Klarinet Archive - Posting 000162.txt from 1998/06

From: Shouryu Nohe <jnohe@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass Clarinet Question
Date: Thu, 4 Jun 1998 15:58:11 -0400

On Wed, 3 Jun 1998, Sherry Katz wrote:

> Would it be better to get a new bass clarinet - I've seen some really good
> things about the Yamaha student clarinet - like the Yamaha or Vito - and get
> a plastic one?
>
> Or, would it be better to get an older used instrument so called
> "professional" instrument? A recent poster noted that he had a Robert
> Malerne for sale; I called him and he has a few of various makes, all older,
> in the price range of a new Vito or Yamaha.

I always opt for the used pro line horns for one major reason -
consistency. While new plastic horns have nice sound and projection, I
feel tonal and tuning consistency is not up to my standards. Unlike some
other bassists I know (one of which is on the list and attends my
university), I prefer a VERY fluid sound. There are many bassists who
like a distinctly clarion bass sound, and a distinctly chalameau bass
sound. The plastic horns have this trait - and although they play well,
it's not my bag of chips, you know?

The proline horns have much more reliable tuning and usually it's easier
to get a more smoother sound throughout all the registers.

As for concerns with a Yamaha - it is actually a very nice bass for a
beginner horn. I like it better than the Vito because (for me) the tuning
is a little better and the sound is a little more even.

(This is all, of course, purely my opinion, and subject to the judgement
of any superior experts who find me flaky.)

Shouryu Nohe
Professor of SCSM102, New Mexico State Univ.
http://web.nmsu.edu/~jnohe; ICQ 6771552
Coffee Drinker, Musician, Otaku, Jesus Freak, Admirer of Women
(Not necessarily in that order)
--------------------------------------------------------------
"A man who wants to lead the orchestra must turn his back on the crowd."
- Max Lucado (The Eva quotes will return later. ^_^ )

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