Klarinet Archive - Posting 001013.txt from 2003/04

From: Dan Leeson <leeson0@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] RE: Steve Fox basset horn
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:45:49 -0400

Let me add something to this discussion about Clark's mouthpieces for
basset horn. When I got my Fox instrument, I visited Clark and bought
two of his top of the line mouthpieces. Both were very nice, but that
is called "damning with faint praise."

I went back to Clark to try a third such mouthpiece and that is when he
gave me a student model mouthpiece. I tried it and immediately put away
the first two mouthpieces he made for me as emergency units. Haven't
used them since. I'm playing b.h. only on the student model. That's
how good it is for me. I have no idea if this will work for anyone else
in the world. But it works fine for me.

Come and hear both Keith and I play the Gran Partitta next July in Santa
Fe. You won't be able to see us without sunglasses because the matching
gold instruments will blind ordinary citizens, to say nothing of the
glow of our joint skills. After the performance you will be able to
recognize my by my good looks. Keith is the one with the large wart on
his nose.

Dan

Keith wrote:
> Gary,
>
> I went to see Clark yesterday (having had very successful bass and
> contrabass mouthpieces from him before) because I felt my existing
> clarinet mouthpiece (Eddie Daniels, very good on my Concertos) was a bit
> too resistant for the new basset horn, and I knew Clark had made the
> mouthpieces for Dan's horn and also played the basset himself. Clark
> immediately came up with a mouthpiece with the type of (more open)
> facing that he knew would work, and indeed it played exactly as I wanted
> it to play. Lovely mouthpiece, which I bought, and I am looking no
> further.
>
> So, Gary, I have not done a systematic test of all the mouthpiece makers
> for the horn but I will attest that (a) he is a premier mouthpiece
> maker, (b) he certainly knows how to make one that is just right for
> this instrument. As he is a professional player on everything from the
> soprano clarinet to the contrabass, I believe that he has a special
> insight. He is also a very nice man!
>
> Steve Fox's website is http://www.sfoxclarinets.com
>
> I was fortunate to be in the Bay area this week so that I could call on
> Clark. I usually live in the UK (Warwick) and would be happy to show my
> Fox basset, Eb and basset extension for the A to anyone interested. I
> benefitted from Dan's generosity in letting me try out his Fox
> instrument when I was making up my mind, and I'd like to pass this on.
> And as basset horns preferably hunt in pairs, another one local to me
> would be cool.
>
> No, I don't get commission from either Steve or Clark!
>
> Keith Bowen
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 13:44:37 -0700
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> From: Gary Van Cott <gary@-----.com>
> Subject: Re: [kl] Steve Fox Basset horn
> Message-Id: <5.2.0.9.0.20030421134313.0399ae70@-----.org>
>
> Clark,
>
> Does this message signal that your are now the "premier" maker of
> mouthpieces for Steve Fox basset horns?
>
> Gary
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> + Gary Van Cott - Van Cott Information Services, Inc. Clarinet,
> + Saxophone, Flute, Double Reed Books and More
> + http://www.vcisinc.com/ --> VISA MasterCard Discover AmExp <--
> + P.O. Box 9569, Las Vegas, NV 89191, USA
> + Phone: 702-438-2102 Fax: 801-650-1719 Email: Gary@-----.com
> ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
> At 01:31 PM 4/21/03, you wrote:
>
>
>>I just had the pleasure of meeting with Keith Bowen this morning and
>>playing his new basset horn from Steve Fox. The instrument is
>>exquisitely crafted. Cocobolo and gold keys - beautiful.
>>
>>. . .
>
>
>>CLARK FOBES
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Klarinet is supported by Woodwind.Org, http://www.woodwind.org/
>
>

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

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