Klarinet Archive - Posting 000713.txt from 1997/02

From: Roger Shilcock
Subj: Re: bass clarinet over the break problem (fwd)
Date: Thu, 20 Feb 1997 04:16:06 -0500

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 19 Feb 1997 09:19:40 -0700
From: Gary Van Cott <Gary_VanCott%TRADETEK.COM@-----.UK>
Subject: Re: bass clarinet over the break problem

Gary VanCott = NHIN
02/19/97 09:19 AM

Anneke,
I have recently rented a Vito bass clarinet and have had similar problems.
I have two suggestions. The first one is to try some other mouthpieces. I
got some Vandoren and Selmer mouthpieces on trial and ended up buying a
Vandoren B44. This resulted in some improvement in my sound. I have tried
Vandoren 2 1/1 and 3 reeds. I am not really happy with either. I will
probably try some tenor sax reeds, too.

The second problem I believe is with the instrument. Probably a really good
bass clarinet player could sound good on the Vito, but for me only the
lowest octave on the instrument sounds really good. One of the problems
with this instrument is that it has only a single register key opening. The
more expensive ones have two (like a saxophone) and it really improves the
middle range of the instrument. If you know someone who has a better
quality instrument, ask if you can play it with your mouthpiece. I had a
chance to play a decent Yamaha and it was much better than the Vito.

Gary
Las Vegas, NV

Gary_VanCott@-----.com

I don't know where the single register key is on the Vito bass, but the
Noblet doesn't seem to suffer much from having only one register key;
however, the Bundy bass (unless they've modified it) certainly does,
having very fuzzy and difficult middle (overblown) B flat / B / C. From
my own painful experiences (mainly for other people!), I still think that
Anneke's basic problem is her embouchure - either gripping the reed with
the bottom lip or not enough reed in the mouth or both.
The break is inherently much more difficult to master on the bass because
of the jump in the length of the air column.
Roger Shilcock