Klarinet Archive - Posting 000494.txt from 2000/08

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] taking up the clarinet again
Date: Thu, 17 Aug 2000 19:45:43 -0400

At 08:23 AM 8/17/2000 EDT, LeliaLoban wrote:

>You mention possibly joining a local ensemble. If you do that, you'll
>probably be playing outdoors some of the time, so I think that owning a
>plastic clarinet and mouthpiece would be a good idea, even if at some point
>you want to upgrade to a pro-quality wooden clarinet. Decent plastic
>instruments such as the Vito and the *recent* models of Bundy (underrated,
>IMHO, although the Bundies I remember from the 1950s and 1960s were awful)
>often sell used for very little -- the going rate at flea markets is $35 to
>$80 regardless of condition, and even in fully-overhauled condition (so that
>you know what you're really getting...) they're very affordable from
dealers.
> I think that sometimes students are so eager to prove their maturity with a
>pro quality clarinet that they oversell the differences, to convince their
>parents that they *desperately need* the more expensive and prestigious
>clarinet, and as a result, maybe kids have given the student models a worse
>rap than they deserve. I think the best plastic student clarinets are
really
>pretty good. I have a Bundy from the late 1980s or early 1990s that I
>wouldn't be embarrassed to play outdoors, where I certainly wouldn't take my
>best wooden clarinet.
>
Note that the MOST current models don't say "Bundy" at all, but Selmer USA.
The Bundy 577/Selmer USA 1401 is probably unfairly maligned, as you say.
The Bundy (no number)/Selmer USA 1400 is the old .590 large-bore, straight
tonehole design. Lately I use one of those for big band playing instead of
my Selmer Paris. It has fairly...flexible intonation, just the thing for
jazz, and a very large sound, which gives me half a chance to hold my own
against the other saxes. Tweaked a bit, it really plays quite well. The
577/1401 (.577 bore and undercut toneholes) is probably the better choice
for general purposes. Vitos are also more than acceptable, but their bore
(.584) is also fairly large. I throw one in the trunk for gigs as paranoia
insurance (What if something awful happens to my (or someone else's) horn
right before we go on? Wait, I have a spare!).

I firmly believe in starting beginners on plastic clarinets. If, when they
get to high school they want to proceed seriously with the clarinet, that
is the time to buy a nice wood horn. They already have the marching band
beater in hand! (Refer to Sneezy archives for previous yearly discussions
of acoustical properties of wood vs. plastic. No need to rehash now. I am
talking practicality and Mom and Dad's money here.) Adults buying for
themselves is another matter, of course.

Bill Hausmann NEW ADDRESS: bhausmann1@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://homepages.go.com/~zoot14/zoot14.html
Essexville, MI 48732 ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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