Klarinet Archive - Posting 000675.txt from 1997/03

From: "Frederick S. Sterns" <fssterns@-----.NET>
Subj: Re: LeBlanc Bass Clarinets?
Date: Thu, 20 Mar 1997 15:07:49 -0500

>Fred Sterns asked about professional-level bass clarinets:
>
>In response: I have played a Selmer (is it model 33?) low C instrument
>for almost ten years in chamber music and in various orchestras
>(including substitute work in the Indianapolis Sym. O.) and have been
>very happy with it. The biggest problem with this horn is the wide
>12ths between E and b' and F and c'. I have had cork added in several
>of these tone holes to bring down the pitch of the higher note in each
>pair but the lower fundamental is now too low. If anyone has another
>(better!) solution for this intonation problem I'd like to learn about
>it.
>
>Greg Barrett
>Jacksonville State Univ.
>Alabama

Greg...thanks much...having had limited experience with the BCl, the
opinions of experienced players like yourself are most welcome. The
instrument has become "real competition" for my first love, the alto
saxophone, and I find myself spending more time with it than anything else.

[Re: your parenthetical question...if the numbers today are the same as
before the model 33 is a low Eb horn and a model 37 is the low C.]

The few professional BCl players I know, that is those into orchestral
music, seem as you have to favor the Selmer. I can get an attractive price
on a new LeBlanc, however, and that is one reason I inquired about it.

Genuinely appreciate your taking the time to help...Fred