 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: dee
Date: 2001-01-22 01:45
Hi,
I was just wondering what you think of Selmer Signet Special clarinets. I bought a older model last year for 100.00. It has a very nice tone, thats what my band teacher told me when I play it. I was just wondering how much it would cost to have it looking like new? The keys are not very shinny, I oil it when it needs to be.
thanks,
Dee
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Author: Jim
Date: 2001-01-22 04:10
You might search this board, there were several threads on this some time ago. I own a Signet Special that I bought new in 1969 for $250. (That was a LOT of money in '69, I had bought a 6 year old car for that the year before!) Mine was in storage for 18 years, and has been overhauled once, about 5 years ago.
It is an intermediate level wooden horn, kind of nice to play, and with a respectable sound. When my son (Jr in HS) played a Bundy, he often borrowed the Signet from me. Since he got a Buffet R13, he has little interest in the Signet! That probably sums up the Signet.
I play mine in a community band where my son also plays. The director noticed his R13 and asked what I was playing... He shook his head when I told him it was the 31 year old Signet. If I played more, or the Signet wasn't as good as it is... I guess I'd go for a pro level horn... But, I have other toys to spend on!
$100 for a playable Signet seems like a good deal, new intermediate instruments go for around $750 - $1200. Keep it clean and in good repair, but I'd not worry too much about cosmetics like dull keys if I were you.
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Author: donn
Date: 2001-01-22 16:09
Just for the halibut. I bought a Signet Special cornet new in 1962, played many gigs with it. One night a couple or three solder joints broke loose while working a gig, taped it up and continued. I have since resoldered it and restored it, and it still plays very well, except for a little slop in the valves. It was and is a good upper grade intermediate horn.
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Author: drew
Date: 2001-01-22 17:07
Most people try to classify clarinets by three grades: student, intermediate, professional. This is just an approximation, a convenient way to categorize instrument quality.
Selmer's Signet is very definitely an "intermediate" grade instument. With a good mouthpiece and reed and a skilled player, wonderful music can be made. My statement assumed that the instrument has nothing seriously wrong with it, and that the instrument has no special intonation problems.
Sometimes clarinet keys can show wear on the plating. Although not the prettiest, this will have zero impact on the sound quality of the instrument. I wouldn't worry about it too much, some of the instruments used by professionals look terrible, but of course they sound wonderful. Remember, you audience comes to hear you play, not to look at your instrument.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2001-01-22 18:21
The Signet Special is a first-level step-up instrument. I played one recently and didn't care for it, but it wasn't in great shape.
Bring along a tuner and check the intonation carefully before you buy, especially for sharpness in the throat register and the top of the clarion. With instruments at this level, there's a lot of variation.
However, if you really like it, you can't go wrong at $100.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Dee
Date: 2001-01-22 21:03
Just in case anyone is wondering, this poster is a different person than me. I always capitalize my name.
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Author: dee
Date: 2001-01-22 21:58
ekk. I didn't know they was someone else by dee also. I will go by deejay from now on.. 
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