 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: selmerplayer
Date: 2009-06-18 02:05
Ha! here we go again with these damm Selmers. I just got this Selmer Signature from Kessler's after giving up on WWBW. Everything looked good...well no cracks yet; the finish was questionable, anyway I was looking in the bore of the upper joint and I noticed that the C# tone hole was not drilled all the way through. It is about 15-20% blocked. It looks like the drill just didn't go all the way through and clean out the hole. Now if this won't hurt anything then I won't worry about it; so I'm asking the experts here if this needs to be addressed. I think this will be my last "new" Selmer I will ever buy. I paid over $4000 for this thing and the workmanship is crap. And as anyone who has been reading my posts about my Selmer buying oddysee knows this is not an isolated incedent with new Selmers. And just to be clear this is not Kessler's fault.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-06-18 02:25
Send it back. Tell Kessler you want a new one that tehy have gone over with a microscope.
Or, just get another brand.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Joseph Brenner, Jr.
Date: 2009-06-18 02:32
I am truly sorry for your situation. I do think that you have paid dearly for your blind faith. I have read all of your recent posts; they all contain the consistent theme of your unhappiness. What with all the fuss and disappointment and expense you've experienced, do you not think that you might have been better off doing business with Morrie Backun, or Guy Chadash, or Stephen Fox, or Luis Rossi? Might that not be the better course now?
It is high time for you to look into the mirror and question the judgment of the person you see. You might also consider changing your name. I wish you the best and so hope that you can once again be happy with your clarinet.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2009-06-18 02:48
If you want a really good Clarinet you have to get it from one of the high end distributors who personally set it up for you. Or you can go somewhere and try them out to find what works for you. I tried 25 Bb's and 25 A's when I picked my main set. Yes you have had some bad luck with your current purchases, but I wouldn't hold Selmer to blame as being a poor company. I'll bet there are as many problems with the other brands too.
http://www.SkypeClarinetLessons.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: aero145
Date: 2009-06-18 07:10
Could this be more of a Signature thing? I mean, you said you had a problem with a Recital too, but when I bought my Saint Louis, I tried a few of them and also Signatures, and the Saint Louis was IMO simply better.
Similar to Buffet Tosca vs Festival?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: selmerplayer
Date: 2009-06-18 11:57
It is high time for you to look into the mirror and question the judgment of the person you see. You might also consider changing your name. I wish you the best and so hope that you can once again be happy with your clarinet.
I don't think this is my fault. I have no control over manufacturing or dealers nor do I live close enough to a dealer to just drive there and look before I buy.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: selmerplayer
Date: 2009-06-18 11:59
Send it back. Tell Kessler you want a new one that tehy have gone over with a microscope.
Or, just get another brand.
The 3 day trial period kessler offers has expired. But like I said if it doesn't cause a problem I wouldn't worry about it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: selmerplayer
Date: 2009-06-18 12:02
I'd like to see this. Can you post a picture?
I think it would be difficult to take a picture of it. because the only way to see it is to look in the bore. Well I could take the key off but don't want to do that.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: aero145
Date: 2009-06-18 12:04
Have you tried playing it and not bothered? Maybe this clarinet is absolutely amazing otherwise, will never crack, and you will always be happy with it (unless you look in the bore of course! ![[right]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie8.gif) ).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: selmerplayer
Date: 2009-06-18 12:45
aero145 wrote:
> Have you tried playing it and not bothered? Maybe this clarinet
> is absolutely amazing otherwise, will never crack, and you will
> always be happy with it (unless you look in the bore of
> course! ).
