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Selmer bass clarinets S/N and production years

Author: m1964
Date: 2025-06-25 10:42

Hello,
I am thinking of buying a bass clarinet.
If looking for a used Selmer on eBay, I'd like to have a general idea how old the instrument is.
Sellers usuaaly have the S/N in the description but not necessarily know the production year.

Are Selmer bass clarinets numbered the same way as soprano clarinets?
If yes, then I can figure out the production year.

Thanks for your help.

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Re: Selmer bass clarinets S/N and production years

Author: ebonite
Date: 2025-06-25 12:54

They usually start with a letter of the alphabet, followed by a 4-figure number.
I am not sure about how the letters map onto dates, but I know that they cycle through the letters of the alphabet, and at one point they started again at A after reaching Z. My Selmer bass clarinet, D45** was manufactured in September 1986. I think this was on the second cycle through the alphabet.

Patrick

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Re: Selmer bass clarinets S/N and production years

Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-25 16:49

The letter prefix is the biggest clue as to the age and that follows the same format as their sopranos. If you do happen to see two different era P series basses that look very different from one another, it's going to be very clear which one is from the 1950s and which is the more modern one of the two.

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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Re: Selmer bass clarinets S/N and production years

Author: m1964
Date: 2025-06-26 22:06

Chris,
Thank you very much!

Regarding the difference between two basses with the same letter prefix, I may not be able to tell since I have no experience with low clarinets.

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Re: Selmer bass clarinets S/N and production years

Author: Chris P
Date: 2025-06-27 01:20

Generally speaking, the 1950s one will have unplated keywork, crook and bell when the more recent one will be all silver plated as well as looking far more over engineered by comparison.

Older Selmer basses look more like Yamaha basses than the newer Selmers from the '80s onwards do. I would say the newer ones would be in better condition, but that's down to how well treated they are (and an older one owned by a careful owner could be in much better condition than a recent one owned by a school, college or university).

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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