I have a low C Selmer Paris bass clarinet that I purchased used in college. It's a great horn, but I have no idea what year or model it is. I recently was thinking about getting a low Eb bass for gigs where I do a lot of standing, when it dawned on me that I could probably just get a lower joint. However, I know that the horns have changed a lot through the years, with differences in keys, so I would like to start my search for one of a similar model and year.

I tried the Selmer site, but it was throughly unhelpful. Does anyone know how to look up Selmer Paris serial numbers in the way that you can with Buffet? Sql server compact 35 sp2 query tools.

• • • • Selmer Serial Number Ranges By Model Although, as the chart below illustrates, the Mark VI was produced until (roughly) serial #378000, this applies only to the Sopranino model. The Soprano, Baritone and Bass Mark VI saxophones were produced until serial #365000 in 1984, and Alto and Tenor Mark VI production ended (approximately) in 1975 at serial #239,595. Super Action 80 Series II, Series III and Reference horns are currently in production. Model Start # End # 1 (1904) 750 (1920) 750 (1922) 4,450 (1926) 4,451 (1926) 14,000 (1931) 11,951 (1928) 18,700 (1935) 14,000 (1931) 28,000 (1939) 20,900 (1935) 35,800 (1947) 27,000 (1938) 30,000 (1941) 33,401 (1946) 55,200 (1954) 55,201 (1954) 378,000 (1985) 231,000 (1974) 315,500 (1981) 315,501 (1981) 378,800 378,801 (1986) unknown unknown (2001) unknown.

Selmer USA has manufactured various clarinets under the Signet brand since about 1945 and going back to the early 1920s. Selmer USA actually manufactured Signet clarinets before World War II (per customer 2/18/2012). The pre WWII Signet was quite interesting as it had several pro features (swoopy keywork which allows ease of adjustment). The Selmer USA serial numbers for the forties, in the list that I have, show a gap between 30,000 (10/15/40) and 33,000 (6/1/47) presumably because of the war. Selmer USA began making (or selling) Manhatten metal clarinets and Manhatten wood clarinets in the 1920s and/or 1930s. Selmer USA models are from lowest to highest model: Signet 100, Signet.