While model names (like "Bundy" or "Resonite") are often etched on the bell, serial numbers are rarely placed there. Bundy Serial Number Reference Chart
Because Bundy was a "budget" line, Selmer did not initially keep detailed public ledgers the way they did for the Mark VI or Centered Tone. This means a standard lookup often requires interpretation.
Is it a "Bundy" (pre-1986) or a "Bundy II" (post-1986)?
If you are a band director, a parent of a middle school student, or a vintage woodwind collector, you have likely encountered a used clarinet stamped with the names Selmer and Bundy . These instruments are ubiquitous in the United States. They are the workhorses of the practice room, the resilience of the marching band, and the silent relics of attics past.
Before you can effectively perform a , you must understand exactly what instrument you are holding. The name on the bell can be deceptive.
Selmer USA used a sequential numbering system for decades. While records are not always perfect, the following chart is widely accepted by technicians and collectors for dating clarinets.
Before you can decode the numbers, you need to locate them. Unlike guitars, which often have serial numbers on the headstock, clarinets are assembled from multiple pieces.
If you know the instrument's history (e.g., "My grandpa bought this new in 1963"), you can reverse engineer your chart. For example: