 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Lorenzo_M
Date: 2012-07-16 05:35
Yes, I did use search. Most of the threads on the BT are older though, and I'm looking for some more "current" advice.
I just picked up a BT for about $700. It needs work to reach its potential, but more on that in a second. Before we even get into it, is this high for a used BT in only "decent" condition? I have 30 days to try this thing.
Anyway, on to the horn. As stated, it needs work to be "professional" quality. It plays as is, and I can get a VERY nice sound out of it...that old swing-era FAT clarinet sound. The intonation is a bit wild, but I can adjust to play it well enough in tune. The supplied barrel is WAY too short (it only came with one...looks original, but it's really short. Just looking at it, it's probably about 63mm...or less!).
I tried it with my current mouthpiece (a Fobes Cicero 13) and longer barrel (Fobes 65mm) and the horn tunes adequately to my ear. It's not perfect, but the twelfths are not as far as other older Selmers I've played. I think I can get it to play acceptably in tune...good enough for jazz, so to speak. The barrel that comes with it tunes way too sharp, and modern mouthpieces seem to play very out of tune with it...a Vandoren B45 I used at the store to test (their mpc, not mine) was so laughably out of tune, playing a major scale was basically impossible without extreme pitch adjustment throughout the range.
How much work does it need? Well, I would probably go for an overhaul for this...the pads are a mongrel mix of Valentino and Bladder, and the action needs adjustment. Pads seal, but some look sloppily installed. A repad might be good enough, but I would really want to have someone go through and make sure everything is tight and the tone holes are ok, and of course more cosmetic things like clean the body and keys. It speaks pretty easy, but I feel it could play even better.
Given this information, what do you all think? Worth investing some money for a restoration, or is it a poor value proposition? I don't know what a BT goes for in perfect condition... An overhaul in the NYC area ranges from $400-600, so add that to the potential end price. Not to mention probably needing to have a barrel made or adjusted. As much as I like this horn, maybe it's just better to find a better example and pay more for it, especially if the TCO will be the same or possibly less?
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-07-16 06:47
I think you paid well over the odds for an instrument that needs significant work, unless you're in a position to do the work yourself. At your quoted price for an overhaul you end up with an $1100-1300 clarinet. You could buy a much better instrument for that sort of money. Just my opinion.
Tony F.
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-07-16 07:05
Consider that the market value for a freshly overhauled Selmer BT is ~$1000. Since you stated that you would probably need to have this one overhauled it sounds it is priced too high. FWIW I have seen Selmer BT's sell in the $400-$500 range in similar condition to what you describe (good condition but needing an overhaul).
Unless there is something about this particular BT that makes it more valuable in your opinion I would probably pass.
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Author: Lorenzo_M
Date: 2012-07-16 10:54
ok, I suspected it was a bit overpriced. I bought it just to give it a go (and also, I have 30 days, so no real risk to me)
it's "ok", but if a much better condition BT can be had for the price you guys mentioned, then I'll definitely look around. And yes, it needs significant work, and though I haven't played/owned a BT before, there's really nothing particularly special about *this* one that screams to me "keep it!".
So, I should be able to find a BT, or possibly even a CT at the $1100-1300 range?
I don't "need" another clarinet, but talk of large bore instruments in one of my other threads, and interest in them is what sparked this.
And to be fair, the clarinet plays as is. A small adjustment by a competent tech to lower the rings and adjust the key heights would be enough to make it play a little more ok. A repad would be enough to make it play better. It would need an overhaul to make it play its best (and look its best....it's in pretty rough cosmetic shape). I wish I was capable do the work, in which case it probably would've been a decent buy....
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-07-16 11:49
Lorenzo_M wrote:
> So, I should be able to find a BT, or possibly even a CT at the
> $1100-1300 range?
Absolutely. I have bought CT's for well under $1000 in most cases. Even my Selmer CT Omega cost less than $1300 and that was after a really good overhaul.
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Author: jbutler ★2017
Date: 2012-07-16 13:00
It sounds like you have a more modern barrel on your vintage instrument. Years ago Henry Cuesta told me the BT came with a standard 67mm barrel.
I sold him one of my overhauled BT's just a few years before he passed. Secondly, I agree it's too much money especially if it needs extensive work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Cuesta
jbutler
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Author: Lorenzo_M
Date: 2012-07-16 13:46
According to what I found on here, the BTs came with 3 barrels, and that the shorter ones were usually not used. Which makes for a higher percentage chance that they didn't crack. This was likely the only original barrel that was in good condition (the logo hasn't rubbed off, so it was probably used very little).
And yes, it's in a bit of a rough shape. Depending on one's standards, it would need little work to "play" but I try to keep all my instruments to the highest possible standard...good enough just isn't good enough.
Judging from the work, I'm willing to venture the store (Sam Ash in Manhattan) sets up their used clarinets to be "good enough" for saxophone players and intermediate clarinetists. I have managed to find pretty decent deals before (almost all vintage clarinets they sell require work), but looks like this isn't one of them.
Aside from the bay, does anyone know of good sites to look for vintage selmers? BT or CT.
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