Klarinet Archive - Posting 000145.txt from 2006/12

From: "Geoff & Sherryl-Lee Secomb" <gsecomb@-----.au>
Subj: Re: [kl] Basset horn vs alto clarinet
Date: Tue, 26 Dec 2006 04:05:28 -0500

One of my clients bought a Leblanc Esprit Alto clarinet from me a few years
ago. This is a very fine instrument, and could be easily recommended.

Cheers to all,
Geoff.

----- Original Message -----
From: "clarni bass" <clarnibass@-----.com>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Monday, December 25, 2006 4:07 PM
Subject: Re: [kl] Basset horn vs alto clarinet

> Vandoren B40 mouthpiece and Vandoren reeds work very
> good for me.
>
> About repairs - I would say that repairs should not be
> done by an amateur or general repairer on almost any
> instrument (unless there is no choice).
>
> I also agree pretty much with everything Dan wrote.
> Since I have no problem with bass clarinet mouthpiece,
> alto is also fine.
> About the range - it is only the low C on the basset
> horn that the regular low Eb alto doesn't have, so any
> piece on basset that goes only to low Db there is no
> range problem (I never play basset parts so I have no
> idea if there are any only to low Db).
>
> Gary - have you ever tried other new or old altos? I
> really hope one day to buy a new
> Buffet/Selmer/Leblanc/etc. though they are expensive.
> I have an old Leblanc and an old Pedler. They sound
> great, but new ones are better, especially the
> keywork, so I was wondering if you made any
> comparisons, especially with the keywork between
> different altos?
>
> Thanks.
>
>
>
> --- kurtheisig@-----.net wrote:
>
>> Stan,
>>
>> I really believe that ignorance is the primary thing
>> behind most of the opinions we hear about alto
>> clarinet.
>>
>> Here are my observations on where the negative comes
>> from.
>>
>> 1. Usually an alto clarinet is a school instrument
>> poorly maintained. The alto clarinet, if adjusted
>> properly is a fine instrument. Repairing it however,
>> is something that should not be done by an amateur
>> or even a general repairman.
>>
>> 2. Stock mouthpieces for any instrument are usually
>> very poor, and on alto clarinets particularly so. I
>> use a HEISIG, and have a few blanks left to make
>> them for others.
>>
>> 3. Reeds. Even Vandoren is making an alto sax like
>> reed instead of a true alto clarinet reed. I use
>> alto clarinet reeds for myself and my students in
>> proper dimensions, that are aged from the 60's.
>> MARVELOUS difference! ( I have hundreds in stock.)
>>
>> 4. School band directors, in ignorance, usually put
>> their weakest players on an instrument that is out
>> of adjustment, has a very bad mouthpiece, and wrong
>> reeds.
>> They hold the instrument in low esteem and pass on
>> that prejudice to the whole band, which gets passed
>> on......
>>
>> 5. Band directors, players and teachers spout off
>> all kinds of nonsense reasons why the instrument is
>> inferior. This usually has all of the couth of those
>> that attack the accordion. (Kind of like this
>> ignorant computer telling me couth is not a word!)
>>
>> There ARE good alto clarinets out there. The Selmer
>> 9 series is a fine professional instrument. The Vito
>> in plastic is a surprisingly good instrument.
>>
>> The basic rule I have with my students is that I
>> will have to strip and re-build it, put a HEISIG
>> mouthpiece with it, and we will use REAL alto
>> clarinet reeds. The results are pretty fantastic!
>>
>> A few years ago, I sat in in a Community College
>> Band on alto clarinet. During rehearsal it was easy
>> to bury the 12 clarinets, and the conductor was
>> exuberantly shouting over the band...."I FORGOT how
>> good an alto clarinet could sound!!"
>>
>> Kurt Heisig
>> Kurt Heisig Music
>> 1045 Water street
>> Santa Cruz, CA 95062
>> (831) 425-5658
>>
>> 14428C Big Basin Way
>> (back of the Wells Fargo Bank building)
>> Saratoga, Ca 95070
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> >From: Morgul <Morgul@-----.net>
>> >Sent: Dec 24, 2006 9:03 AM
>> >To: klarinet@-----.org
>> >Subject: [kl] Basset horn vs alto clarinet
>> >
>> >Collective wisdom,
>> >
>> >At the risk of provoking a firestorm, please allow
>> me to parade my
>> >ignorance.
>> >
>> >Basset horns, Dan's and others, are highly regarded
>> specialized instruments.
>> >Alto clarinets, on the other hand, are just as
>> roundly reviled. Why is this?
>> >
>> >Is it because most alto clarinets are made for and
>> played by relative
>> >neophytes in marching bands, thus having neither
>> the quality nor literature
>> >nor expertise usually found in players of basset
>> horns? Are there
>> >significant differences in design and construction
>> and, therefore, tone
>> >quality? Is there an inherent flaw in pitching one
>> instrument in F and the
>> >other a whole step below? Is there such a thing as
>> a "professional level"
>> >alto clarinet, and if so, who makes it, where/how
>> is it used, and by whom?
>> >
>> >Thank you for your consideration. Nomex suit in
>> place.
>> >
>> >Stan
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>-------------------------------------------------------------------
>> klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org,
>> >klarinet-digest-unsubscribe@-----.org if you get
>> the digest.
>> klarinet-help@-----.org
>> >Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc.
>> http://www.woodwind.org
>> >
>>
>>
>>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
>> klarinet-unsubscribe@-----.org,
>> klarinet-digest-unsubscribe@-----.org if you get
>> the digest.
>> klarinet-help@-----.org
>> Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc.
>> http://www.woodwind.org
>>
>>
>
>
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org