Klarinet Archive - Posting 000157.txt from 1998/10

From: James.P.Reed@-----.net (James P Reed)
Subj: [kl] Large Bore Clarinets
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1998 18:41:38 -0400

The marching band discussions have brought me ought of the shadows to
try and learn some more about the large bore clarinets I read some jazz
clarinetists prefer.

First, I must point out I am a recovering percussionist who quit
marching band & orchestra when I made the varsity football team 35 years
ago, or so. Marching band was my passion. I probably needed every
physical outlet available as an adolescent. Then, many years later, at
age 50, I decided to pick up and learn to play the clarinet. What
actually inspired me to do this was I wrote a book about classical music
I'm now trying to get published. That's been a real adventure. Now, a
year into this adventure with music, I've acquired that dangerous amount
of knowledge that always gets me into some real excitement.

On the advice of my clarinet instructor and a gentleman he referred me
to, I'm starting out on a Selmer Soloist with a Selmer HS* mouthpiece.
As a benchmark, I've been playing since mid-June and am somewhere in the
middle of the first Pearson book, having just learned to play Aura Lee
and gotten nostalgic over it.

Anyways, my wildest dreams include being able to play jazz. And, my
experiences with photography, computers, and other nonsense lead me to
want a second horn. A backup instrument, if you will. Simple minded in
my thoughts about this, it struck me that I should pick up a clarinet I
will enjoy playing jazz on, with every good assumption that day will
come.

During my quarter break from teaching this week, I have been pouring
over the klarinet archives and other Internet sources which, maybe
erroneously, lead me to the personal and subjective conclusion that I
should be looking for a Selmer Balanced Tone or Center Tone since I
probably can't afford a used Pete Fountain, even if I found one.

Excuse me, I have a reputation for being somewhat of a long winded
lecturer anyway.

What I'm trying to find out is are there any other suitable, large bore
(.590 is what I quess I'm looking for) clarinets available other than
the Selmer BT/CT's and the Pete Fountain?

Thanks in advance for whatever static electricity floats my way as a
result of asking this.

Jim

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