 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Journeyjoe
Date: 2007-01-27 17:56
I have a Selmer Grenadilla or Rosewood (not sure which one) that I inherited from my father.
It is missing a key assembly part and I was wondering if the horn is valuable enough to send it off, locate a part and have it reconditioned?
It is a beautiful horn but is missing part of the top key assembly.
Thanks in advance for any replies.
Joe
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-01-27 19:40
Joe -
If the wood is orange/red, it's rosewood. The darkness varies, but it's never totally black. As far as I know, all the Selmer Paris Eb contras are rosewood. It's unlikely that yours is made of grenadilla, since the trees seldom grow large enough. If it's a Selmer USA instrument, it's made of plastic.
If it's rosewood , it's certainly worth reconditioning. On mine, Steve Fox made a new key for one that was missing and also pinned many cracks, replaced the pads and regulated the keywork to play like new. He does gorgeous work, but I'm not sure he takes on big projects like this any more. If he does, it's well worth the wait and the cost.
Contra mouthpieces are usually badly battered. Consider getting one by Walter Grabner or Clark Fobes.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Journeyjoe
Date: 2007-01-27 19:57
Ken,
Thanks so much for all the good information. It is definitely wood and it does have the reddish orange tint to it.
Someone told me that it is difficult to get parts from Selmer and I may have to try Selmer Paris but even that might be tough. I am glad to hear that a key can be made for it if it can't be purchased from Selmer.
Where can I contact Steve Fox about working on it?
Thanks again for all your help.
By the way, what is the instruments approximate value after reconditioning?
Joe
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Author: pewd
Date: 2007-01-27 21:49
search prowinds.com
new they are in the $10,000.00 range
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: LCL
Date: 2007-01-27 21:51
Joe,
Ken is right on as usual. My rosewood also has a darker upper joint. If Fox is not able to do the key replacement, try Morrie Backun at Backun Musical Services. Google for that name and drill down!
Regards,
LCL
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Author: Journeyjoe
Date: 2007-01-27 22:02
I will do a search for Morrie and ask him about the repair and part availablility.
I don't know what the market is like for Contra Alto Clarinets but if they sell for $10,000 then it is definitely worth fixing for sure.
Thanks again for all the help.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2007-01-27 22:05
I believer the Selmer-Paris contra-altos are mechanically similar (if not identical) to the Selmer-USA/Bundy/Buescher contras in terms of keywork, other than the former being silver-plated and the latter nickel-plated. Perhaps the necessary keys could be donated by the student model, silver-plated if you feel it's important, and used as-is or adapted for your Paris model.
Also, I used to believe the Selmer-Paris contra-altos were only made in rosewood, but someone (on SaxOnTheWeb, I think it was) was quite certain they were also available in black grenadilla.
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Author: Journeyjoe
Date: 2007-01-27 22:27
The Contra has a definite reddish/orange hue to it. I don't have a clue as to why the top section of the key assembly is missing but it seems as though it is certainly worth trying to get replaced and then the horn given a good reconditioning.
The wood is in beautiful condition. It is a shame I have to go on a scavenger hunt for the missing keys though.
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Author: pewd
Date: 2007-01-27 22:44
wichita band instruments has a used on $4700
so i'd definately find someone to repair yours
they might be able to fix yours up - google for them
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2007-01-27 22:55
For $4,700 plus shipping, I'll sell mine. The case is ratty, but the instrument, refurbished by Steve Fox, is excellent.
For the same price, I'll sell my Leblanc low-C BBb paperclip.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Journeyjoe
Date: 2007-01-27 23:06
Okay,
You guys have definitely convinced me to find a repairman who can replace the key and refurbish the Contra. I just can't imagine what happened to the missing key assembly.
Joe
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2007-01-28 00:52
guys, Selmer did indeed make eb contrabasses in grenadilla. I have personally played one owned by a local retired professor. One thing that impressed me was how heavy it felt.
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2007-01-28 01:15
Keep well in mind that such instruments (big clarinets, particularly the contra versions of same) have almost always been a "school horn" during their first life. That alone can explain a multitude of problems such as you describe, all without departing from the realm of reality.
Turn these things over to the youth of the world, even at the college level, and you never know what might occur...
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2007-01-28 12:04
Journeyjoe, you mention that you inherited the clarinet from your father. Do you know whether he had been playing it? Can you find out who did his repair and adjustment work? If so, you might want to contact that repair shop (or, if you don't know, contact all the repair people in your community) and see whether the missing part is there.
It's conceivable that the repair person took off the part to do some work on it and that your father never picked it up. It might still be sitting around in the shop. The repair person may have been too backlogged to do the work right away (a chronic state of affairs--it took my repairman more than a year to restore my bass saxophone!), might not have wanted that enormous case taking up space the whole time and might have asked your father to take the clarinet away, wait for a phone call that the repair had been done and then just bring the clarinet back to have the hardware re-fitted on the spot. It's not an uncommon arrangement with large instruments. If your father became injured or ill and never followed through on the transaction, everyone involved might have simply forgotten over time.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Journeyjoe
Date: 2007-01-28 12:12
I will see what I can find out.
My father was sick the last couple years of his life and I am not sure how long he had the clarinet before that.
I have some feelers out to repair guys and I know the instrument is in fine shape as far as the wood goes. If I can find someone who might have the missing key or be able to manufacture one I would love to have it restored as it is really a beautiful instrument.
The bell and neck need to be polished too but that is minor.
Joe
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