[Rojarosguitar]

Hello,
Are there any full boehm Bb-clarinets on the market? What would be your recommendation? And if only used exist, which?
I did some research and the only one that comes up is Amati ACL 625 Maestro, but I can't seem to find a shop selling it in Germany. Also the opinions about Amati seem not to be too favorable...

Thanks for advice

 

[Gulo gulo]

Re: Full Boehm Bb-clafrinet recommendation

Hello,
Are there any full boehm Bb-clarinets on the market? What would be your recommendation? And if only used exist, which?
I did some research and the only one that comes up is Amati ACL 625 Maestro, but I can't seem to find a shop selling it in Germany. Also the opinions about Amati seem not to be too favorable...

Thanks for advice

Hi!
Used ones, yes. I bought one recently via Ebay from a seller in Europe, a Selmer series 9. I am quite happy with it (Feel free to send me a message if you want the details). There are full Boehm clarinets of most all famous vintage models such as the Buffet Crampon BC20 or the Leblanc LL (I like both of these clarinets a lot).
I played an Amati briefly, it is an OK instrument for music school or as backup in a marching band. Also, be aware that it is not easy to replace the case given the extra length.

 

[kreacher]

Re: Full Boehm Bb-clafrinet recommendation

I have an Amati 2005* and a Wurlitzer. They both need work done on them to be in good condition, but I've been fondling with them for a while now and I prefer the Amati.

 

[Rojarosguitar]

Re: Full Boehm Bb-clafrinet recommendation

Thanks for the advice so far ... I'm still in the orientation process. I have been offered a Selmer 9 full boehm. The wood is apparently with no damages, but I'd need to replace the pads. And probably some more overhaul job... Still can't make my mind up

I should mention I'm not playing classical music...

 

[Rojarosguitar]

After talking to the seller who has a reputable workshop for woodwinds and said that the clarinet is in working order and just needs new pads, but no cracks or chips in the wood, I took the plunge and ordered the Selmer 9 full boehm... I'm curious what will come out of that

 

[Dr G]

I just got my Series 9 back from overhaul - what a sweet horn. Not a full Boehm, but it does have silver plate mechanism, that I prefer. Total cost - used horn plus overhaul < $1200 - was significantly less than a much lesser new clarinet.

Enjoy!

 

[paulwl]

Used FBs tend to have a problem where the left hand low Eb lever binds up the other keys on the low end. My only FB was a Breveté Selmer from the late '20s, and I eventually got rid of it for that reason.

 

[Bari Sax Guy]

I have Mazzeo Series 10s (see sig) sort of a full Boehm light or lite(sic)
Sadly, functioning Mazzeos are not common.

 

[Gulo gulo]

Re: Full Boehm Bb-clafrinet recommendation

Thanks for the advice so far ... I'm still in the orientation process. I have been offered a Selmer 9 full boehm. The wood is apparently with no damages, but I'd need to replace the pads. And probably some more overhaul job... Still can't make my mind up

I should mention I'm not playing classical music...

Selmer 9 is large bore and was intended for jazz. Having said this, I played Mozart on mine and it sounded great. It has beautiful tone, good intonation and is loud, really, really loud. Do you have the opportunity to take the instrument to your repair tech before buying?

*(typo corrected)

 

[Rojarosguitar]

Re: Full Boehm Bb-clafrinet recommendation

Selmer 9 is larg bore and was intended for jazz. Having said this, I played Mozart on mine and it sounded great. It has beautiful tone, good intonation and is loud, really, really loud. Do you have the opportunity to take the instrument to your repair tech before buying?

The seller is one of very reputable and longlived worskhops and shops for woodwinds in Berlin; I'm trusting their description... Thanks for all the comments; I'll report when I know more.

 

[clarnibass]

The older Selmer full Boehms are generally very good (if in good condition).

 

[Rojarosguitar]

The older Selmer full Boehms are generally very good (if in good condition).

Thanks, that's encouraging

 

[Dr G]

Re: Full Boehm Bb-clafrinet recommendation

Selmer 9 is large bore and was intended for jazz.

Is there Selmer literature of the time that says that? I recall it only as being Selmer's top line clarinet at the time - much like the Mk VI saxophones. Not marketed as "intended for jazz", but as a professional-quality instrument - classical or otherwise.

