Klarinet Archive - Posting 000173.txt from 2009/01
From: "Karl Krelove" <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Bass Clarinet
Date: Thu, 08 Jan 2009 21:35:34 -0500
As far as the instability is concerned, there a few possible solutions. Many
players like to have the mouthpiece come into their mouths at an angle,
similar to a Bb clarinet. To do that, you end up either tipping the
instrument forward on its peg (causing a lot of the instability you've
noticed), contorting your neck under the mouthpiece to create the more
clarinet-like angle (a possible cause of your neck pain), or using a neck
that brings the mouthpiece up to a more vertical angle when the instrument
is standing straight up. My mid-20th century Leblanc had a neck that held
the mouthpiece 90 degrees to the instrument's body, so I had my repair guy
reshape the neck to make the mouthpiece more vertical. That allows me to
hold the instrument straight up, so a peg holds it well enough. If you have
a straight-out neck and want the mouthpiece to angle up, you can tilt the
whole instrument forward and use a neckstrap, but I found that even the
neckstrap didn't provide enough stability for me to feel comfortable. Having
the neck reshaped or finding someone to make a new one (I think there are a
few people nationally who do this, though maybe not for a Bundy) can be a
little pricey. Many of the pro-level basses come with an angled neck, but
I've never seen a school-level instrument with one.
Another possibility is to play with the mouthpiece coming straight into your
mouth, more like a sax mouthpiece. I've certainly seen players play this way
successfully, although I've never found it comfortable. If you play that
way, you should be able, again, to hold the instrument straight up, which
will make it feel more stable.
Karl
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Gentry [mailto:peter.gentry@-----.uk]
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 2:54 PM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: RE: [kl] Bass Clarinet
Well good news the biting must have been a major problem. I have tried hard
to reduce the pressure and can reach the notes with much more reliability.
However I have run into another snag. I find the instrument unstable around
the throat notes, it seems to be falling away from me leading to insecurity
in fingering. I am using a peg so maybe a neck strap would provide
additional stability.
I have also noticed some pain at the back of my neck which I think is
related to the stability issue around the break possibly even causing the
bite in an effort to stabilise the instrument.
I'll keep on with this giant whistling stick determined to get a nice tone
in the middle register to complement the earthy lower register tones. I'm
really enjoying this, although my Soprano really feels tiny in my hands now
so I must not neglect it.
regards
Peter Gentry
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Gentry [mailto:peter.gentry@-----.uk]
Sent: 08 January 2009 07:40
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: RE: [kl] Bass Clarinet
Thanks sounds like good advice. I will get it checked but I don't think it
is leaking. I do find that the long keys don't come to hand so easily as on
the Soprano. I have to open my hand and curve it more to avoid touching
other keys and I often land on the eflat key by mistake for the e with my
right hand or touch the c#/g# key with my left hand.
I have a box of five reeds so maybe I should try some more. I don't feel I
am biting but I will endeavour to watch that. I think a better mouthpiece
would be in order the problem I have is that I cannot get to a dealer where
I could try out a range so I will have to plump and mail order but I will
wait until I have more practice, things are improving little by little.
I'll keep you posted with progress, thanks again.
regards
Peter Gentry
-----Original Message-----
From: Karl Krelove [mailto:karlkrelove@-----.net]
Sent: 08 January 2009 06:53
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: RE: [kl] Bass Clarinet
If after three days there are already "serious teeth marks" on the
mouthpiece, the most likely problem is that you're seriously biting on it.
All of the problems you describe _could_ be caused by pinching the reed off.
There are certainly other possibilities, but those teeth marks make biting
the #1 suspect. That said, it may be that the mouthpiece/reed combination is
unresponsive in a way that's leading you into biting, in which case a
different setup would help solve some or all of the problems you're having.
You're using "a" new Vandoren reed? At the very least, you need to try more
than one reed before looking any farther into equipment-related fixes. I
can't honestly imagine making any judgment about how a setup plays without
trying several reeds to see if the first one was just a bad reed.
It goes without saying that, if it's as well used as possibly fourth hand,
you should have it checked (if you haven't already) by a competent tech to
make sure there's not a mechanical problem that's causing stuffiness and
making you bite.
Karl
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Gentry [mailto:peter.gentry@-----.uk]
Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2009 11:47 AM
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: [kl] Bass Clarinet
On a quieter note.
I have been getting to grips with my new (second, third or fourth hand)
Selmer Bundy Bass Clarinet. It came with a new but unnamed mouthpiece there
are no numbers on it just "Made in USA". It seems very soft as after only
three days there are serious teeth marks on it.
I have a few problems that someone may be able to help with.
1/ Tuning
It is 20cents sharp (from A 440) and no amount of pulling out the mouthpiece
or the elbow seems to affect this much.
2/ I have trouble making the upper notes of the middle register speak nearly
always overblowing into the next register.
3/ I have trouble going from the low register a or b flat to middle register
b or c at speed. I think I may be using the finger shape learned on the
Soprano Bflat instrument and touching a key or two. Slowly is fine but at
speed I usually squeak or refuse to speak.
4/ The tone of the middle register is very weak and fuzzy.
I am using a new Vandoren No 3 reed, this feels if anything a bit soft and
sqeak prone although giving a fruity tone in the low register.
Any advice would be greatfully received as I am far from any bass teachers.
regards
Peter Gentry
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