Klarinet Archive - Posting 001179.txt from 2003/04

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] The basset clarinet as a regular orchestral instrument
Date: Sat, 26 Apr 2003 00:48:35 -0400

In a message dated 4/24/2003 4:29:28 PM Eastern Standard Time, leeson0@-----.net writes:

> One could ask equally if the long tube notes on a bass
> clarinet (that has the extension to low C) are similary affected but since the extension generally does not come off, one might simply have become acostomed to the B and C notes that you suggest were noticeably different in the soprano clarinets.>>

Dan, I make DETACHABLE bass clarinet extensions. So I get to test over and over the differences in intonation and tone. I think the biggest improvement for in an extended bass clarinet is that the long B (third line treble clef) is no longer vented through the hole in the bell, but rather through a correctly sized and placed tone hole, with other correctly sized and placed tone holes below it.

As such, the long B and C on an extended bass clarinet often seem to me to have a more resonant quality.

I was expecting a similar tonal improvement on the extended basset clarinet and it was simply not there. On the basset extension that I examined, the flare in the bore took place down in the basset key range and the bore for the B and C were still cylindrical. Maybe that's what I was reacting to.

Walter
www.clarinetxpress.com
mouthpieces, repairs, bass clarinet extensions

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