 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Bill
Date: 2007-01-19 17:06
I did well this Christmas but decided after the tree came down to gift myself with a "K series" Selmer Paris clarinet. K2790 arrived today and joins the team.
But what of the K series Selmer? For it falls into the netherworld of the "official" Selmer Paris serial number chart. A revised serial number chart was created, but that's just one guy's (or girl's) opinion.
It's a nice-looking, heavy clarinet with plated keywork. How unusual. I'm looking forward to playing it (after restoration). I have an early L series, but there seem to be several differences.
Would love to hear from those who play and enjoy these.
Bill.
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Molloy
Date: 2007-01-27 02:06
My favorite clarinet is my Selmer K7807, a full-boehm RI in A. The clarion and altissimo intonation is pretty much perfect, the chalmeau is imperfect but not bad at all. I've got a matching Bb, L1496, whose intonation is not as good. Both have the same, to my ear, very distinctive tone.
There were a lot of changes during the K series. The early ones are identical to the #### serial Selmers. Then they made various changes, I'm not certain in exactly what order: larger bore, higher register hole, larger thumb tonehole, modern logo, sturdier thumbrest, two (three for full-boehm) posts for the LH pinky keys instead of one (two for f-b), probably other changes I don't know about. Then came the RI model, some of which have a metal-lined barrel and, I believe, some not . It's a very interesting chunk of Selmer history, the K series.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bill
Date: 2007-01-27 02:23
I have two four-digit Selmer Brevettes ("winged globe"), the K series (currently out for restoration), and a three-digit L series. It will be interesting to note the differences and similarities!
Bill.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EuGeneSee
Date: 2007-01-27 03:29
Bill: I have one of those nether world 4 digit horns, a FB Selmer that fell into the crack between the Winged Globe series and the K series. Though it doesn't have the globe, it does have the HS dollar sign and Brevette S.G.D.G. (Brevette, sans guarantie du governmente . . . roughly, "Patent pending, without guaranty by the government"). I never have been able to find out anything about that horn . . . have the same problem with a Selmer USA 4 digit "New York-Elkhart"from the same general period.
I suppose those older horns, though nice, just didn't generate the level of excitement that arose after the K series introduced many of the innovations that really changed the clarinet world. It appears that by the time the innovations were "discovered" by the mass of clarinettists, the L series had already gone into production.
Maybe because of less interest in those horns, and possibly lack of records, the various lists are pretty nebulous about them. I don't know why the most common list we all see on here runs from the 4 digit numbers right into the L series, omitting any mention of the K horns. Eu
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Bill
Date: 2007-01-27 12:53
Not that it matters, but Lee Gibson (Clarinet Acoustics, etc.) was very enthusiastic about "the Selmers between the wars." I think he was talking about the four-digit and K-series clarinets. But Mr. G. hated large-bore clarinets (poor intonation).
An alternate serial number chart from someone who appeared rather knowledgeable put the K series fromn 1932 to 1934. This chart disappeared from the Internet several years ago, but I saved it.
My L-series clarinet (L296) is a smaller-bore clarinet than my later Selmers. The BT et al. hadn't been born yet, which featured separate posts for A and G#, the uniquely-shaped bell, and a different keywork layout (actually "higher" on the pole).
Funny that I am a Selmer nut but never owned or played a BT.
Bill. (Forgot to mention that I owned L6911, which was a sort of modified, perhaps "improved," Albert System clarinet of the sort played by Jimmy Noone, etc. My biggest regret is not that I have amassed so many horns, but that there are some I got rid of. How I would love that thing back!!!)
Bill Fogle
Ellsworth, Maine
(formerly Washington, DC)
Post Edited (2007-01-27 12:59)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hugues Fardao
Date: 2021-04-16 13:09
I play a L series (L1113) Bb. 14,90 mm. bore, free blowing, sweet sound.
I just wondered, for those who play K and L series : I think that these clarinets came with a rather short barrel, too short for me to be in tune. So I picked up a longer Centered Tone barrel and it's in tune (A 440 OK). Same problem for you ? Or is the barrel OK ?
And for those who can compare an early K and a L, what are the differences finaly ? I'm very curious. Thank you.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
