 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Don Christman
Date: 2001-11-17 03:43
I'm searching for a good used Selmer Paris clarinet. I have encountered many models for sale, in shops and online, with the Series 10 designation: F,G,R,S with dates of manufacture from the late 70s or early 80s onward.
I would like to hear some opinions on what to seek and what to avoid among these models. For example is the Recital a suitable all-purpose instrument?
And what is the difference between a 10F Recital and a 10R Recital?
Is a 10G worth a premium price over the other 10 models?
Your guidance is appreciated.
Don C.
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-11-17 15:20
Don,
I would recommend doing a search for threads concerning the Selmer Series 10 because it has been discussed a lot here on Sneezy. I think you will find all the information you could possibly want. I've owned one and thought it was a pretty nice instrument, and many others on the board have owned them. They're a solid clarinet with a nice tone.
If you're looking for a used instrument, look at the classifieds here on Sneezy, then you might look on eBay. Right now I'm bidding on a used Selmer Recital that I don't plan to go above $300.00 on and have toyed with retracting my bid because I'm trying to get out of the business of buying and selling clarinets. This one just caught my eye because I haven't owned a Recital and have heard they have a really nice tone. It does need a ring on the top of its bottom joint and would probably need pads, etc. but could be a good buy. I also noticed several other good Selmers running right now.
As mentioned often here on the board, be sure the seller has a good reputation and has no negative feedback if you're going to buy on eBay. And lower your expectations in case it is not as good as it looks in their photos.
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Author: Mark Charette,
Date: 2001-11-17 16:21
My 10G was purchased new for 1200 in 1993, so you may want to use that as a reference point for pricing. It was selected by a pretty well-known clarinet player (big band leader) in Detroit at that time - Emil Moro. Unfortunately Emil passed away a few years back ...
My particular 10G has reasonable intonation, balance, and what I consider to be excellent keywork (but, since it's what I own and use, that may be just the "baby duck" syndrome). It is very particular about mouthpieces - some mouthpieces produce a more brilliant (close to screechy) sounds with this particular instrument. Interestngly enough, the Selmer mouthpieces are the worst of the lot when used with this particular instrument. Some other brands and styles do very well on the instrument, at least for my case.
The instrument isn't holding me back, that's for sure!
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Author: Ralph
Date: 2001-11-17 21:42
Don - You may want to look at the Selmer website (selmer.com) for a comparison of the various models. Since the original Seires 10 was produced in the early 70s, there has been a 10G (modelled after the Buffet R13 and still in production), a 10S (suceeded by the 10 SII in current production) and of course there is the Recital. I've played a Recital - it has a dark tone and a small bore which some what limits tour choice of mouthpiece. Good luck !!
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Author: Rob
Date: 2001-11-17 22:02
You may also want to check out Sherman Freidland's Corner here on Sneezy. He has posted a couple of very good articles about the Recital. I am not certain, you may want to contact Selmer yourself, but the difference between the Recital "R" and the Recital "F" may be that it is available with and without and F resonance key, meant ot improve the intonation on the low F. The Recital can also be picky about mouthpieces, possibly because of the small bore. I have had the best luck on it with the Selmer C85 that came with it. It is a fine mouhtpiece.
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Author: Mark M
Date: 2001-11-18 02:20
I have two Selmer Bb series 10's late sixites vintage and one series 10 "A" of late sixties vintage. All play better than any R-13 I've tried. I would also recommend them over the series 10G and 10SII. The Recital was nice as it produced a nice dark very rich tone that would be nice for orchestral. I wouldn't use it for a band. It is a heavier instrument with more wood. Seems like there are always some series 10s around for sale on ebay. Serial #s in the late sixties vintage would start with a U,V, or perhaps W. They're certainly cheaper than than the later Selmer models and, IMHO, a better horn.
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Author: drew
Date: 2001-11-18 02:46
I own and play regularly a Selmer series 10S; it is a good all-round horn without serious intonation issues. I've played a 10G and found it to be quite good also. The Recital model seems to be less popular, perhaps due to its smaller bore and heavier wall thickness (greater weight).
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Author: Rob
Date: 2001-11-18 03:18
As mentioned in above posts, it's true, the Recital can be a thum-buster, but it is also just about the most responsive and beautiful sounding clarinet I've encountered (I have no experience with Leblanc and I gave up on Buffet about a decade ago, so I admit I am biased). I got over the weight difference after a couple of months of regular play. I've had mine for a few years now and so I don't really notice the weight issue unless I play something else much lighter for an extended perriod of time and then go back to it. I also have a Series 10 full-boehm from the 70s (Y serial number) and a Series 10B from the late sixties (U serial number) which is one of the best horns I've ever owned, far better than any R13 I ever tried, and I tried dozens over the years before I gave up on the seemingly unavoidable and sometimes unexplainable intonation problems that seem to exist in every R13 ever made.
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Author: kenabbott
Date: 2001-11-19 11:14
Love my 10G. Great intonation.
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Author: Bill
Date: 2001-11-19 18:18
My Recital had the worst throat B-flat of all time---tuned, as it is, for nearly perfect twelfths (hence the sacrifice). It seems to me that James Campbell uses his Recital clarinet for his unique, jazzy "cross-over" cds (which are very nice), but I'd have to say the Selmer Recital is a clarinet pretty much strictly for orchestral use.
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