Klarinet Archive - Posting 000206.txt from 2005/11

From: Richard Bush <rbushidioglot@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Contra Alto Clarinet Recommendations Wanted
Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 12:59:00 -0500

Gary,

After sending my comments to [kl] and you specifically, I had an
afterthought that I believe has merit. I don't have the bore specs
handy on the contra-altos and BBb contra-basses of Selmer and
Leblanc, but I do remember that they are less for the Selmer USA
contra-alto and almost identical to the Selmer/Paris contra-alto than
what they are for the Leblancs, whether of plastic and American made
or the French made versions, and the bore for the BBb, rosewood
Selmer is larger than that of the Leblanc. Leblanc uses the SAME bore
for there EEb contra-altos and BBb contra-basses. I does seem to be
quite a compromise Leblanc has chosen to make on two instruments of
such hugely different dimensions. My gut feeling is that Selmer has
it right.

RB

On Nov 10, 2005, at 10:31 AM, Gary Van Cott wrote:

> Hello Richard,
>
> Thank you for your recommendations. The Selmer USA received about
> 80 percent of the recommendations so I have sent that to the band
> director (who is also the chair of the performing arts department
> at the moment) and included your comments.
>
> Thanks again,
>
> Gary
>
> At 11:15 AM 11/9/05, you wrote:
>> The Selmer USA, aka Bundy, is patterned after the rosewood, French
>> Selmer contra alto. While not as refined, and maybe needing some tone
>> hole de-burring and phrazing, it is a true bargain....maybe the
>> biggest bang for the buck of any low reed harmony instrument. The
>> keywork is NOT ergonomically comfortable. I really feels like crap
>> under the fingers, but it plays extraordinarily well. Some material
>> can be cut, ground, buffed from the tips of the r.h. C/F and G#/D#
>> (top terrace for the right hand baby finger) to make moving around
>> down there easier, and there are some other key tweaks that can be
>> done if one wants, but it is very playable inspite of its dumb finger
>> feel. Mr. Marvin Roth played book five of Chorus LIne on Broadway for
>> fifteen years using a Bundy contra-alto. If it's a good enough horn
>> to be in the pit with some of the best doublers and pit musicians in
>> the world, then it is probably good enough to be the contra-alto
>> clarinet in a community college band.
>>
>> Richard Bush
>
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