Yes I've been playing it and it plays good and sounds good. In fact all the other Signatures I tried all played and sounded good which is the reason I have been hell bent on a Selmer Signature. I have no problem with the way it plays and sounds. It's just that for $4500 I think Selmer could do a lot better job on the workmenship. I have seen cheaper Yamaha's with better workmenship. These things ought to be absolutely perfect.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: aero145
Date: 2009-06-18 12:51
I understand your point. The only gripe I have with my Selmer is the grain, as often heard here, but it plays really nicely and sounds nicely.
edit: factually wrong
Post Edited (2009-06-18 13:00)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-06-18 13:26
I totally agree with DaveB, I would never buy a clarinet for myself or my students unless I tried several out and choose the best one for me, no matter what brand. I've rejected many Buffets for my students over the years for intonation, tonal and other problems as well. The reason I bought my Selmer was after years of trying Buffets I gave up trying to find what I liked and finally tried the Selmers, it was love at first play. Getting it from someone that "sets" it up too is most important. When I bought my Signature from Vince Marinelli in Delaware. I tried out all the one's he had in stock, choose the one I kept coming back to and picked it up a week later after he "set" it up to my touch and intonation adjustments and what ever he found needed adjusting. I'm now, after three years, getting my first overhaul. You have to try them out and get it from someone that can and will go over it with a fine tooth comb before it leaves their store.
Remember too, some shops actually choose the clarinets to stock in their shops and the rest go the the places that did not do that. That does not guarantee a great clarinet by any means but it boosts the average of getting a better one. ESP
http://eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-06-18 13:32
Check how the C# play (and G# same but with register key). I'm not sure how long you've been playing. If only a little, maybe let a clarinetist with experience try your clarinet and check the C#/G# to make sure.
I think a 3 day trial period is to let you decide, but not with a manufacturing defect, which (if your description is really correct) is exactly what this is. I assume you have a warrenty that is much longer than 3 days, no? This should definitely be covered.
In case you eventually somehow return this clarinet, or to someone else in your situation, I think it can be a good idea to make a small (or big) trip to a place wher eyou can choose your instrument. You are spending a lot on this instrument and the extra for the trip isn't especially significant.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2009-06-18 13:49
Selmerplayer, according to your ISP, you are in North Carolina. You could probably have made a day (or overnight) trip to Muncy Winds for trials. their address is: 5014 Highway 105 South Boone, NC 28607. They are also a Selmer dealer, by the way.
Jeff
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-06-18 18:39
Check out your other thread about the Selmer crack, a Selmer rep answered you and offered help. ESP
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-06-18 18:43
selmerplayer -
Try each note involving the C# hole -- chalumeau C#, clarion G#, altissimo F, altissimo long F and F#, short and long super Bb, clarion Ab/Bb trill, etc. If each note is in tune and matches the adjacent notes in volume and tone color, forget about an invisible irregularity.
If it plays good, it IS good. If not, send it back, or, if it's otherwise ideal, take it to a good tech to have the problem fixed. It's not a complicated operation, other than to check the tuning frequently during the work.
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: selmerplayer
Date: 2009-06-18 18:48
Check out your other thread about the Selmer crack, a Selmer rep answered you and offered help. ESP
Yep I have already talked with him by email and we are going to set up an exchange.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2009-06-20 10:44
Give me 60 seconds with a bur in my trusty dental micromotor and the problem is over. I wish all slovenliness by manufacturers was that easy to solve.
It surprises me, though, that a partially blocked tone hole is not affecting the way it plays, especially for G#/C# where significant design compromise has been made to the tone hole in order not to have it located in the ideal position within the centre tenon.
Perhaps the standard of playing is not high enough to notice the detrimental effect.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: selmerplayer
Date: 2009-06-20 16:40
Gordon (NZ) wrote:
> Give me 60 seconds with a bur in my trusty dental micromotor
> and the problem is over. I wish all slovenliness by
> manufacturers was that easy to solve.
>
> It surprises me, though, that a partially blocked tone hole is
> not affecting the way it plays, especially for G#/C# where
> significant design compromise has been made to the tone hole in
> order not to have it located in the ideal position within the
> centre tenon.
>
> Perhaps the standard of playing is not high enough to notice
> the detrimental effect.
You're probably right. I do not play on professional level. A true pro however would prabably notice somthing is wrong emediately and reject it.
The Selmer rep has already contacted me and he is working on hand selecting another Signature for me from their stock. They are going to send it to their shop and go over it to make sure it's perfect and then exchange it for the one I have now. So no need for the micromotor.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
