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1955 SELMER CENTERED TONE Bb CLARINET – ARTIST GRADE OVERHAUL, BACKUN BARREL
Estimated price for orientation: 1 500 $
Category: Clarinets
Class:
Description Brand: Selmer Paris Type: Bb Soprano Design: Boehm System Body Material: Wood MPN: Does Not Apply Skill Level: Professional Key: Bb Country/Region of Manufacture: France UPC: Does not apply
For sale: a beautifully restored vintage French-made Selmer Centered Tone professional Bb wood clarinet. Both joints are stamped with the same serial number Q27XX, which indicates the year of manufacture to be 1955. This model was the top of the line professional clarinet offered by Selmer Paris since 1952. This highly sought after model was a pinnacle of Selmer's "Jazz" clarinet made famous by Benny Goodman, who used it extensively. There are several reasons why Centered Tone is such a popular model even to this day. First of all the design: with the combination of the large bore and large toneholes, these clarinets are extremely free blowing, allowing the player to put as much air as they want, with the mouthpiece being the point of resistance. As a result, the projection on these horns is outstanding, which gives the player a great advantage in the situation when you need to be heard (e.g. a jazz band, concert band). Then there is Selmer’s excellent key mechanism – very tight, stable and solid as a rock. But perhaps what’s most important is that these clarinets have a wonderful full, deep, woody tone, with all notes being clear from top to bottom – including the upper register through altissimo. Centered Tone model is perceived as mostly a jazz clarinet, but the reality is that this is a very flexible instrument, with a wide range in tone and is perfectly suitable for a variety of playing styles. Another reason why the vintage pro-level Selmer clarinets are coveted and sought after by the players is the quality of the grenadilla wood these instruments were made of: the wood was allowed to air dry for 20 years or more to ensure that the clarinet won’t crack and was of the finest grade, very hard, dense and naturally dark with the lovely play of color to it. The superb quality of wood and exceptional craftsmanship is not something you will find easily with the modern horns and certainly not in this price range. The clarinet was just completely overhauled using the highest quality materials available to achieve longest life, a perfect seal and the best sound reflection. Our “Artist-grade” overhaul is a 10+ step restoration process, which would cost $400-500 and up in any reputable repair shop. The pads on the bottom joint were upgraded to high quality American-made white Prestini kid leather pads. The pads on the top joint were upgraded to the premium Valentino Masters Series synthetic pads that are specifically designed for the pro-level instruments and are a considerable improvement over even the best double bladder pads. With these upgrades, you won’t have to worry about the pads deteriorating for at least 10 years, maybe more, since both these types of pads are extremely durable and forgiving. The overhaul included: Clarinet taken apart, body cleaned, sanitized and treated with all natural Grenadilla oil, then waxed and polished to bring out the beauty of the woodTone holes resurfaced as needed to ensure a perfect sealAll keys and rods cleaned and hand polished, key pivots and hinge tubes straightened, cleaned and lubricatedKey cups centered and leveledThe keys swedged and adjusted to ensure smooth, tight fit between posts and on rodsThe springs replaced as needed and adjusted for a light, balanced playing touchAll new Valentino Masters Series synthetic pads installedTenon corks and key bumpers replaced with highest AAAA-grade natural corkThe gilding on the logos restoredThe instrument properly adjusted and play-tested in all keysThe instrument has excellent intonation and plays very well in tune with very little effort on player’s part. The keywork is solid and the action is very tight – it is obviously is built-to-last. I was very surprised with the sound of this Centered Tone. I expected a typical brash and bold sound that one might expect from a large bore Selmer, but this clarinet sounds very much like a good R13 – it has a beautiful dark, mellow and complex tone that wouldn’t be out of place in any orchestral setting. At the same time, it has great projection, is extremely free blowing and easy to play, making it perfect for a woodwinds doubler as well as for jazz playing and pit orchestra. The clarinet comes with a very lightly used beautiful ringless style Grenadilla barrel by Backun. This barrel in my opinion as a player is definitely an upgrade; it mellows out the sound, makes it darker and more focused. The cosmetic condition is excellent – it appears that it has seen very little playtime. The tenons are nice and sharp and it is evident that the clarinet wasn’t played very much. The wood is very dark and tight grained, but has a lovely play of color to it. I couldn’t find any scratches on the body and only a couple of scratches on the largest keys. The plating on the keys and posts is completely intact. Please refer to the pictures for the additional details about cosmetic condition. As far as I can tell, the instrument