I was recently given a wooden clarinet with "100 Signet Selmer" written on it. Itis over 20 years old. I was wondering how good it is compared to similar clarinets from other companies.

I have a Mark II, and it`s a lot better than Yamaha. It has a cushion-like thing where you put your right thumb. I`ve never heard of the one you have, though.

Those cushion like things are sold in almost any music store i`ve been to for around $.99
To me LeBlanc is the best brand. That`s just me. Some say Buffet is, and some say Selmer Paris is. What you have is a Selmer USA horn which is intermediate. Selmer Paris makes the pro level horns. Same with LeBlanc Paris and Vito for their student/ intermediate horns, and Buffet`s B and E models (such as B12 and E11) are made in Germany by Evette and Schaeffer`s old factories if I`m not mistaken. Their "R" models and up (R13, RC, Elite, Tosca) are made in France and are their pro horns.

Bradley

Btw- I`ve never heard of a Mark II actually, and I`m sure there are Yamahas that would blow you away. You must mean student Yamahas.

I agree. You are much better off with a horn from either one of the "Big Four" brands Brad mentioned than a Mark II.

I`ve just joined a community band and I`m looking for a clarinet to buy. Trying to figure out what to look for in a clarinet. Like what it is made from. Currently I`m playing a Contra Alto Clarinet, but the band is lacking in clarinets, so I figured I would switch. Kurt

buffet, i had an old r.malerne which was quite good but badly flat. any of you guys had r.malerne?

Vito, made in Kinosha, Wisconsin. Mine has been handed down from my dad, to his sister, now to me. I`ve had it for over four years and it`s over 30 years old. Yeah, yeah, I know. It`s totally retro, but it`s so awesome. The tone quality can handle anyone`s horrible embouchure and it is made with a plastic outside with a wooden inside. The plastic on the outside keeps the clarinet from being ruined by the weather and getting warped. It`s my baby...

If you`ve got the cash, I suggest you try a Buffet. Their tone is awesome... you`ll notice the difference when you play some other brands.

Yes, Buffets have a good tone, but not versatile at all. I have that exact same Selmer Signet that`s "over 20 years old." Mine is 55 years old, and people always think I`m playing on a Buffet. Some people play on Buffets, and sound like crap. So it`s a matter of personal preference. I just think that Buffets were made for stupid people who are too lazy to improve their tone with exercises and practice.

I happen to be Buffet owner (R13 Bb and A) who spends literal hours everyday doing long tones and scales. And its not because my clarinets are crappy either. They are both hand-picked from the entire stock of clarinets from a reputable instrument retailer. Please don`t make the assumption that people who play Buffet clarinets are lazy about tone. Frank Cohen, Karl Leister, Paul Meyer and David Shifrin all play Buffets. All four of them have the most beautiful tone I have ever heard and yet all four also have their own unique tone as well. It all has to do with preference and the way you`re made.

Jackie,

some people that play on buffets and sound like crap probably do so because they are crappy players. To say that someone doesn`t need to work on their sound with a buffet is ridiculous. It`s like saying a beginner could pick up a stradivarious violin and sound like paganinni. Sound depends more on the player than the horn. A great player can make his/her ideal tone on whatever clarinet they have. Even with a plastic garage sell clarinet a good musician could find a way to produce a good sound. I don`t know what you mean by saying buffets aren`t "versatile." Thats very ambiguous-do you mean in terms of sound, timbres, dynamics, etc. Anyways, buffet is easily the best clarinet available. Not because they make a horrible player sound great, but because they have an even and matched sound in terms of intonation and timbre across all registers and because the are the most technologically advanced clarinets available.

So, I have a Selmer Signet 100(wood), a Bundy/Selmer Resonite, a Noblet Paris (wood), Artley Prelude I can`t decide if it`s resonite or wood, and an unnamed Resonite in a Bundy case. COUld someone list them in order for me best to worst instrument?????

There are many good makes of clarinets e.g. Buffet, Le Blanc, Selmer. However, you also have to have the right mothpiece. The ones that come with the instrument should automatically be tossed in the bin. Try out at least 3 or 4 to get the one thats right for you. Last, you must use decent reeds! My choice if you can afford it, would be a Peter Eaton clarinet, Vandoren B45 M/Piece and Gonzalez FOP reeds from Argentina (organic grown) Websites are www.eatonclarinets.co.uk and www.doctorsprod.com for the reeds

Mozart Girl, where did you get the info regarding Leister as a Buffet player? For the longest time, I always thought that Leister played Wurlitzer. I still do. As far as Shifrin goes, I would put money that the Basset A he uses for his Mozart recordings is a Selmer. I remember asking him once, but that has been some time. I will try to find out when I see him in March.