French Clarinet

I'm not sure of the date, but do see the word "Artys" on yours. The following site has info on the Selmers with several paragraphs on the "Selmer Artys." The writer certainly likes the Artys. It seems there were eventually 5 or 6 models of the Artsy like the Odyssee, Saint Louis, Recital, Signatures and Privilege. Do I see a "R" in a circle just above "Made in Farnce?" If so it may??? be a Recital model of the Artys??? The page also has Serial numbers, but I couldn't spot a PO #### number. There is also info on the how and when of the serial numbers.
http://www.clarinetperfection.com/clsnSelmerParis.htm#Artys

--- Susan

 

Glad I good find some info. I honestly know very little about woodwind reed instruments except for the Sax - hmmmmm me and Pres. "Slick Willie" "The Comeback Kid" Clinton. I did play the alto sax in the band during the 6th, 7th, 8th, and 9th grades. After that I wanted to be in the stands at the football games where all the fun was happening! Back in the day, being in the high school band was considered being a geek.

Anyways, I sold my sax back in the 1970s to friends whose son was majoring in music. It had been sitting around in its case a good 20 years unused. I can't remember what we got for it; however, it cost the boy's parents twice as much to get it usable then what they paid for it. Just about all the key pads had to be replaced, a couple of keys had to be straightened. Your clarinet is of course made of a better quality then that school sax of mine. There is a good chance a potential buyer might be interested in its condition as to pads, cork, keys, mouthpiece, etc.. Glad to see yours has a wiper.
http://www.the-clarinets.net/english/clarinet-how-to-fix.html

--- Susan

 

Can't help you with the value on this, but I'll share my clarinet story.

Daughter was in school band, we had just gotten an estimate on monthly rental of clarinet, ($35 a month) same weekend I'm at a garage sale and in what I thought was great timing, find an old one for $25 with the case and all the accessories, thinking I'm going to save a year's worth of rentals.

I have to say that the one photographed here looks to be a much newer instrument, but turns out there are a lot of things that can go wrong with a clarinet that are not visible to the eye. And a general rule of thumb (this quote from a clarinet teacher) "Clarinets do not appreciate with age".

Although everything looked perfect, in my case the clarinet I purchased was basically "wall art". To repair would have cost a couple hundred, and resulting value minimal. We rented one, and I sold the garage sale instrument w/case on Ebay for $20.

In a fortunate turn of events, there were two items in the case that wound up being worth money. A glass mouthpiece ($70) and a gold ligature ($80). That was just dumb luck.

As for this one if you are selling in person, and a clarinet player can try it, you're probably fine. And this looks to be a much nicer and newer model than what I had. But if you are listing online, you might need to determine if it is in full working condition.

Best of luck!

 

If it's relatively new, you're probably good to go. Old student clarinets are best used as wall art or lamps. Remove the mouthpiece, insert lamp kit, and off you go. Selmer instruments are good quality.

 

Great news! Congratulations!

 

Woot!