has no cracks or the history of cracks anywhere. Here is what is included with the clarinet: New carry-all case – very roomy, has space for everythingNew professional Vandoren Masters CL6 mouthpiece kit, including M/O ligature and cap ($150+ retail value): this is a great, very open and easy blowing mouthpieceVery lightly used ringless Grenadilla Backun barrel (66 mm, $150-250 retail value)New cork greaseNew 100% silk pull through swabOne sealed Vandoren reedThe instrument will be packaged with great care – I pack all my instruments with extreme caution to ensure that you will receive it in ‘play out of the box’ condition. I offer economy or expedited shipping via USPS or UPS within continental US. You will only be charged for the actual cost of shipping, I don't try to make money on shipping charges. Please note that I always insure the instruments for the full value, which increases the overall cost of shipping. International buyers: please be aware that you are responsible for all customs duties and taxes that may be applicable. Also, please do not ask me to declare a smaller value or claim it as a “gift” on the custom’s forms – it is considered fraudulent by US laws. Please take note that the full payment is required within 24 hours of your purchase, otherwise the transaction will be cancelled and the item re-listed. I usually ship within one business day of receiving a cleared payment. I accept returns within 14 days if you are not fully satisfied with this beautiful instrument for whatever reason, so buy with confidence: I want you to be perfectly happy with your purchase. If you wish to return it, please contact me as soon as possible and let me know. Important! The buyer pays for return shipment and the horn must be in the same condition, as you will receive it – meaning no damage/flaws to the instrument, other than that documented in the pictures and description above. Your satisfaction is my main concern, so please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase and I'm sure we will be able to resolve them to your complete satisfaction. About me: I'm a professional woodwinds player/music educator and have been playing clarinet, flute and saxophones for years. I work with a certified master repairman with 30+ years of experience and I only sell the instruments of the top brands adjusted to play their absolute best and that’s why I can say that my clarinets play better than new. I stand by my instruments - I only sell what I would have purchased for myself or would recommend to my students. I strive to provide a stellar customer service to every buyer, so buy from me and be assured that you are getting a great deal on the top quality instrument – or your money back!
Description
| Brand: | Selmer Paris | Type: | Bb Soprano |
| Design: | Boehm System | Body Material: | Wood |
| MPN: | Does Not Apply | Skill Level: | Professional |
| Key: | Bb | Country/Region of Manufacture: | France |
| UPC: | Does not apply |
For sale: a beautifully restored vintage French-made Selmer Centered Tone professional Bb wood clarinet. Both joints are stamped with the same serial number Q27XX, which indicates the year of manufacture to be 1955. This model was the top of the line professional clarinet offered by Selmer Paris since 1952. This highly sought after model was a pinnacle of Selmer's "Jazz" clarinet made famous by Benny Goodman, who used it extensively. There are several reasons why Centered Tone is such a popular model even to this day. First of all the design: with the combination of the large bore and large toneholes, these clarinets are extremely free blowing, allowing the player to put as much air as they want, with the mouthpiece being the point of resistance. As a result, the projection on these horns is outstanding, which gives the player a great advantage in the situation when you need to be heard (e.g. a jazz band, concert band). Then there is Selmer’s excellent key mechanism – very tight, stable and solid as a rock. But perhaps what’s most important is that these clarinets have a wonderful full, deep, woody tone, with all notes being clear from top to bottom – including the upper register through altissimo. Centered Tone model is perceived as mostly a jazz clarinet, but the reality is that this is a very flexible instrument, with a wide range in tone and is perfectly suitable for a variety of playing styles. Another reason why the vintage pro-level Selmer clarinets are coveted and sought after by the players is the quality of the grenadilla wood these instruments were made of: the wood was allowed to air dry for 20 years or more to ensure that the clarinet won’t crack and was of the finest grade, very hard, dense and naturally dark with the lovely play of color to it. The superb quality of wood and exceptional craftsmanship is not something you will find easily with the modern horns and certainly not in this price range. The clarinet was just completely overhauled using the highest quality materials available to achieve longest life, a perfect seal and the best sound reflection. Our “Artist-grade” overhaul is a 10+ step restoration process, which would cost $400-500 and up in any reputable repair shop. The pads on the bottom joint were upgraded to high quality American-made white Prestini kid leather pads. The