11-06 15:16
Is it Boehm or simple system?
I think they did their 'improved Albert system' in metal as well (Bb and A anyway).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2006-11-06 15:52
Klarisa -
Metal Selmers from the 1930s are worth the asking price, and many people like them.
However, you absolutely must play the instrument before buying it, or at least get a money-back-for-any-reason-or-no-reason guarantee. In particular, you have to check the intonation. An in-tune Eb is very rare, and out of tune one is useless.
Also, it's likely to play at 440. Even though it has a screw that alters the barrel length, if you shorten it enough to play at 442 or 444, the throat and high clarion notes are likely to be quite sharp.
If you can't play it in tune, 400€, or any amount, is too much.
Finally, although I can't really tell from the pictures, the instrument appears to need some work to put it in top condition, so you have to add that to the price.
Good luck. Let us know how it turns out.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-11-06 16:34
Well, it all seems to be in order - and with a full overhaul it should be something (and have leather pads as they last much better against metal toneholes).
Have you had the chance to play it? If you do get the chance, take a tuner with you - if it plays slightly flat across the entire range by a few cents then that's no problem (until you get the right mouthpiece/reed combination right for you it should play up to pitch) but as has already been mentioned it's not worth it if it's painfully sharp.
Though if it is sharp it will be in tune with some flute and piccolo players!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: madvax
Date: 2006-11-06 18:58
klarisa wrote:
> I was wondering would it be a suitable instrument for playing (mostly
> jazz standards in an amateur band), would the instrument have a good
> intonation? (I hear old instruments might have a lower or higher pitch)
I've had several metal Selmer Bb's and they were wonderful instruments. I've never played a metal Selmer Eb (I do play a wooden Selmer Eb), but my guess is this metal Eb should play great and play well with other instruments.
It certainly is a beautiful instrument.
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2006-11-06 19:11
Looks to me like the Bb Selmer horns of pro quality that I've played in the past. Also, it's unlikely that a "cheapo" Eb clarinet would have been made in metal. (The two harmony clarinets that I've seen from Selmer in metal were also pro quality.)
Now you just have to worry about the physical condition...
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: klarisa
Date: 2006-11-07 18:18
Thanks for all the responses.
I will surely ask to play the instrument before purchase.
Iff the intonation is oké and there are not to much costs i think i'll go for it.
In any case i let you know about the results
Johan
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