Klarinet Archive - Posting 000298.txt from 2002/12

From: Daniel Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Basset Horns
Date: Thu, 12 Dec 2002 12:19:48 -0500

The instrument currently made with whatever bore size it is, is the same
bore as the E-flat alto clarinet. Now I don't know if that is wide or
medium bore, the the Selmer (and LeBlanc) basset horns are, in fact,
alato clarinets pitched in F, and the bigger mouthpiece is the same as
an alto clarinet mouthpiece.

I must be careful here, because every time I speak of wide bore, Steve
Fox will drop me a note letting me know that the basset horns he makes
are either narrow bore or medium bore.

So clearly, there are varieties in the bore sizes of basset horns. All
three of the basset horns that I owned (two of which I sold), were
narrow bore.

As for recommendations on the basset horns out there, you might do a
search on the name Steve Fox who built the one I am currently using (in
fact, this coming Sunday afternoon at Santa Clara, CA Mission for a
performance of K. 626). Wurlitzer will make a spectacular basset horn in
a French system, that plays like a Mercedes rides, and costs as much.

With respect to your final paragraph about compatibility with your bass
clarinet, I hope you do not enter into negotiations with this as your
highest priority. It is unlikely that you will have such compatibility
and your greatest worry should be about intonation.

Dan Leeson

Joseph Wakeling wrote:
> Dan Leeson wrote:
>
> << The mouthpiece you played on was, effectively, an alto clarinet
> mouthpiece and the instrument itself was a wide bored model. Buffet left the
> narrow bore model precisely because it was (when made by them)
> characteristically stuffy, as you noted. >>
>
> When you say "wide-bore" is that wide as in Leblanc-wide, or wide as in
> "medium-bore"?
>
> Actually I'm hoping that list members can give me some advice on all the
> different (Boehm-system) basset horns out there. In particular I'd like to
> know - what are the bores, and also, what are the *fingering systems*.
>
> My impression is that most have,
> - a low Eb for the RH little finger (lower level)
> - a low D on the upper level of keys for the same finger
> - another low D for the LH little finger
> - an alternate Ab/Eb key
> - two or three thumb keys for low C, C# (and D, possibly).
>
> Is this correct and does anyone have any recommendations for alternative,
> "better" setups? ;-) Bearing in mind that I'll want it to be compatible
> with my bass clarinet setup when I finally get round to buying one.
>
> In case it isn't obvious, yes, I'm thinking of buying a basset horn. ;-)
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> -- Joe
>
>
>
>
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>
>
>

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