Klarinet Archive - Posting 000685.txt from 1998/08

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: [kl] Bass Clarinets
Date: Mon, 24 Aug 1998 09:33:24 -0400

Roger Garrett wrote:
> <<Buffet is definitely the best bass clarinet made currently.>>
HatNYC62@-----.com wrote back:
> There are a lot of professionals who disagree with this. Some strongly. The
> Selmers have a different quality that you may not prefer. The Selmer sound is
> different, and I happen to prefer that sound, as does my good friend Michael
> Lowenstern. Charlie Neidich also recently switched from a Buffet bass to a
> Selmer, after trying Michael's new instrument. Jim Ognibene, one of the finest
> players I have heard, plays a Selmer 33 at the Metropolitan Opera.

Of course! Everyone will have an opinion based on what they are used to,
what they use the bass for (doubling, solo work, chamber music, orchestra
playing, or straight operatic pit work)......and their choice will vary
depending on that use. This just reminds me of the story I have told
several times - about Yeh, Bloom, and myself comparing moutpieces......and
John could play on the stock Leblanc. Some players can play on anything
and do not require specific engineering feats to allow them to play in
tune...etc. Would it be that I was one of them. At any rate......each
bass must give something up in order to achieve something else. I believe
that the new Buffet is the first bass clarinet to incorporate nearly
everything needed in a bass clarinet: pitch, tone, resonance, design, and
adjustment. The model 33 was a great (I mean GREAT) horn. However, it
had a very sharp long B and C, low C# and D were extremely sharp, the
upper register did not speak as well or blow the same as the lower
register, and the octave key mechanism and neck design were problematic.
The Model 37 solved a few of these issues, but did not resolve the pitch
problems - the sound is different than the Buffet, but it is a terrific
sound just the same.

> The mechanism is perhaps not as carefully regulated as the newest Buffets, but
> mechanism has to be a secondary consideration to sound & pitch. Pitch on the
> Selmers is quite good on the best of them, though there are always compromises
> to be made, particularly the e/b, a problem on almost all bass clarinets,
> regardless of maker. I have to admit that I haven't had the opportunity to try
> the newest Buffet, but I have no reason to believe that its basic sound has
> changed from the last model.

David....you are correct on everything you have said. No disagreements
with you......I hope you get an opportunity to try the new Buffet
sometime. It is a better horn than its predecessor (did I spell that
correctly?).

Roger Garrett
IWU

-------------------------------------------------------------------------