Klarinet Archive - Posting 000677.txt from 1997/12

From: DGross1226 <DGross1226@-----.com>
Subj: Re: R series Selmer Eb Contra (Actual Info!)
Date: Fri, 12 Dec 1997 20:22:14 -0500

In a message dated 97-12-11 10:58:59 EST, you write:

<< Any additional info or comments will be GREATLY appreciated. >>

Matt,

My Bb bass clarinet is a Selmer Paris (to low Eb) which was first purchased in
1950 by the bass clarinet player in the Bell Telephone Hour Orchestra under
Donald Vorhees and was a studio player for years in Los Angeles. It is a
SUPERB instrument both in tone quality and intonation. When I first had the
horn gone over by Steve Roberts in Los Angeles (Hollywood Bowl Orchestra,
Pasadena Symphony, plus lots of bass and contrabass studio work), he had his
own rosewood Selmer contra alto in the shop and asked me if I would like to
give it a try. It was absolutely unbelievable! Obviously it was a newer horn
and maintained by a professional clarinetist who makes his living playing and
repairing horns. But I can't see how you could possibly go wrong with such a
horn. Are you sure that it only goes to low E and not Eb. That would be a
major problem. FYI, I've also seen horns where he's drilled a custom half-
hole to the top left-hand pad cup and soldered a quarter-moon lever on the
edge of the cup a la more modern bass clarinets.

When I was purchasing my LeBlanc paperclip contrabass from Charles Fail Music
in Atlanta last year, I noted that they had a rosewood Selmer contra alto
fully restored for $2,500. I might be wrong, but I think Clark Fobes
purchased it to have a horn so that he could test his new line of contra
mouthpieces. It's unfortunate that all the recent KRAP on Klarinet drove him
off the list. A major loss. Let me know if you'd like his e-mail address.

Anyhow, if you decide NOT to buy the horn, let me know. I would be
interested.

Don Gross
La Canada, California

   
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