 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: sal
Date: 2022-11-06 17:42
I just acquired a Selmer Bass clarinet, serial number is F1816.
Can anyone tell me when this instrument was made, and what model it would be?
It is a low Eb, with left hand Ab/Eb key.
THanks for any help.
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Author: ebonite
Date: 2022-11-06 19:15
sal wrote:
> I just acquired a Selmer Bass clarinet, serial number is F1816.
> Can anyone tell me when this instrument was made, and what
> model it would be?
> It is a low Eb, with left hand Ab/Eb key.
> THanks for any help.
I'm not sure, but my one has a serial number starting with D, and I know that it was made in 1986. So it must have been made after that date
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2022-11-06 23:41
My B series Model 33 bass clarinet was made in 1981. The serial number lists I've found for Selmer clarinets mostly seem to cut off around there, but the charts seem to indicate leading up to that point that a letter designation corresponded to about two or three years. Ebonite's D-series mentioned above is from 1986, which mostly fits the pattern. If we assume that was the case going forward then maybe your F series would have been from 1989, give or take a year or so on either end.
There's a pretty big assumption that I'm making in there, but in the absence of better information that might be as good as we'll do. Hopefully someone else has more to contribute here!
Any time between the '70s and 1995, Selmer would have designated that horn a Model 31/33 (low Eb/C, respectively). A passage attributed to Clark Fobes in 1995 elsewhere on this site (linked at the bottom) seems to indicate that the 33 (and presumably the 31 as well) were redesigned in 1983 to be very different instruments from the years prior but the 31/33 model name was preserved, rather confusingly. Clark mentions that some changes were made in 1993 that greatly improved the 33, which was discontinued with the introduction of the 35/37 in 1995.
I think that would make your clarinet a Model 33 of the post-1983 vintage, regardless of whether it was made in 1988, 89, 90 or 91.
Clark Fobes states his distaste for the 1983 revision in the aforementioned passage, though I've known a few people with Selmers from that time period who love them. Clark knows his stuff probably as well as anyone anywhere, but taste is subjective, of course.
All of the above is what I was able to glean from various online resources (mostly on the BBoard) when I was in the market for an older Selmer. Apologies if I am wrong about anything there. Perhaps someone who was playing, repairing, selling and/or handling these instruments at the time will be able to chime in with more information.
Source: http://www.woodwind.org/clarinet/Equipment/BassClarinets.html
Post Edited (2022-11-06 23:42)
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Author: sal
Date: 2022-11-07 01:08
Thank you Ebonite, thank you Max.
I found some info on the site, and I found the Clark Fobes observation that you mentioned. One of the "negatives" mentioned was a sharp throat B, C, C#. I did notice when playing this instrument, that those notes are indeed sharp, especially the B.
I will see if any correction can be made by my repairman, but the low E Eb are "barely" in tune.
It is a very nice instrument otherwise. It was sitting around for twenty years, Ive been playing it a little everyday for a week and it is "loosening up"-Pads are good, I think it just needs a good cleaning.
Certainly plays better than the Kohlert, and plastic unbranded horn that I have-though the plastic thing has EXCEPTIONAL intonation, and is very easy to play. Way better than it should be. Ill never get rid of that one but the Kohlerts going.
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Author: ebonite
Date: 2022-11-07 02:24
sal wrote:
> Thank you Ebonite, thank you Max.
> I found some info on the site, and I found the Clark Fobes
> observation that you mentioned. One of the "negatives"
> mentioned was a sharp throat B, C, C#. I did notice when
> playing this instrument, that those notes are indeed sharp,
> especially the B.
You may be able to bring down the pitch of those notes, especially the B, if you put some material in the lower register vent (the one that doubles as the throat Bb tone hole).. It might make the throat Bb a bit flat, but that can be vented, or the side key can be used.
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2022-11-07 03:19
Sal:
I really must take issue with ebonite and Max S-D's approaches here.
First off, if your trying to get the clarinet to go on a date with you why not consider learning some basic French?
Women love hearing men talk French, and this one is bound to love that you took the time to learn an important aspect of her life, like her language.
Perhaps a quick Youtube primer in fine French wine might also help, not to mention studying the moves of the Master, Looney Tunes' Pepe Le Pew.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vo4COqNWjQo
You're welcome.
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Author: sal
Date: 2022-11-07 04:42
Thanks for the advice ebonite-ill get out the electric tape and give it a shot
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2022-11-07 09:12
Just be sure you don't go too far and make the low E too flat!
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Author: ebonite
Date: 2022-11-07 12:05
Max S-D wrote:
> Just be sure you don't go too far and make the low E too flat!
That's the idea of approaching it via the register vent: it doesn't affect the low E
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2022-11-07 17:13
I have seen an
E74XX listed as 1991
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2022-11-07 21:35
"That's the idea of approaching it via the register vent: it doesn't affect the low E"
You're right, of course! I had just woken up and not yet had my coffee.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2022-11-07 21:43
Max S-D:
I've seen the models listed this way:
Model 30 – low Eb
Model 32 – low Eb with articulated C#/G#
Model 33 – low C
Is there a "Model 31"?
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Author: Max S-D
Date: 2022-11-07 23:24
kilo wrote:
> Max S-D:
>
> I've seen the models listed this way:
>
> Model 30 – low Eb
> Model 32 – low Eb with articulated C#/G#
> Model 33 – low C
>
> Is there a "Model 31"?
I think you are right. I was going off of a fuzzy recollection and saw a reference to a Model 31 in a blog post on Mike Lowenstern's site that I took as confirmation, but I think he and I both might be mistaken.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2022-11-08 16:18
Does the Model 30 have a LH Ab/Eb lever?
If not, then the Model 31 could be like the Model 30 but with the LH Ab/Eb lever.
Although any instrument built to low Eb should ideally have the LH Ab/Eb lever fitted as standard.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2022-11-09 14:11
My "Series 9" is a Model 30 (S****) and has no left hand Ab/Eb. I recently got my first low C bass (Royal Global Max) and I can absolutely see the necessity for the left hand Ab/Eb on a low C instrument. I never missed it on my old Yamaha or on the Model 30 but, now that I've used it seems indispensable on any bass – I found myself using it naturally, as if it were always a feature.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2022-11-14 09:01
>> Trying to date a Selmer Paris Bass clarinet <<
Shouldn't be a problem, they have low expectations...
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Author: David H. Kinder
Date: 2022-11-15 07:41
I hope you're an interesting guy...
or...
she just might find you...
.
.
.
.
bore-ing.
<I'll see myself out now.>
Getting back into playing after 20 years.
Ridenour AureA Bb clarinet
Vandoren M15 Profile 88 (non-13) mouthpiece
Vandoren Optimum Silver ligature (plate 1)
Vandoren blue-box #3.5 reeds
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