 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: b_rogers
Date: 2022-12-19 08:11
Hello all,
I am seeking some information on the Selmer Series 9 (not the 9*). Specifically, I am curious about how the different series serial numbers (that is, the letter prefixes) compare. For example, are the early Series 9 from the 60s considered better than the 70s? I have found some information that suggests that the later Series 9 had slightly different keywork (similar to the Series 10?) compared to the earlier manufactured specimens. I haven't found anything about a preference for one vintage over the other. This sort of thinking about Selmers is rampant in saxophone community, of course, but I wasn't sure about clarinets.
Any thoughts on which, if any, vintage of Series 9 is best? Is there a serial number range to avoid?
Thanks!
Post Edited (2022-12-19 08:12)
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Author: b_rogers
Date: 2023-01-02 21:35
Well, I didn't hear anything form anyone, but I also couldn't find any warnings digging through the archive. I purchased a Series 9 in excellent condition with a serial prefix "Y" which seems to put it in the 73-74 era (I think). The sound and ergos are great. Intonation is a little funky, so I have to spend some more time working with that. A nice horn!
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Author: kilo
Date: 2023-01-03 00:34
I could very well be wrong but I had the impression that all the Selmer clarinets made in a particular year carried the same letter prefix.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-01-03 01:03
Series 9 clarinets usually have the letter prefix from S (early '60s) through to A (late '70s) and the letter prefix changes once the serial number goes above 9999. It would be good if each and every year was marked with a specific letter prefix, but it doesn't work like that. There was some overlap in production early on between the CT and Series 9 and also the Series 9 and Series 10.
Just like other Selmers, some Series 9 clarinets weren't stamped as such, so you'd have to look at the specific features and compare them against a CT or a Series 10 to determine what it is.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2023-01-05 04:42
Up to (and after) I bought my Series 9 FB, I did searches here of any thread I could find that contained info on the 9, the special requirements (mouthpiece-wise) of large-bore clarinets, and so on. I found a ton of stuff, with Chris P supplying many of the more useful comments. I might suggest you do some searching here--some of the threads might be more useful to you than others. Tuning, mouthpieces, barrels, a very little bit about which serial-numbered models are better, you'll find them via the search function. (A lot of the responses were from people no longer on the board, or only rarely participating, which might explain the lack of contemporaneous response to your query.)
Good luck!
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Author: b_rogers
Date: 2023-02-02 22:13
Thanks for your replies. Yes, I spent some time using the search function, but couldn't find anything along the lines of "later examples of the Series 9 are bad" or whatever. I did find plenty of discussion on large bore Selmers and their peculiarities. DougR, your note that user Chris_P has valuable insight is appreciated. I'll look out for those.
Reading over my post again, I commented that the intonation was "funky." This probably isn't entirely fair. You see, I'm coming to the clarinet after 20 years of playing tenor. I really had only put in 6 months or so before I found this Series 9. I've still got lots of work to do in becoming familiar with how to play the instrument in general. What I should really say that the intonation seems different than the instrument I was playing before (a 70's USA Selmer Signet), but I don't know that it is actually worse.
My Series 9 is stamped on the upper joint, but not on the barrel. There is something else I've been wondering about: It is interesting to me that the bell is stamped:
SOLE AGENTS
U.S. & CAN.
SELMER
NEW YORK
ELKHART
Selmer stopped stamping their saxophones in a similar way after the mid 60's (first leaving only "SELMER" and "NEW YORK * ELKHART", and then eventually just "SELMER" for the late Mark VIs and the Mark VII). Assuming my Series 9 bell is original, which I believe it is, it looks like they might have continued stamping on clarinets into the 70's...?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-02-03 00:59
Attachment: selmerseries9clarinets.jpg (702k)
The export models had all the extra info engraved on the bells - the ones sold in the UK and Europe just have the Selmer logo on the bell. You also see this on Centered Tones made for the US/Canadian market.
I bought a matching set of Series 9* clarinets (with consecutive serial numbers) which were originally made for Gino Cioffi in 1967. After I got them, the owner emailed me in a panic as he found the bell for the A clarinet, only it was an extra bell with the serial number on the back and just the Selmer logo on the front, when the bells that came with the set had all the extra export info engraved on them. I'm guessing this bell was rejected for cosmetic reasons as it didn't have all the export engraving on it, but it's in absolutely perfect shape besides being made for the European market. Still, it's always nice to have a spare.
All my Series 9 clarinets were found on eBay from Austria (A), France (Bb) and Hungary (Eb) - none of which have the export engraving on them.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2023-02-03 03:49
Attachment: nseriesselmerct.jpg (240k)
Attached is an export model CT with the extra info on the bell.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Jeroen
Date: 2023-02-03 14:36
The Series 9 are generally very fine instruments. I've owned a "U" prefixed one that has very good intonation and a large even sound. The only thing was that the sound was a bit dull, not as sparkling and projecting as modern clarinets.
But I've also tested some Series 9 clarinets that had a "funky" intonation.
Unlike saxophones clarinets can change over time as the wood ages. Especially when they have been played a lot. So you should be more careful in choosing a vintage clarinet. Considering this I believe the older serials like my "U" were original "better" then the those of the seventies.
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