Klarinet Archive - Posting 000591.txt from 2002/01

From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] bassethorn
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002 13:28:52 -0500

I subscribe completely to Fred's remarks about the Selmer and Buffet
basset horns. It is almost as if both companies did not care a whit
about what they turned out, some of them being absolutely unplayable at
any professional and most amateur levels. I cannot speak to anything
they made in the last 10 years, but their earlier stuff was an
embarassment. However, I suspect that the main reason why neither
manufacturer gave a damn was because the revenue from the instruments
was probably insignificant. What they apparently did not realize was
the the revenue potential was substantial if they made an instrument
that could be played with humiliating oneself. The main reason why
LeBlanc's basset horn became so popular was because it was somewhat
better than those of Selmer and Buffet, though, as I mentioned, its bore
presented a sound character that differed significantly from that of the
narrow bored instruments.

Also Fred's comments about reeds are confirmed by my experience. Except
that I'm more radical than he. I use a 2 or 2-1/2 on my basset horn and
found that I had to experiment with mouthpieces for a long while before
I became happy with the sound. Clarke Fobes of San Francisco made
copies of my mouthpiece and you should feel free to consult with him.

You need to consider if you want to play it with a peg. Not all makers
provide one and I think they are crazy not to. Selmer makes theirs with
a lyre holder. Can you imagine that??? They expect you to march with
the instrument but not sit down with it. Personally I cannot play the
instrument with a neckstrap so that means that any solo work is done
sitting.

Everything about the basset horn is dreadful except the joy of playing
the literature, my new instrument being a remarkable exception to the
"dreadful" business. You can have it for $53,000,000 and all of your
children.

DNL
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**Dan Leeson **
**leeson0@-----.net **
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