Woodwind.OrgThe Clarinet BBoardThe C4 standard

 
  BBoard Equipment Study Resources Music General    
 
 New Topic  |  Go to Top  |  Go to Topic  |  Search  |  Help/Rules  |  Smileys/Notes  |  Log In   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 
 Selmer 9 bore size changes
Author: improvedradio 
Date:   2024-11-19 11:01

I just bought an Y series Selmer 9. It came with two original barrels.
Because i needed a slightly shorter one i bought an Selmer 9 barrel from a shop here without testing it.
Now this barrel has a wider bore than the two original ones and doesn`t tune at all on this clarinet. Did Selmer change the bore size of the 9 in it 15 years of its production? For sure they did it with the saxophones.
All barrels do have the "9" stamp on it. Can anyone help me here?

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Selmer 9 bore size changes
Author: Michael E. Shultz 
Date:   2024-11-19 16:02

There are 2 different Selmer 9 Series: 9 and 9*. The 9 Series has a bore of 0.584", while the 9* series has a bore of 0.577". Could your clarinet actually be a 9*?

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
Groucho Marx

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Selmer 9 bore size changes
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2024-11-19 22:02

While the Series 9 and 9* barrels are often unmarked for the larger bore Series 9 or marked with 9, the Series 9* is sometimes marked with just *. Sometimes neither 9 or * are marked on them, just as some CTs and Series 9/9* clarinets aren't marked as such. Sometimes they have 'Made in France' stamped on them, sometimes they don't.

They were made in lengths from 62mm up to 68mm or maybe even as much as 69mm (67mm being the standard length for Bb clarinets). Some have nickel plated socket rings, some have silver plated and some are unplated (usually up to and including CT barrels). It's all over the place.

I've got a set of Series 9* clarinets from 1967 and the barrels are marked Bb and A as well as being stamped on the back with the corresponding and consecutive serial numbers as these clarinets were made as a matching set (as far as 'matching' sets go). Neither of these clarinets are marked as being Series 9* anywhere on them - just the logo and the pitch as well as the extra export engraving on the bells (and a spare A bell without the export engraving that was sent to me after I bought them).

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

Post Edited (2024-11-20 02:27)

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Selmer 9 bore size changes
Author: ISM 
Date:   2024-11-20 00:50

I have read that the barrels for the 9 and 9* models are interchangeable with the bore differences happening lower down in the instrument. Does anyone know about the validity of this claim?

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Selmer 9 bore size changes
Author: improvedradio 
Date:   2024-11-20 16:04

Everything is marked with a 9 - no " * ".
Could it be that the early 9s have more of a CT bore?
Y is quite late in the run...

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Selmer 9 bore size changes
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2024-11-20 22:47

Au contraire (that's French) - I've got some Series 9* barrels marked with just *.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Selmer 9 bore size changes
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2024-11-21 00:45

As barrels have a reverse taper bore (wider at the mouthpiece end), shortening them will give the impression of a larger bore as you're truncating the bore instead of altering the angle of the taper.

Is there a * under the Series 9 logo on the top joint (if it's engraved with the model name)? If it's not engraved as such, then a visual check down the bore will help tell what it is, as will measuring the bore at the middle tenon where the bore is at its narrowest.

Regular Series 9 clarinets don't have undercut toneholes, whereas Series 9* clarinets do. This is more evident by looking in the top joint bore and if the toneholes look massive where they meet the bore instead of narrow, chances are it's most likely a 9*.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

Post Edited (2024-11-21 00:50)

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Selmer 9 bore size changes
Author: Ralph 
Date:   2024-11-30 00:51

Chris - Would you please comment on what you believe the exit diameter (ID) of the 9 and 9* barrels bore should be. Additionally, approximately how much taper should the bores exhibit. I have four 9* barrels, marked only with a star (no 9). They range in length from from 65 mm to 69 mm. The bore exit diameters range from 0.576 ", 0.577", 0.585" to 0. 595". This seems like quite a variation.

Ralph

Reply To Message
 
 Re: Selmer 9 bore size changes
Author: Chris P 
Date:   2024-11-30 01:14

I haven't got the most precise bore gauges to measure them, but will have a go.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010

The opinions I express are my own.

Reply To Message
 Avail. Forums  |  Threaded View   Newer Topic  |  Older Topic 


 Avail. Forums  |  Need a Login? Register Here 
 User Login
 User Name:
 Password:
 Remember my login:
   
 Forgot Your Password?
Enter your email address or user name below and a new password will be sent to the email address associated with your profile.
Search Woodwind.Org

Sheet Music Plus Featured Sale

The Clarinet Pages
For Sale
Put your ads for items you'd like to sell here. Free! Please, no more than two at a time - ads removed after two weeks.

 
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org