 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: kkoch
Date: 2018-11-20 22:25
Attachment: C06D6622-686D-4E0D-BF61-80133C967378.jpeg (97k)
Hello! I’m new to the boards and wasn’t sure where to post this question. Someone is selling a clarinet from the 1950’s, it’s a Selmer Bundy, but it needs work. They are selling it for $20 plus $10 shippping. It looks like it needs quite a bit of work, but I was wondering if I could get some opinions from more knowledgeable people.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2018-11-21 00:14
If the instrument is basically sound with no mechanical or physical damage then it could be worth it at that price. You would expect to have to pay whatever the rate is where you live to have it made playable, unless you are able to do the work yourself. The Bundy was a good student-level instrument. If you don't want to spend that much, look out for a Leblanc Vito or any of the student-level Yamahas, which can sometimes be bought in playable condition for very little money.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-11-21 00:23
Well I'd like to see a reply from those who really know their older horns, but this is not a Bundy (the case is a Bundy case though). Bundys are plastic horns and this one is clearly wood. It looks like an old Buffet to me (but I'd defer to expert eyes). Then again there is the condition of the wood. I had a wood mouthpiece that survived a flood, and the wood took on the appearance of this horn (so I'd be concerned about that). There then is the calculation whether the cost of an effective restoration would make this horn a worthwhile investment. BUT....... you may be looking for a $20 horn that plays ok.......and this is not that horn.
..............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2018-11-21 01:19
To me, the mouthpiece may make it a very valuable purchase.
Many years ago, I bought an old clarinet off of an auction site only to find that I had inadvertently also purchased a Charles Bay mouthpiece.
I called up the Bay mouthpiece company and talked to Jonathan. He told me to send it to him and he would make it look like new again (which he did!).
He also told me that many people buy very old clarinets in hopes of finding a mouthpiece gem.
I'm intrigued by the bottom section logo of the mouthpiece.
I suspect this is possibly a professional horn with a valuable, expensive mouthpiece.
I recommend asking the seller to simply tell you the name of the mouthpiece. (A picture of it would actually be better.) Let us know...and then ask us again if the $30 purchase is worth it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Windy Dreamer
Date: 2018-11-21 01:28
I love the challenge of bringing abused clarinets back to life.Buy it , verify that it is not valuable and restore it yourself.
Every clarinetist ought to at least once tear down and rebuild a low value clarinet. Show them a little love and they'll love you back.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tony F
Date: 2018-11-21 04:17
"Well I'd like to see a reply from those who really know their older horns, but this is not a Bundy (the case is a Bundy case though). Bundys are plastic horns and this one is clearly wood. "
Early Bundy's were wood. I have one which I use as my "chuck it in the back of the car" backup instrument. Maybe it's just mine, but I find mine to be a much better instrument than the later plastic Bundy's. Better fit and finish, better tuning and better intonation. That being said, mine has a metal tenon cap on the bell tenon and the rounded pad cups typical of Selmers and this one doesn't. The bridge lower joint tongue is a different shape as well and the touchpiece shapes are different. I concur, this is probably not a Bundy.
Tony F.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2018-11-21 05:14
And as far as the mouthpiece goes, I see a round logo. My first thought is Wells or Stowell/Wells of Chicago........but may be many others as well.
...............Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Doug Leach
Date: 2018-11-21 07:21
Without a better picture of the logos, it's hard to tell for sure, but from the keywork, it seems to be consistent with either a Buffet from the early-mid '30's, or a Selmer Paris from the late 20's. I have a Selmer Paris from 1928 and the logo looks like that depicted in the photo.
Doug Leach
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Windy Dreamer
Date: 2018-11-21 08:03
I bought a Boosey and Hawkes Symphony 1010 that looked much worse than that. Many of the keys were bonded together with a1/4 inch of crud. I think the crud was hand lotion. Once the keys were removed it cleaned up easily . In the distant past I had another thrift store find that was almost equally covered in dry pinkish mud.Both were easier to clean than the common frosty accumulation of dried skin residues.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kkoch
Date: 2018-11-21 18:13
Thank you everyone! I purchased it and will post better pics when I receive it in the mail. I figured I didn’t have much to lose by taking a chance. I appreciate all the comments. I’m excited to learn more about this clarinet. Happy Thanksgiving!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: TrueTone
Date: 2018-11-21 21:45
Logo definitely is an early 1900s Buffet, pre 1926 or so Selmer, or one of a couple other brands like Thibouville that also used that same logo shape.
And Doug, you're looking at the wrong serial chart then if you have one from 1928-what's it with the numbers in parentheses on this chart? http://www.woodwindforum.com/clarinetperfection/selmer-paris/ While it's not 100% accurate, it's only about a year off for what Thierry Doublon at Selmer said for my A's rough age! (K17xx, 1923 vs his saying 1925ish.) They changed logos for the clarinets near the same time as the saxophones!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kkoch
Date: 2018-11-24 02:14
Hey everyone! I received the clarinet today and am attaching some pics. The body looks like it was maybe cleaned with something that stripped the finish a bit (or it is just very aged), but it is wood and the stamp does say “Selmer Paris” on it. The mouthpiece has a stamp on it that I think says “GPROEPER”.
It definitely needs work. The case has a very musty smell and the pieces do not fit completely together. Excited to discover more about it soon.
Post Edited (2018-11-24 02:25)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kkoch
Date: 2018-11-24 07:22
Well, I’m going to try to add pics. Lol. Not having much luck and the afternoon got away from me.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-11-25 20:41
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/download.html/1,6121/clarinet%201.png
That's an earlier Selmer (Paris) before they changed the logo to the circular one as it doesn't look as Buffet-like as this earlier logo.
It has the LH forked Eb/Bb mechanism so you can play Eb/Bb as xox|ooo which makes C-Eb/G-Bb easy (just lift LH2 when playing C/G).
I've got a full Boehm around the same age, but that has had some drastic work done to it in the past including a partial bore graft at the top end of the top joint.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-11-27 10:49
It's unfortunate someone did the bore graft as it has separated.
As long as your one is unadulterated, it should be fine. Give the bore a good oiling when all the keys have been removed.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
