 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Peter B
Date: 2016-06-06 14:43
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Hello,
I recently acquired a very nice Selmer Series 9 full boehm clarinet. It is in good shape and plays nicely. There is just one issue: when assembled there's a gap between mouthpiece and barrel of about 1.5mm, both with the HS mouthpiece that came with the clarinet, as with a modern day Vandoren (there is no issue with the diameter). I measured the barrel socket and it is only about 15.5mm deep, whereas the mouthpiece tenon is 17mm long ...
Does anybody have any ideas about this seemingly wrong barrel socket size? There is a bit of dammage to the scoket entry, but I don't think it was shortened. I guess it's not a big deal for a repair technician to make the socket deeper? Pictures are included.
Regards,
Peter.
Post Edited (2016-06-06 14:45)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-06-06 14:56
The standard length barrel for a Series 9 is 67mm, so if your barrel is short and the socket is too shallow, then it's probably been shortened without the socket being properly deepened.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Peter B
Date: 2016-06-06 15:35
Well, the barrel is actually only 65mm long, so that would indeed explain it. Whoever did it, he did a very good job re-fitting the ring, that's why I didn't think the barrel would have been shortened; strange that he didn't deepen the socket then.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-06-06 15:58
Refitting the socket ring is the easy bit as it only involves turning down the outside of the barrel (in this case by 2mm) to lengthen the socket recess.
Sometimes you'll find new old stock Series 9 barrels listed on eBay and can be as much as 68mm (which can always be shortened), so keep an eye out there (usually listed on Canadian or US eBay).
Every full Boehm Series 9 Bb clarinet I've seen were nickel plated and the only full Boehm Series 9 A I've seen (which I happen to own) is silver plated.
It's a shame that so many older Selmers have had their barrels shortened as finding replacements that are still 67mm is getting increasingly rare.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Peter B
Date: 2016-06-06 16:13
Thanks, Chris.
I think I'll have the socket deepened, as it sometimes gets a bit uncomfortable playing up to A=442.
Peter.
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Author: Peter B
Date: 2016-06-06 16:51
Steven, thanks for your suggestion, but there isn't.
Peter.
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2016-06-06 16:57
Chris P wrote:
> Every full Boehm Series 9 Bb clarinet I've seen were nickel plated and the
> only full Boehm Series 9 A I've seen (which I happen to own) is silver plated.
The two full Boehm Series 9 Bb clarinets I have are both silver plated. I really should sell one or both...
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-06-06 18:46
I had my Bb silver plated (over the nickel) as I happened to buy what turned out to be a full Boehm A off eBay which was listed as a Bb which I only discovered when it arrived as I could tell straight away the finger spacing was wider, so a tuner determined it was an A.
I pondered for a bit and rather than returning it, I decided to find a Bb counterpart for it to make up a set. The chances of finding a full Boehm A clarinet is fairly remote, so that was what made me decide to keep it and then look for a Bb to go with it.
The A is an early Series 9 from 1962 (S series) and the Bb is a late one from 1978 (A series). The build quality on the Bb isn't as good as the A, but it's still a nice clarinet to play. So it all turned out well in the end and it's my main A clarinet.
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/galleryclar/Keywork/FB/07.jpg
I've since bought a full Boehm Series 9 Eb clarinet, but missed out on a full Boehm C as it was listed in Canada and the seller wasn't prepared to send it abroad unfortunately.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2016-06-06 18:48)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-06-06 18:57
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2016-06-06 19:00)
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Author: BartHx
Date: 2016-06-06 19:12
Confirming Chris' comments (not that he is anywhere near needing my support), my Series 9 has a 67 mm barrel which accepts a 17 mm mouthpiece tenon with no problem. So far it has not been a problem that it plays in tune at A=440 with all joints fully seated. At an outdoor concert in hot weather (aarrggghhh!) I can easily tune to 442 or sometimes higher. But, if I needed to hit that mark under normal conditions I would either need to look for a different mouthpiece or borrow a shorter barrel from one of my other Selmers. Next weekend we are playing in Golden Gate Park (San Francisco). I expect it to be be cool enough there that we will be able to easily tune at 440, but I always carry an extra barrel or two just in case.
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Author: Peter B
Date: 2016-06-07 21:15
Chris, my Bb is a S49xx, so it would be about the same age as your A.
I'm not sure about the plating, when holding it between a (known) nickel-plated and a silver-plated clarinet, I'd say it looks more like silver-plated.
Bart, thanks for the tuning information.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2016-06-08 05:46
Peter, your Series 9 definitely appears to be silver plated from the photos which is pretty rare as most tended to be nickel plated. The only Series 9 full Boehms I have with original silver plated keywork are my A and Eb - I had the Bb silver plated and have another Series 9 full Boehm in Bb that's nickel plated, so at some point I'll rebuild it and have it silver plated too.
I have a set of 19/7 (or N.6) Series 9* clarinets (to low E - full Boehms are N.8) that are silver plated but they were made as a set for Gino Cioffi in 1967 and consecutively serial numbered V2x11 and V2x12. He hardly played them (maybe a few concerts or rehearsals) and sold them to a pupil of his in 1968.
My Series 9 full Boehm A was from Vienna, the Bb from France and the Eb from Hungary - all found on eBay.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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