 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jbm11dux
Date: 2014-09-23 22:55
Hello,
Please help me with an opinion on my situation.
I purchased a new Selmer Paris Low C Bass Clarinet in April form a company here in the USA. There is crack in the wood on the upper joint and Selmers solution was to replace the upper joint and do a key transfer. There was also a problem with the silver platting coming off two keys.
I have two concerns:
1. A local repair man told me the two joints need to be from the same location and matched or there could be other problems like binding when the weather changes. It sounds reasonable, but i have no expertise in the mater.
2. I paid over $12,000 for a clarinet that now has mismatched serial numbers. It seems like this will have an impact on the resale value. i have no idea how much but I purchased a new instrument for my son and i think any accelerated depreciation should be covered by either Selmer or the vendor.
One more question:
Is it typical for the finish to wear off that quickly.
Please offer your opinion on my situation.
Thank you,
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Author: BbMajorBoy
Date: 2014-09-24 00:42
Ok. Don't take my word in anything!
I don't think different bits of wood makes much of a difference. At the Buffet factory at least they just pick the joints which look the same, I don't think many production line clarinets would be from the same stick of wood.
When I had my Buffet upper joint replaced, they asked for my serial number and the replacement uj has the same serial number as the lj.
I would kick up a fuss with them. You have an clarinet which many wouldn't bat an eyelid at purely because of the serial numbers. If anything is important to fix, the serial numbers are the priorities.
Email Selmer.
Leonard Bernstein: "To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-09-24 02:16
If you have a low C bass it's very unlikely both joints are made from the same billet - the majority of soprano clarinets won't have matching joints made from the same billet.
If it had a top joint transplant then the serial number on that joint should be the same as the original and the one on the lower joint.
Silver plating on Selmers is usually top notch, so why it's wearing out so fast means either there was a problem with the plating or the player has corrosive perspiration.
With an instrument barely half a year old, you should still be covered by some kind of warranty. April is a good time to buy wooden clarinets due to the humidity levels increasing (although that depends on where you live) so they'll be played in from Spring and Summer in readiness for Autumn and Winter when humidity levels drop.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: jbm11dux
Date: 2014-09-24 16:35
Chirs and B flat major,
Thank you for your answers. my sons concern is about how it will sound that the wood was aged differently. He is obsessed with his instruments and playing.
If they were to have done an epoxy repair they probably would have had to strip the joint of all keys and other hardware anyway so they adjustments would still be critical. Is that true?
508-789-2428
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2014-09-24 17:07
They should be able to put the same serial number on the new top joint. That's what they did with my Buffet A clarinet many years ago when I had a bore problem. It turned out to be one of the best A clarinets I've ever played. It's been my professional A clarinet for over 50 years now. As far as fitting well, the stores tech should be able to make any adjustment with the connecting joint and cork, either shaving it down or building it up, a good tech shouldn't have any problem with that, assuming they have one. As far as the plating goes, you need to insist that Selmer replace or replate those keys. Less than one year sounds like a problem with the plating. Ask for the contact info for the Selmer representative in your area and insist on getting in contact with them.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: BbMajorBoy
Date: 2014-09-24 19:04
I'm not sure what you mean. I'll let Chris take that one.
In regard to the plating, you should wipe down the keys after you're finished playing. This should clear up with some silver polish.
Where are you in the world?jbm11dux wrote:
> Pistures of Platting
>
Leonard Bernstein: "To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time."
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2014-09-24 19:26
The plating wear was exactly where I expected it to be - it's most likely due to having been buffed at the plating company as they often do, but that thins down the plating at the edges. As for the LH1 fingerplate, any polishing compound that wasn't removed during degreasing will cause the plating no to adhere to the perforation in the middle of the LH1 fingerplate and this is all too common - I see the same on oboe keys with holes through their centres too. But this can easily be rectified by having them replated and refitted.
The playing in time is critical on any brand new wooden instrument - start off at 30 mins maximum for the first week and increase the playing time by 5 minutes a day thereafter and always mop out the bore at any opportunity and dry the sockets with paper towel so no water remains sitting anywhere. If you have access to a plastic bass clarinet for band use, then use that one as well as your wooden low C bass for a limited time, then put your wooden one away and use the plastic one for the remainder until your wooden one is played in.
A new top joint will need to be played in like a new instrument, so take your time to get it acclimatised to avoid it cracking (which may or may not happen - it's the luck of the draw), but any preventative measures should be adhered to.
Cracks aren't the end of the world and they can usually be pinned or banded to stabilise the joint - when done well they shouldn't be visible under normal lighting conditions.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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