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Early vs Later Selmer Centered Tone Clarinets

Author: Ken.
Date: 2018-12-21 09:40

I read that the Centered Tones up to the Q series have a cylindrical bore and the ones after that had a reverse taper in the upper joint identical to the early Series 9's.

I was wondering how that affected the sound. Did the later Centered Tones sound different i.e. like a Series 9?

I just bought an R-series CT. If there is a difference between the early and later ones I might get an earlier one as well and then decide which one to keep. Has anyone done this?

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Re: Early vs Later Selmer Centered Tone Clarinets

Author: shmuelyosef
Date: 2018-12-22 09:55

My Selmer CTs are both P-series, but I also have an early T-series S9. Here are the top and bottom measurements...I only have Starrett telescoping bore gauges so I can only measure a little ways in, but on the CTs the top of the LH joint is bigger than the bottom and it (roughly) does seem to taper over the first 4 cm to half the difference between top and bottom...measurements (in mm dia) below:

CT 6-ring
LH joint
Top - 15.29
Bottom - 14.94

CT 7-ring
LH joint
Top - 15.24
Bottom - 14.92

Series 9
LH joint
Top - 15.19
Bottom - 14.88

The original barrels of the 2 CTs are identical, very large bore with about half the taper angle of the S9...I can send taper measurements if you want, but I'm pretty sure I posted them elsewhere

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Re: Early vs Later Selmer Centered Tone Clarinets

Author: Ken.
Date: 2018-12-23 10:13

Thanks shmuelyosef. The CT I just bought is also a 7-ring. My other clarinets are a U-series Series 9* A clarinet, and a late Series 9 7-ring. I find the U-series to be the darkest of the three, followed closely by the CT which does not have the original barrel but a Series 9 barrel, then the late Series 9 which is noticeably brighter.

How does your Series 9 compare to your CT's in terms of brightness?

Thanks for the info on the barrels. I will see if I can find your taper measurements posted somewhere, as I will probably get a barrel made for the CT to see if makes it darker.

Post Edited (2018-12-24 03:58)

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Re: Early vs Later Selmer Centered Tone Clarinets

Author: Tom Puwalski
Date: 2018-12-23 15:12

I've had a few Q series Centered tones I loved the sound but had to fight some intonation on them, I have kept, and still play, an R Series, from 1959 that has the same tone quality but a much improved scale.

Tom Puwalski

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Re: Early vs Later Selmer Centered Tone Clarinets

Author: Ken.
Date: 2018-12-24 03:57

Thanks Tom. It's good to hear that you find the tone quality of your R series to be the same as the Q's you have owned.

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