 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Reese Oller
Date: 2023-02-18 06:45
I have recently purhased a Selmer Signet Soloist clarinet in VERY poor condition for under $100 US. After recieving it I noticed no cracks (I was exceptionally surprised) and keys feel... Meh. Pads in desperate need of replacing, that sort of thing. It came with an HS* Oval mouthpiece, so that's neat. This clarinet was definitely not appreciated by its previous owner. The questions on my mind: is it worth repairing? And I am an advanced student, hoping to be a pro. Will this serve me if restored? I am also primarily a bass clarinetist, devoting most of my time to becoming a very good one, I hope. So... Is this a good doubler instrument?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-02-18 15:18
Yes.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2023-02-18 18:04
mine served me very well for over 20 yrs of pro playing. very good clarinet.
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Author: m1964
Date: 2023-02-18 18:52
I had one -it sounded like a student instrument, tone-wise. Tuning was OK.
Probably comparable to E11. Although mine may not have been a good example because I fixed another Selmer Signet for my band mate and that one was a decent instrument.
Still not comparable to Selmer pro models, IMO.
If it only requires re-padding and re-corking, it's definitely worth fixing.
It is an opportunity to try to fix it by yourself so when your more expensive clarinet needs a minor adjustment you don't need to wait for a tech to become available or drive for two hours to have 1 min. job done.
Post Edited (2023-02-18 18:56)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-02-18 21:54
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Attachment: P4280003.JPG (715k)
Just to expand on my previous reply, I had someone bring their Signet 100 to me for a full overhaul as well as adding a LH Ab/Eb lever to it as he had that on the Buffet R13 he bought expecting more from it in general, but found it didn't live up to his expectations besides the benefits of having the LH Ab/Eb lever.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: SunnyDaze
Date: 2023-02-19 01:39
Hi Reese,
The International Clarinet Association has a scheme to provide good refurbished instruments to deserving students who are short of funds to buy one. I wondered if you had considered contacting them?
The scheme is called the ICA Instrument Donation Program:
https://clarinet.org/ica-instrument-donation-program/
Jen
Adult learner, Grade 3
Equipment: Yamaha Custom CX Bb, Fobes 10K CF mp,
Legere Soprano Sax American Cut #2, Vandoren Optimum German Lig.
Post Edited (2023-02-19 01:40)
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Author: Reese Oller
Date: 2023-02-19 07:34
Wow! I had never heard of this! But the problem isn't funds, honestly. It's that my parents don't believe I should do music for a living, and don't want to help. I don't want to take it away from someone who really needs one
Reese Oller
Clarinet student primarily (going to be a performance major in college)
Bass clarinet, Eb clarinet, alto saxophone, flute (in a pinch), and bassoon
Post Edited (2023-02-19 07:36)
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Author: Reese Oller
Date: 2023-02-21 21:47
After inspecting it further, I have determined that it is beyond me to repair.
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Author: Ursa
Date: 2023-02-28 12:11
A bit late to the thread here, but I'll chime in.
The body joints of Selmer Signets tend to hold up well in terms of cracking. Most were made decades ago and if they haven't cracked by now, they probably aren't going to.
All of the Signets, from the entry-level Special up through the mid-range 100 and top-of-the-line Soloist, are variable in build quality, response, and tuning. Many, if not most, are at least decent. That said, if you acquire a Signet and it's a dud, there are so many more Signets available at near-giveaway prices that it's practical to buy another Signet or two and keep the best one.
My Signet 100 was found in a pawn shop in decent shape with a good Semer HS-Star mouthpiece. I paid US$100 for it. Mine tunes very well, is delightfully responsive, and I can make it sound gorgeous. While I wouldn't head off to university with one as my main performance instrument, a good Signet can serve very well as a capable backup.
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Author: Reese Oller
Date: 2023-03-01 22:09
That's good, especially for me because I don't need a top-of-the-line clarinet, because my main range is utility clarinet (bass, Eb, contra).
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