 

[milandro]

Re: Full Boehm Bb-clafrinet recommendation

Is there Selmer literature of the time that says that? I recall it only as being Selmer's top line clarinet at the time - much like the Mk VI saxophones. Not marketed as "intended for jazz", but as a professional-quality instrument - classical or otherwise.

apparently there were things written by Selmer in their 1960 catalogue to attest this ( sorry it is this small the picture)

"..Sortie des clarinettes Série 9 et Série 9*.

La Série 9 correspondait au musiques symphoniques alors que la Série 9* était plus adaptée au jazz et à la musique de variété.
.."

I don't read french very well
but if you go to selmer.fr
and read up on their original Series 9 / 9* brochure

it says something like the following on the last paragraph

Series 9 * more for the symphonie player and the Serie 9 for the jazz musician

"..QUELLE SELMER PREFEZ-VOUS
les grands clarinettistes jouant selmer ne cont pas toujours d'accord sur la reponse a donner a cette question. Certains jouent la Series 9, d'autres Series 9*, mais tous reconnaissent que leur choix contribue pour une bonne part a leure reputation musicale.
Au cas oi vous n'auriez pas la possibilite d'essayer les deux modeles, nouse nouse permettrions de vois conseiller la Serie 9* (uniquement en No 1) pour la musique symphonique et la Serie 9 pour la musique de jazz et les varietes..."

but i was always led to believe the 9 was the larger "jazz" bore (and measured so) and the 9* was a smaller "symphony" bore (and measured so).

Other people like Kim Slava mention this too

" The Selmer Series 9 clarinets preceded this Selmer 9-Star.
And the Series 9 (1960's) clarinets replaced the "Centered Tone" model.
Up through the Series 9, the Selmer philosophy was to use a large diameter tone hole with no undercutting (straight sided tone holes) and an almost purely cylindrical bore. The larger tone holes do produce a more robust tone, but the twelfths are "short" and tend to be very sharp in the fundamental when playing pianissimo. The Series 9 (no star) was recommended for Jazz, while the Series 9* was recommended for symphonic work..."

 

[Dr G]

Thanks, Andre. From the literature, the Series 9 was the next in the lineage of Selmer pro clarinets, then some time later the 9* was added to appeal to symphonic players. The question then becomes when did Selmer add the 9* clarinet to the mix?

It could be that Selmer was never a contender for the favor of the symphonic clarinet player until the 9*, with previous professional preference going to Leblanc and Buffet. I am not familiar with those details.

 

[milandro]

Cheers George, from what I read above ( but to get the original pamphlet would be better) the 9 and 9* came out (almost exactly or exactly) contemporarily .

The intention was to replace the Center Tone ( which had been favored by Benny Goodman but wasn’t meant to be specifically a Jazz instrument ) with a choice for Classical and Jazz Musician ( 9* and 9).

Selmer started making more and more special models bearing the names of several musicians. Something similar happened also with the 10 series.

I belive it was (and still is) very confusing.

 

[Dr G]

Thanks. I may sniff ‘round on the clarinet boards to see what I can learn. All my clarinet-playing friends in the early 70’s were playing Series 9 clarinets - I was not aware of the 9* at the time. That’s what is driving my curiosity.

Be well,

George

 

[Rojarosguitar]

Hello, today my Selmer 9 came, and I'm quite disappointed, but maybe I'm wrong. Here are my suspicions: The serial numbers are kind of filed away (the wear on them cannot be accidental IMHO). The wood of the lower part + bell looks more brownish and has more brighter pores than the wood of the upper part that looks more blackish, so I guess it has been thrown together from two different clarinets. The bell is stuck, I can't remove it. Under the Series 9 logo with its' laurel there is a star, so I guess it's 9* and not 9. The mechanics is quite worn (I did expect that), but the clarinet plays basically well and in tune with itself (I haven't checked the pitch yet).

Probably I should send it back ... what are your suggestions?

 

[milandro]

send it back, these clarinets are not unique

 

[Dr G]

Unless you got it for next to free, send it back. You cite a host of flags, any of which would cause me to reject it. I would not invest the money into fixing it up - the cost of refit is the same regardless of how valuable the horn, so choose well.