 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2012-10-26 21:46
I was recently given a beautiful, full Boehm Selmer Paris metal clarinet from around 1930 (serial 45xx). I had two techs work on it, giving it new pads, corks, and adjustments. It has no leaks. It has the easiest to play altissimo register I have ever experienced.
Unfortunately, over the remaining range of the instrument (low Eb to C6), the tone is woefully deficient. My best description is that it has no life to it, failing to have any of the bell-like ring that I, at least, associate with good clarinet tone. I'm playing it with a Lomax Chicago mouthpiece.
Although I realize that an 80 year clarinet will be different from what I currently play, I also believe that Selmer's best efforts in 1930 would produce a sound much better than it currently makes. Any thoughts on what I might try to improve the situation?
Any advice will be appreciated.
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Author: John Scorgie
Date: 2012-10-27 01:25
Ed --
Sounds like a hairline leak in one (or more) of the pads toward the top of the upper joint.
If your techs continue to maintain that the horn has no leaks, have another tech check it out.
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Author: Tony F
Date: 2012-10-27 06:16
Check the clearance between the A and G# keys. Use the adjustment screw (if present) to give a very slight clearance between them. If the clearance is absent it can cause a problem similar to what you describe. If it's not that, I agree that you've probably got a leak in the upper part of the instrument. Prperly set up, your clarinet should sound pretty good. I have one probably older than yours and it sounds great.
Tony F.
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Author: Clarineteer
Date: 2012-10-27 09:03
There also could be a hairline crack in the metal somewhere. Metal can crack just like wood. Some thin CA glue would seal the crack.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-10-27 10:38
I was just thinking if it may have split in the metal somewhere - years back a colleague restored an old Selmer trumpet which had two splits in the bell directly opposite each other which he repaired with two small brass patches. The instrument played well and easily enough throughout its range, but it didn't have the 'ring' or projection to it as a trumpet should have - tonally it just seemed dead.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Clarineteer
Date: 2012-10-27 12:31
He waved his instrument in the air which is very comical to me. Sounds like something Dennis the menace would do.
Post Edited (2012-10-27 12:31)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2012-10-29 14:12
Well consider this, it's a metal clarinet. The bore is probably smaller than a decent wood clarinet with little or no tapering at all throughout the instrument. Some people are saying it might be a tiny leak, one of your techs should have a presure tool to put on it that would check that 100%. They cork up one end and put the pressure tool on the other end but I think it's just the reason I described above. I could be wrong but I think not. Metal, small bore, little or no taper. Good for marching in bad weather. :-)
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Baz
Date: 2012-10-29 20:05
I use a Selmer Sterling/Paris clarinet made in the early thirties, I have no problems with tone in any register, it looks very battered but I have had good comments from other clarinet players about its fine sound, the Selmer metal clarinets at that time cost more than the wooden ones and had a fine reputation.
Baz
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-10-29 21:05
I can't see any reason why Selmer wouldn't have made their metal clarinets with the same bore shape and dimensions as their wooden counterparts.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-10-29 21:12
Ed Palanker wrote:
> Well consider this, it's a metal clarinet. The bore is probably
> smaller than a decent wood clarinet with little or no tapering
> at all throughout the instrument.
Not necessarily. I'm not sure about the exact configuration of the metal Selmer's from the period but here are the bore measurements from my Penzel-Mueller Clari-Met that was made around the same time.
Upper Joint: top = 14.86mm, bottom = 14.73mm
Lower Joint: top = 14.86mm, bottom = 21.59mm
This clarinet at least would be considered to more of a medium bore by today's standards. I believe this bore size is pretty close to what was used on the Leblanc LL.
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Author: SteveG_CT
Date: 2012-10-29 21:53
Chris P wrote:
> I can't see any reason why Selmer wouldn't have made their
> metal clarinets with the same bore shape and dimensions as
> their wooden counterparts.
I suspect they were probably pretty close. My Selmer K-series wooden clarinet from around the same time period (# K2937) has a bore measuring just under 15mm.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-10-29 22:02
Metal clarinet bores would've been formed on a mandrel in the same way the taper of a sax body, flute headjoint or trumpet mouthpipe and bell taper (but not the bell flare) would've been formed, so the bores should be very close to those of wooden clarinets of the same make.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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