Selmer Privilege Evo Bb-Clarinet 18/6
Bb Clarinet
- Boehm system
- Evolution model
- a'= 442 Hz
- Bore: 14.60 mm
- With Eb-lever
- Completely made of grenadilla wood
- Incorporated metal peg
- Evolution system in the upper part (bore sealed with resin) guarantees a long life
- Leather pad with metal resonators in the lower part
- Gore-Tex pad in the upper part
- Silver-plated mechanism
- Incl. 2 barrels, Selmer Concept mouthpiece and light case
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Available since August 2022
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Item number 549356
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Sales Unit 1 piece(s)
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Keys 18
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Number Of Rings 6
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Number of Barrels 2
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Body Wood
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Colour of Wood Stained
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Bell (Material) Grenadilla
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Surface Of Mechanics Silver Plated
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Eb Lever Yes
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Incl. Mouthpiece Yes
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Incl. Case / Gigbag Yes
Balanced in every register
The Selmer Privilège 18/6 B-flat clarinet was developed in collaboration with two renowned French orchestral clarinettists: Jérôme Verhaeghe of the Paris Opera and Philippe Berrod of the Orchestre de Paris. Its profile is correspondingly clear: It's a homogeneous, well-balanced orchestral clarinet that never sounds harsh, even at forte. The middle register from E to G is a particular highlight, speaking with more clarity and colour than on many other clarinets. As a result, the Privilège offers an exceptionally consistent sound across its entire range. It makes life easier for players when it comes to intonation, too: Most notes need no corrective fingerings, and even the low E and F, notoriously tricky on many clarinets, manage without additional correction keys.
Robust yet refined
The Selmer Privilège 18/6 is built on a standard Boehm-system (French-system) clarinet with 17 keys and 6 rings, plus a left-hand E-flat lever, hence the 18/6 designation. The body is made from selected grenadilla wood, which is carefully worked, naturally treated, lacquered, and given a water-repellent seal. The upper joint also features Selmer's innovative Evolution system, and the tenon joints are reinforced with metal sockets, protecting the connections that take the most strain. The silver-plated keywork with its fine engravings contrasts with the matte black chrome-plated brass tenon rings, which blend visually into the body. A combination of leather, cork, and Gore-Tex pads ensures the tone holes are sealed precisely, and the thumb rest is adjustable.
From the opera to the studio
Its tonal qualities make the Selmer Privilège 18/6 B-flat clarinet ideally suited to professional orchestral clarinettists, as well as music students at universities and conservatoires. Whether at the opera, in a symphony orchestra or wind band, for chamber music, or in the studio: It adapts to a wide variety of acoustic environments and blends effortlessly with other instruments. Its flexibility on concert pitch helps here, too: With the two barrels supplied (64.5mm and 65.5mm), it can be matched to orchestras tuning anywhere between A = 440 and 442Hz – the longer barrel lowers the pitch. Of particular interest to orchestral players: The Privilège is also available as an A clarinet. As both instruments are based on a similar bore, they're alike in fullness of sound and resistance, and the barrels fit both. Also included are a Selmer Concept mouthpiece, care accessories, and a case.
About Selmer
Henri Selmer Paris, founded in 1885 by Henri Selmer – a clarinettist and graduate of the Paris Conservatoire – is a legendary French manufacturer of wind instruments. Initially producing clarinet mouthpieces, the company soon expanded to full clarinets and gained global recognition for its craftsmanship and quality. Selmer became particularly renowned for its saxophones, which have been favoured by countless jazz musicians since the 1920s. Beyond saxophones and clarinets, Selmer also crafts trumpets, trombones, and horns, continually refining its instruments through collaborations with leading musicians and the use of premium materials.
Evolution technology
One of the typical weak points of any clarinet is the upper joint, which, in the worst case, can develop cracks even with the most careful handling. This is exactly what Selmer’s Evolution technology addresses: The bore is lined with a next-generation resin, which forms a watertight barrier that stops moisture from getting into the wood fibres. This gives the instrument greater stability and longevity, while preserving the acoustic properties of a traditional wooden clarinet. It’s a genuine innovation, then, and one Henri Selmer Paris stands fully behind. How fully? Well, the renowned brand offers a 10-year warranty on the upper joint of all its Evolution clarinets. That should speak for itself.