Klarinet Archive - Posting 000178.txt from 2009/01

From: "Peter Gentry" <peter.gentry@-----.uk>
Subj: RE: [kl] Bass Clarinet
Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 11:39:13 -0500

Oh I'm with you on that superior wood beats superior plastic. I was pleased
that the one I have is better than I expected. I didn't compare it with the
best and I expect I paid more for it than I would in the US. I think second
hand sellers import from the US e-bay and re-sell in the UK but it was the
cheapest playable instrument I could find.

regards
Peter Gentry

-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Jacobowitz [mailto:fbjacobo@-----.net]
Sent: 09 January 2009 03:40
To: klarinet@-----.org
Subject: Re: [kl] Bass Clarinet

Peter,
I'm glad that your instrument was good. Maybe mine was particularly

bad. However, In my experience, plastic instruments simply can't
compete with DECENT wooden ones. Of course there are plenty of crappy
wooden ones. I wasn't talking about them. My post said "BETTER WOODEN
ONES".

Fred Jacobowitz

Kol Haruach Klezmer Band
Ebony and Ivory Duo

You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.
~Doug Floyd

On Jan 9, 2009, at 8:38 AM, Martin Baxter wrote:

> Fred
> I have used my elderly Selmer-Bundy for about 15 years (with a
> Selmer mouthpiece). For doubling in the Theatre, Quartets and
> Clarinet ensemble it has always been fine; I even tackled Mladi on
> it for a charity concert quite successfully. After your comment I
> checked it against a tuning meter and all notes were playable in
> tune. Also a friend to whom I lent it while her (Leblanc) was being
> overhauled found it perfectly satisfactory. I do not aspire to
> play the virtuoso modern solos around but as an instrument for what
> I do it is fine. I sometimes wonder who is trying to convince us
> that without an expensive 'bespoke' instrument costing several
> thousands we have no chance of producing acceptable results at any
> level. A visit to Eastern Europe where many players play superbly
> on instruments I would turn into table lamps might well give you a
> different perspective.
> Martin
>
> On 9 Jan 2009, at 02:03, Fred Jacobowitz wrote:
>
>> Peter,
>>
>> You're expecting tuning and response from a Bundy???!!!!!!!!! My
>> first Bass was a Bundy. I put tape in at least half the tome holes
>> to bring down pitch. Its response is what it is; you get what you
>> pay for. It plays. If you want an instrument to speak easier in
>> the upper range and sound full and even in the upper middle
>> register, you have to get a better instrument. Just remember: it's
>> a cheap (for a bass clarinet, anyway) plastic instrument. It's not
>> going to match a better wooden one.
>>
>> That said, a good mouthpiece will make an ENORMOUS difference.
>> What you have sounds like a piece of plastic junk. I HIGHLY
>> recommend the Selmer (NOT BUNDY) line of mouthpieces that have two
>> numbers - one above the other. Mine is a C85-over-115. I'm sure
>> the mouthpiece makers on the list will weigh in with their
>> mouthpieces, so good luck choosing.
>>
>> I also did a bit of key bending: I moved the octave key and the LH
>> a/g# keys to fit my hand. And I adjusted the long f/b cluster too.
>> This might help you going over the break.
>>
>> Fred Jacobowitz
>>
>> Kol Haruach Klezmer Band
>> Ebony and Ivory Duo
>>
>> You don't get harmony when everybody sings the same note.
>> ~Doug Floyd
>>
>> On Jan 8, 2009, at 11:47 AM, Peter Gentry wrote:
>>
>>> 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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