Klarinet Archive - Posting 000889.txt from 1995/10

From: "Dan Leeson: LEESON@-----.EDU>
Subj: Re Jacqueline Eastwood's comments on basset horns
Date: Tue, 24 Oct 1995 16:11:31 -0400

This poster takes issue with Jacqueline's statement that LeBlanc makes
the best basset horns. Besides the issue of whether or not the instrument
made and sold by LeBlanc is really a basset horn (as opposed to an alto
clarinet pitched in the key of F), the fact is that there are good and
weak aspects of every manufacturer's instruments. I suspect that no one
makes a good one because they all have problems.

One of the more critical aspects of the instrument is the ability to
play a diatonic scale at the extreme depth of the instrument and all
three manufacturers make instruments that create problems at that end
of the scale.

All three major manufacturers produce instruments with intonation problems
but that is the case with all clarinets. So I don't understand by what
standard Jacqueline suggests that one brand is better than another. I'm
willing to be convinced but I need more than an opinion.

The fact is that the basset horn may be an acoustically defective
instrument (bore too narrow for its length), but I know of no reason
that would entitle LeBlanc's instrument to be classified as the best
of the bunch.

====================================
Dan Leeson, Los Altos, California
(leeson@-----.edu)
====================================

   
     Copyright © Woodwind.Org, Inc. All Rights Reserved    Privacy Policy    Contact charette@woodwind.org