Klarinet Archive - Posting 000281.txt from 1996/08

From: Linda Bakker <k_bakker@-----.NZ>
Subj: Re: Bass clarinet neck strap
Date: Fri, 9 Aug 1996 19:18:02 -0400

I remember I played the bass clarinet once at my high school. It hadn't been
used for a while I think, and it had no peg, and no neckstrap. As I'm tall,
putting it straight on the ground wasn't exactly an option, so my teacher
got me to rest it on top of the case (which was obviously lying on the
ground), but it still wasn't really at the right height - I had to sort of
half slouch! Thyen finally someone found a neckstrap for me to use.
Unfortunately it wasn't ideal for the bass clrinet - the neck bit was too
narrow, and I always ended up with a really sore neck. Eventually they
decided they would have to spend some money, and they got a peg put on. I
only played it for about a year, and I only used it on the school concert
band, so the peg was ok. I know this isn't exactly useful information.. but
I thought I'd tell it anyway!
Linda Bakker

At 01:32 PM 9/08/96 +0100, you wrote:
>I found it quite intolerable attempting to play the bass with a neckstrap
>- I was nearly asphyxiated. Now I use a device which clips onto my
>trousers (or belt) at the back
>, like old-fashioned trouser braces (U.S. suspenders) and hooks onto the
>bass utilizing a partly elasticated cord. This is fairly widely available
>over here. It's nasty to put on without removing the trousers - not
>really socially acceptable even in the orchestras I play in - but I find
>it much more comfortable than a neck strap, and more reliable than my
>spike, which slipped and was very choosy about chair heights. My bass
>goes down to E flat - I suspect basses to low C are slightly less of a
>problem because you *know* you can't get them balanced on the thumb ... ;
>also (at least sometimes) they can just put be placed on the floor.
>Roger Shilcock
>
>