CLARINETS DIRECT

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SELMER, PARIS, METAL Bb CLARINET, £1395

This is an early modern logo Selmer professional metal Bb clarinet. In a Selmer Paris brochure dating from the 1920's I read with interest that 3 different types of material were used in the making of their instruments: Grenadilla wood instruments were the cheapest, followed by ebonite clarinets, whereas the most expensive, by some margin, were their metal instruments. The logo is of the modern Selmer type, yet this clarinet has matching 1728 serial numbers. I have long suspected that websites which attempt to date early Selmer serial nos. are, at best, very approximate. All of this point to a late 1920's or early 1930's instrument.
This clarinet is in excellent condition for its age: All pieces are matching and original. Even the mouthpiece is an original "Henri Selmer" signature with a "B" facing. The intonation and response are excellent, exactly as stated on the barrel; "B=440". The Silver plating to the body does show some surface pitting and discolouration, as does the table of the m'piece, however this clarinet is over 80 years old. The plating on the keys is largely free from wear. The mouthpiece plays very well with a medium strength reed. The bore is large, at 15.3mm, much larger than the bore of contemporary wooden clarinets made by Selmer. This clarinet would be ideal for out door or jazz use, the tone is big and flexible. We have just completely overhauled the clarinet in Pisoni fish skin pads, and the instrument is sold with our full 1 year warranty. The case is used but in good condition.