pads on the top joint were upgraded to the premium Valentino Masters Series synthetic pads that are specifically designed for the pro-level instruments and are a considerable improvement over even the best double bladder pads. With these upgrades, you won’t have to worry about the pads deteriorating for at least 10 years, maybe more, since both these types of pads are extremely durable and forgiving. The overhaul included: Clarinet taken apart, body cleaned, sanitized and treated with all natural Grenadilla oil, then waxed and polished to bring out the beauty of the woodTone holes resurfaced as needed to ensure a perfect sealAll keys and rods cleaned and hand polished, key pivots and hinge tubes straightened, cleaned and lubricatedKey cups centered and leveledThe keys swedged and adjusted to ensure smooth, tight fit between posts and on rodsThe springs replaced as needed and adjusted for a light, balanced playing touchAll new Valentino Masters Series synthetic pads installedTenon corks and key bumpers replaced with highest AAAA-grade natural corkThe gilding on the logos restoredThe instrument properly adjusted and play-tested in all keysThe instrument has excellent intonation and plays very well in tune with very little effort on player’s part. The keywork is solid and the action is very tight – it is obviously is built-to-last. I was very surprised with the sound of this Centered Tone. I expected a typical brash and bold sound that one might expect from a large bore Selmer, but this clarinet sounds very much like a good R13 – it has a beautiful dark, mellow and complex tone that wouldn’t be out of place in any orchestral setting. At the same time, it has great projection, is extremely free blowing and easy to play, making it perfect for a woodwinds doubler as well as for jazz playing and pit orchestra. The clarinet comes with a very lightly used beautiful ringless style Grenadilla barrel by Backun. This barrel in my opinion as a player is definitely an upgrade; it mellows out the sound, makes it darker and more focused. The cosmetic condition is excellent – it appears that it has seen very little playtime. The tenons are nice and sharp and it is evident that the clarinet wasn’t played very much. The wood is very dark and tight grained, but has a lovely play of color to it. I couldn’t find any scratches on the body and only a couple of scratches on the largest keys. The plating on the keys and posts is completely intact. Please refer to the pictures for the additional details about cosmetic condition. As far as I can tell, the instrument has no cracks or the history of cracks anywhere. Here is what is included with the clarinet: New carry-all case – very roomy, has space for everythingNew professional Vandoren Masters CL6 mouthpiece kit, including M/O ligature and cap ($150+ retail value): this is a great, very open and easy blowing mouthpieceVery lightly used ringless Grenadilla Backun barrel (66 mm, $150-250 retail value)New cork greaseNew 100% silk pull through swabOne sealed Vandoren reedThe instrument will be packaged with great care – I pack all my instruments with extreme caution to ensure that you will receive it in ‘play out of the box’ condition. I offer economy or expedited shipping via USPS or UPS within continental US. You will only be charged for the actual cost of shipping, I don't try to make money on shipping charges. Please note that I always insure the instruments for the full value, which increases the overall cost of shipping. International buyers: please be aware that you are responsible for all customs duties and taxes that may be applicable. Also, please do not ask me to declare a smaller value or claim it as a “gift” on the custom’s forms – it is considered fraudulent by US laws. Please take note that the full payment is required within 24 hours of your purchase, otherwise the transaction will be cancelled and the item re-listed. I usually ship within one business day of receiving a cleared payment. I accept returns within 14 days if you are not fully satisfied with this beautiful instrument for whatever reason, so buy with confidence: I want you to be perfectly happy with your purchase. If you wish to return it, please contact me as soon as possible and let me know. Important! The buyer pays for return shipment and the horn must be in the same condition, as you will receive it – meaning no damage/flaws to the instrument, other than that documented in the pictures and description above. Your satisfaction is my main concern, so please contact me if you have any questions or concerns about your purchase and I'm sure we will be able to resolve them to your complete satisfaction. About me: I'm a professional woodwinds player/music educator and have been playing clarinet, flute and saxophones for years. I work with a certified master repairman with 30+ years of experience and I only sell the instruments of the top brands adjusted to play their absolute best and that’s why I can say that my clarinets play better than new. I stand by my instruments - I only sell what I would have purchased for myself or would recommend to my students. I strive to provide a stellar customer service to every buyer, so buy from me and be assured that you are getting a great deal on the top quality instrument – or your money back!