Klarinet Archive - Posting 000737.txt from 1998/03

From: "Matt Hanson" <mchanson@-----.com>
Subj: Re: Low B Bass Clarinet.
Date: Thu, 12 Mar 1998 01:14:51 -0500

Since Buffet Prestige low C Bass Clarinets have the C on the wooden body and
not the bell (with NO key on the small bell), I replaced the bell with a
Leblanc bell. The Leblanc bells are much longer than the Selmers and
Buffets, and the bore is narrower. With the Leblanc bell key opened a bit
more I get a nice C. With it closed I successfully obtain a well in tune
low B. For now, of course it would have to be closed with the foot, but I
am considering having the actual independent keywork made. This may sound
silly, and maybe it is, especially since there is really no call for the
note. BUT, it is not the note that I was after, but instead a nice low C.
The low C is no longer metallic AT ALL, but the B is somewhat. I really did
it all for resonance, but it was fun, too.
Matthew Hanson
-----Original Message-----
From: ROBERT HOWE <arehow@-----.net>
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 1998 9:41 PM
Subject: Re: A bass clarinet

>This comes up every six months on this list. Selmer will special order
>a model 22 (I think) bass clarient to low Eb, in A. "A" bass clarinets
>exist for the same reason as A sopranos, but they are tres chic, so few
>players have ever owned one. I don't have one, although I know that
>Nick Shackleton has one. However, the low concert C# is essential.
>Placing a low Eb on Bb bass makes the note possible and the A bass
>irrelevant. Look at how Mahler uses the A bass clarinet in the 6th
>symphony for a better expanation of this than I can give you in words.
>
>Robert Howe.
>
>
>>>From: dfigi@-----.com (David Figi)
>Subject: Re: klarinet-digest V1 #747
>
>Re: Bass clarinets in A
> The last time I checked you could not buy a new bass clarinet in
>A
>(except possibly as a special order). There are a few used ones around
>but
>they are hard to find.
>