Klarinet Archive - Posting 000184.txt from 2009/01

From: kurtheisig@-----.net
Subj: RE: [kl] Bass Clarinet-Bundy-what did RAlph Morgan say?
Date: Fri, 09 Jan 2009 20:11:26 -0500

For those not in the know, in the '30's there was a senior designer at Cann named Ralph Morgan. Decades later there was a Ralph Morgan that was the senior designer at Selmer USA. FATHER and SON.

When people talk about Ralph Morgan, they are talking about the son. (The same guy that made the Morgan mthpcs---still made by Eric et al, and had the column in the Dorn Sax magazine.)

Ralph mentored me and we worked together on various designs and projects for 25 years. In that time he said a lot of things about Selmer designs.

Relevant to this discussion are 2 of them.

Early on in the Bundy years, Selmer brought 2 plastic Bundy Bb's to Ciofi and whoever played 2nd in the Boston Symphony. They were used in a rehearsal, a performance and a recording. I never could get Ralph to fess up to which recording so I could get it and shred minds with a recording of 2 plastic clarinets in the BSO.

Ralph said that the EARLY Bundy Bb's WERE the Selmer BT (What Benny Goodman played.) in plastic and that Benny Goodman had one too for unfriendly to wood, weather conditions.

That model was made up to 1957. Someday I will tell what happened in 1957.

Number 2---The FIRST Bundy plastic Bass Clarinets were the Selmer Bass (of that time) made out of plastic.

Kurt

-----Original Message-----
>From: Peter Gentry <peter.gentry@-----.uk>
>Sent: Jan 9, 2009 5:59 AM
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: RE: [kl] Bass Clarinet
>
>I agree, the Bundy is all I can afford but I was pleasantly surprised by its
>tone quality having feared much worse. I think all I need is a better
>mouthpiece and a bit of fiddling about with the mechanism (inst tech not
>me). I suspect the sharpness may be down to the mouthpiece besides being a
>suspect bit of plastic it is not a brilliant fit in the neck (two or three
>windings of PTFE plumbers tape solves that).
>
>
>regards
>Peter Gentry
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Martin Baxter [mailto:martinbaxter@-----.net]
>Sent: 09 January 2009 01:38
>To: klarinet@-----.org
>Subject: Re: [kl] Bass Clarinet
>
>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
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
>Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.5/1883 - Release Date: 08/01/2009
>06:05
>
>
>------------------------------------------------------------------
>

------------------------------------------------------------------