Klarinet Archive - Posting 000084.txt from 2009/04

From: clarni bass <clarnibass@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Contrabass clarinets
Date: Fri, 10 Apr 2009 13:57:16 -0400


Hi

I'm considering buying a contrabass clarinet. It's a big investment so I'm going to take a while and probably try several instruments (again) more seriously. But I'm also interested to know if others have any experience with any. I'm especially interested if someone tried more than one and comapred, but anything might help.

There are several options.

1 - Vito. It's the least expensive, but I'm probably not going to just order one, so I'll have to try it somehow (probably in another country). I'm not sure of its mechanism.... is it a single register hole system? Maybe a seperate throat Bb vent? Does anyone know? From experience of trying single register bass clarinet I know it is not a problem at all to play the entire range, but depending on the specific model, some legato intervals can be problematic. How is this contrabass? I think it's to low Eb, so price is the only real advantage of this one. If it's one piece (I hope not) then it is real hassle.

2 - Leblanc metal. I've tried the straight one for maybe a minute some years ago, but if I buy one it will be the paperclip model to low C. I'm not sure it is still made but some stores still seem to have it. It's the least expensive of the professional models. Also being shorter it's probably easier to carry?

3 - Selmer. I've played this also but only for a mintue some years ago. I remember it was hard to play, but I've tried it with a mouthpiece of someone else (the straight Leblanc also) and I've never played contrabass before. I think this is the most expensive.

4 - Ripamonti. I recently played this for a while. Not my mouthpiece, but it felt like a good setup and everything up to lower altisimo (about D or Eb) was pretty easy to play.

5 - Eppelsheim metal. I played this too for a while, but with a different mouthpiece, I think it was a Zinner, and a very soft Legre reed. I think the setup wasn't good (for me at least), but the lower clarion (B, C, D) felt much harder than the Ripamonti. I can't really judge objectively because of that. Build quality is definitely best of all of them.

So any experience from anyone else will be appreicated.

Thank you!

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