Genuine Selman Oval Rotary Euponium!

ken k · Post by **ken k** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 12:04 am

i have about $300 left in my elementary school budget that I was thinking of buying one of the three valvers which go for about $219 plus S&H. I figured it would be small enough for a youngster and how bad can it be. as long as the Bb to Bb octaveis in tune it will work for the elemtnary studenst.

i just may try one yet...
They say you can return it if you do not like it so....

ken k

Chuck(G) · Post by **Chuck(G)** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 1:22 am

A friend picked up one of the less-than-$200 4-banger ovals on ePay. 2 slides leaked badly and I could run my thumbnail between the bottom bow guard and the bottom bow for most of its length. The valve linkage left a lot ot be desired.

When the slides came apart, the ends of the crooks looked as if they'd been cut with a beercan opener.

But

Plugging the leaks did come up with an oval euphonium that played better in tune than most I've seen. If you have the skills and don't mind spending your valuable time fixing assembly problems, this might be worth looking at.

So, yeah, Wade, I believe that the Selman could be a decent player. It's just workmanship issues that I'd wonder about...

Wade, are you certain that the Selman's Indian and not Chinese?

imperialbari · Post by **imperialbari** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:04 am

Dan Schultz · Post by **Dan Schultz** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 9:03 am

imperialbari wrote:I am fairly sure, that the Selman brand is Chinese.

I agree. The Selman oval euph appears to be identical to a 'Musica' oval euph I bought on a whim a couple of years ago. The horn actually played quite well and I have several folks eager to buy it from me. Once I had a chance to review the quality I did sell it. The fellow who bought it has played it 5 - 6 hours a week for the last couple of years with absolutely no problems. I finish leaves a bit to be desired but otherwise the horn is very good for the money. Granted, this may have been a fluke.... but on the other hand, I've seem Mirafones that had poor solder joints, too! BTW... the euph had a very strange receiver. Halfway between a standard tuba receiver and a bass 'bone receiver. The original mouthpiece works very well anyway.

lgb&dtuba · Post by **lgb&dtuba** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 10:07 am

I've been playing a 4-valve Selman oval euph in the German band for the past couple of years. Haven't had any problems at all with it. Intonation is ok, mostly centered once you have all the slides adjusted. No problems with fit, finish, or the valves.

I wouldn't use it in a concert band or orchestra but it's fine for an oom-pah band. Certainly the correct look and tone for that.

It sounds a LOT better than the Jupiter p.o.s. I replaced with it.

Like Wade said, it sounds a lot better than it should for the price.

Jim "then again, maybe it's the beer that makes it sound good" Wagner

Donn · Post by **Donn** » Sun Dec 24, 2006 10:57 pm

lgb&dtuba wrote:I've been playing a 4-valve Selman oval euph in the German band for the past couple of years.

I saw a German band last spring, with one of these on tuba. Think it was a Selman, not 100% sure. Silver plate. He was playing the bass line, for a couple of helikon-bass accordions that probably each cost more than a fine German tuba. Sounded fine, and he was pleased with it. Of course, there was plenty of good cheap beer and they all seemed pretty pleased with whatever.

windshieldbug · Post by **windshieldbug** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 5:45 pm

euphoniumguy227 wrote:dose any one know if the new ones are any better

Better than what is the question. Sharp stick in the eye?
Do you play the lottery?

JohnMCooper · Post by **JohnMCooper** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 6:26 pm

A "Genuine Selman" not one of those cheap imitations!

I bought a Genuine Selman Alto Trombone a few months back for about $85 shipped. The damn things plays real nice. Not the best fit and finish but the slide works great. When I bought I figured for $85 I could make a cool lamp out of it.

Ace · Post by **Ace** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 7:17 pm

I can't find the post, but I think I remember someone in the U.S. Marine Band buying a Selman alto trombone and expressing his satisfaction with the instrument.

lgb&dtuba · Post by **lgb&dtuba** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 8:15 pm

When I posted a year ago about the Selman oval euph I was ok with it. Then I bought a Tuba Exchange 1150S compensating euphonium a couple of months ago. Now, keep in mind that I'm are talking about a comp euph that I paid approximately 10 times as much for as the Selman.

After playing nothing but the new euph for a couple of months I picked up the Selman and played a few songs on it. I was thinking that I'd still use the Selman in the German band because of its looks and sacrificial value in a tent full of drunks.

I'm not so sure about that now. After playing the TE 1150S the Selman did, in fact, sound like crap to my ears. Didn't slot well. I couldn't hit high notes on it that came easily on the TE. And there was no extreme low end on the Selman like there is on the TE. It's like driving a BMW and then jumping into a 1969 VW bug. If all you'd ever driven was an old VW then you'd be fine with it. But after driving a BMW for a while, would you still feel the same way about that old VW?

You can get from point A to point B with either a VW or BMW, but a BMW can do things that a VW just plain cannot. Same with a Selman. It's a VW.

Now, there are better compensating euphs out there than my TE 1150S. Just like if you own a good BMW there are still better cars out there if you have the bucks. But I can't afford a Ferrari.

Tubaing · Post by **Tubaing** » Fri Jan 18, 2008 11:33 pm

I sold a Selmen baritone for someone about a year ago. The valves were fair (little scratchy,) the main slide had one tube too small, so it would fall out once in a while. The metal was thin. The tubes for the slides were cut at angles. It played...

fair, but about as good as my 100ish Austrian baritone that had the pistons in the wrong casings.

Seems like modern day China still hasn't caught up to 1900 Austria