The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: gsinibaldi
Date: 2011-09-19 21:15
Hello,
I have a selmer Low C bass clarinet with a serial number of A7839. I'm trying to determine the model. I think its a 33 but I'm not sure.
The serial number list here: http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/HowOld/Selmer.html only says they started in 1978. Any way to determine the model i have?
Thanks for any help
[ Edited - GBK ]
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-09-20 00:10
What is the lowest note configuration. Do you have a low D in the left hand? How many keys are in the right hand thumb, two or three? And how many pinky keys are there in the RH pinky? ESP eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gsinibaldi
Date: 2011-09-20 01:17
Hi Ed,
The low D is in the right hand thumb, so there are 3 keys for the right thumb, D, C# and C and 5 keys for the RH pinky...
Thanks
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gsinibaldi
Date: 2011-09-20 01:18
Hi Ed,
The low D is in the right hand thumb, so there are 3 keys for the right thumb, D, C# and C and 5 keys for the RH pinky...
Thanks
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jicaino
Date: 2011-09-21 03:36
I was confused too by the info I could find online. I'm plaiyng a D series low Eb bass. I thought it was a 23/II and yours would be a 25 (or 25/II but I do think that A series is still the rev I versions on the basses)gsinibaldi wrote:
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gsinibaldi
Date: 2011-09-21 20:25
Maybe I should contact selmer directly? They must have info on design characteristics foe different models right?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jicaino
Date: 2011-09-23 03:10
good luck with that hehheh they're a bit unresponsive with older instruments information
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-09-23 03:18
I sounds like my Selmer bass because the next models had either only two thumb keys in the right hand and or six pinky keys until they came out with the model with three thumb and six pinky and later added a left hand D as well, so I think it's a 31, the first low C model they made for production. It is possible it's the next model up, a 33 but can't be more than that. I had a low D built on the left pinky so I could trill a low D to C but never have had to do that. ESP
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: nosqueaks
Date: 2011-09-26 04:10
Selmer had two different bass clarinet model numbers at that time- the model 33 Low C bass in the US market was called the model 25 in France. I tried to buy a Low C bass like yours in Paris in 1984 but production had switched over to the 25-II which had the new key layout- D and C for thumb, 6 keys for right hand pinky, with low C# in the traditional low Eb position and Eb on top of that key;
with a LH low D key and a LH C/F key that also activated the low C.
After that model, they introduced the Model 37 here, with more conventional key layout and intonation improvements. I owned one of these also. Then comes the current Privelege, which clears up the confusing model number business.
The price of the 25-II nickle plated in Paris in July 1984 for was $1287-
The dollar was definitely mighty that year!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-09-26 21:24
I paid $475 for my low C Selmer model 31 back in 1965. Our second clarinet player owned a music store and ordered it for me, I paid him $25 over his cost. After making several adjustments over the year I've never found one that plays as well in tune or sounds as good as mine. ESP
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2011-09-27 00:16
Re jicaino's comment wishing good luck trying to talk to Selmer about older models. I had a very pleasant experience writing to Thierry Doublon in France, who identified the month, year, and model of my Selmer bass, based on serial number only. I wrote him at tdoublon@selmer.fr ...
Now I hope he doesn't get overwhelmed with inquiries.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2011-09-27 02:08
I can give you a little more specific date information. I have a very slightly better serial number list than the one on this site. It gives 1978-79 as the years for the A-series. The B-series started in 1980. If you can find out when Selmer changed models, you should be able to tell which one you have. FWIW, Selmer appears to have been making around 5,000 professional clarinets per year in the late 70's so 1979 is probably the year yours was made.
Best regards,
jnk
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
|