Klarinet Archive - Posting 000757.txt from 2003/08

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Basset Horn experts and scholars needed
Date: Wed, 27 Aug 2003 17:11:05 -0400

People send me lots of interesting instruments. Sometimes, VERY interesting.

A while back a gentleman sent me a Leblanc alto clarinet to overhaul. I put it in the "queue". Well, I got it out today to test, and I found some interesting things.

When I try it with an alto clarinet mouthpiece, and check with a tuner. Three finger right hand C comes out as E not Eb.

As I go up the scale, toward the throat tones, it gets wildly out of tune. Similiar things happen in the upper register.

Hmmmm....I didn't know anyone made clarinets in E......

Maybe another solution?

I decided to try it with a normal Bb clarinet mouthpiece. When I did, the C sounded an F, which is what a Basset Horn would do. However, the results are not perfect and the scale, although better, is still imperfect.

The instrument is also an inch and a half shorter than my alto clarinet.

It is NOT extended to low C, it ends with the low Eb.

I am wondering if this is indeed an old Leblanc "large bore" Basset Horn. It would make a lot sense. The bore, by the way, is 18 mm, slightly larger than my Bundy alto clarinet.

If it is a Leblanc Basset Horn, where do I get a mouthpiece to fit? Or do I take a normal Bb mouthpiece and bore it out until the scale becomes even?

Opinions and advice, please...

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
I work on contra bass clarinets too

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