 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-10-30 06:27
I currently have a Selmer "A" mpc and it has a Brand 30 (short) facing.
Is this what it should be?
The HS and HS* are listed as having a 36 facing.
Thanks in advance.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2022-10-31 02:50
You don't see many of the A facings around. I would contact Brad Behn or Ramon Wodkowski to see if they know.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-10-31 04:17
Thanks Ed, I already emailed Brad Behn, Lee Livengood and just now, Ramon Wodkowski. Hopefully, I'll get an answer soon.
With a tip opening of 0.035", this sure is a rare one.
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-10-31 09:06
Ed,
After I wrote an email to Ramon, he responded very quickly and we have since exchanged several emails.
Now, that's what I call incredible customer service!
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2022-10-31 12:52
Attachment: selmer_a_1.JPG (1627k)
Attachment: IMG_3366.JPG (1774k)
Dan,
If your mouthpiece looks like this one, I would suggest having it refaced and keep it. It's super rare, almost once-in-a-lifetime category and these can be terrific players.
Mark
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-10-31 19:00
Attachment: Selmer A-1.jpg (173k)
sonicbang,
In your photos, the mpc looks quite black. The one I have is totally brown on the inside as well as the outside.
Wodkowski looked at your photos and believes your mpc to be 2nd generation (1910-1920).
The actual owner of the one I have believes it's an original. (1st generation)
Personally, I believe this mpc is a museum piece and needs to be carefully preserved.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2022-10-31 19:27
Is it one of those with the gold metal logo inset into the blank?
Many of the old Selmers are great and are well worth playing once someone has restored it. Often it can be necessary to adjust the facing for modern tastes. Again. well worth exploring
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-10-31 20:06
Attachment: Selmer A-6.jpg (294k)
Ed,
The top logo is just about gone. All I can really make out is the "A". I'm not sure if it was worn off by the ligature, hand manipulation rubbing, ageing, or a combination of all 3.
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2022-11-01 00:23
Dan,
Ramon's opinion is very interesting. I wonder if he added any reasoning? Would be interesting to know which characteristic he used to determine the era.
https://www.woodwindforum.com/clarinetperfection/selmer-paris-2/
I remembered this resource has came up in the BBoard a few times, it seems quite reliable. Based on this chronology, this mouthpiece would belong to the 5th gen, ans would date to the 60's.
I posted two pictures about my Selmer A, which seems to belong to the first gen (again, based on the resource above).
Disclaimer: I don't dispute Ramon's answer to your email, I'm just curious.
(post edited because of a typo)
Mark
Post Edited (2022-11-01 01:02)
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Author: RWodkowski
Date: 2022-11-01 00:39
The website link from Mark is correct.
Dan decided to post my opinions, which were mistakenly of the photo someone else posted of an earlier, oval stamp Selmer. I had not seen the logo on his mouthpiece, and assumed it was the same as the photos.
Clearly Dans mouthpiece is mid 20th century. Ive seen quite a few like this, with varying table stamps. Nothing as rare or unusual as the earlier examples. From my experience the A was quite close and short.
R Wodkowski
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2022-11-04 01:08
Attachment: IMG_3419.JPG (1801k)
Attachment: IMG_3421.JPG (1639k)
Attachment: IMG_3422.JPG (1718k)
Attachment: IMG_3423.JPG (1485k)
Attachment: IMG_3424.JPG (1716k)
I just restored a 1st generation Selmer A. Out of curiosity, I kept the facing as close to the original as possible to achieve an authentic experience. It has a 34+, 23, 11, 5 / 0.95 tip opening. Despite the close tip, somehow the material and the baffle-throat formation creates enough resistance to be playable with strength 3 reeds. Unfortunately, the corner was chipped which I repaired with grey epoxy.
I usually buy these pieces to restore/optimize and sell them but geez, I'm tempted to keep this one. It's in surprisingly good shape despite being ca. 100 years old. The interior is especially well made, the baffle has a super nice contour. The baffle just needed a light cleanup. It was definitely finished by a highly skilled craftsman a century ago!
I wonder if anybody plays a vintage Selmer from this generation on a regular basis? What is your experience tuning-wise with modern clarinets?
Mark
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Author: Dan Shusta
Date: 2022-11-04 05:12
sonicbang,
Would you tell me how you determined your Selmer "A" to be 1st generation?
That mpc tip looks fairly wide. Mine is what I would call micro-thin.
My measurements were 30, 17.5, 6,0. The tip opening was quite close to 0.88mm or 0.0346". My 34 feeler gauge just barely slipped between the mpc tip and the glass gauge and then abruptly stopped.
According to the following Selmer tip opening chart, the Selmer "A" should be 0.035"
https://saxmundstykker.dk/Brilhart_Sample_Picture/ARB_Inside_Facts_2_Tip_Openings.jpg
Ramon Wodkowski will be receiving it tomorrow. He plans to measure all of its parameters and then make a replica of it on his own blank.
Post Edited (2022-11-04 10:09)
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Author: sonicbang
Date: 2022-11-04 14:40
Dan,
I determined the era based on this resource:
https://www.woodwindforum.com/clarinetperfection/selmer-paris-2/
and Ramon told above it's correct and reliable. The pictures I posted earlier in this thread are about the same mouthpiece, you can see the logo there. Unfortunately, the 'A' stamped on the table disappeared with the very first light pass on the sandpaper, but the logo and the unique throat formation clearly identifies the mouthpiece.
Mark
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