Year of Selmer Bass clarinet Author: ★2017 Date: 2008-05-29 02:47 I've just come across a Selmer Low C bass clarinet serial number X6720. I believe it is model 35 but they don't put the model number on their basses.

I suspect it is from the 70s but they didn’t have a listing on the Selmer web page. I play one that I believe is model 31 or 33 number U648. I once asked the Selmer reps at a Selmer display what model mine was but they had no idea.

There doesn't seem to be a correlation between the serial numbers. Does anyone know the answer to when it was made and if it is a model 35?

Thanks, ESP, www.peabody.jhu.edu/457 Re: Year of Selmer Bass clarinet Author: Date: 2008-05-29 03:09 I searched 'Selmer Clarinet Serial Numbers' on Google, and got a few different lists. U series seems to be from the mid sixties; X is from about 72-73. Re: Year of Selmer Bass clarinet Author: Date: 2008-05-29 03:30 FYI, there is a Selmer serial number list on this site: Best regards, jnk Re: Year of Selmer Bass clarinet Author: Date: 2008-05-29 03:49 I think (but not sure) they started making the the 35 (and 37) model in the 90s, around 1995. If I remember right the models before that were the 31 low Eb and 33 low C (or was the 33 low Eb too?). I think the Series 9 was before that, but I'm not sure, and I'm also not sure when they started making each model (though I think it would say Series 9 if that was it). I'm guessing it is a 33. I think usually a Selmer reps at a display won't know much.

For these types of things you need to find the right person to ask. I remember someone wanted to know about an old model from Buffet that looked completely different than any normal bass clarinet, but none of the people on the Yahoo bass clarinet group knew. It was only a French bass clarinetist consultant for Buffet who knew it. Maybe you can find someone simialr for Selmer. Re: Year of Selmer Bass clarinet Author: ★2017 Date: 2008-05-29 12:22 Thanks, that confirms my beliefs. Tukacad software cracked. It's a great model.

I'm wondering if my bass mod 22 from '86 is a good player as the model 30 and what you mean for 'golden era' or better model? Mine has the double lever style for right hand side keys I've not tried other Selmer bass clarinets so it play well but not so well to me, some notes are not even (a little stuffy) and required some embouchure effort even if all pads seal correctly. Is this usual on bass clarinets generally? A customized mouthpiece with a baffle help me greatly to improve the projection in general and mitigate those notes which speaks much better It play at 442 with all the pipe in. I'm not familiar with a model 22, and haven't played any Selmer basses from the mid-80's.

73 rows  In 1885, following graduation from the Paris Conservatory, Henri Selmer and brother.

Then, holding with a finger preparation, it is necessary to turn out corners.

The old model 30's/33's aren't stuffy at all, and the new Buffets and Selmers ($$$!) both play extremely well and if in good order, aren't stuffy. Student instruments and poorly designed pro instruments can be stuffy, no matter how well maintained. Bass clarinets are VERY sensitive to poor adjustment. You might also try different reed and mouthpiece combinations, too. Too open or closed mouthpieces can cause response problems, especially in the second register, and too hard reeds can make stuffy notes sound even worse.