Klarinet Archive - Posting 000088.txt from 2009/04
From: clarni bass <clarnibass@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: Contrabass Clarinets
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 2009 02:42:02 -0400
Hi
My plan is probably to get my own mouthpiece first (Fobes seem to have a re=
asonable and decent one) and then come again to Musikmesse next year and tr=
y again all with the same mouthpiece (assuming/hoping the same ones would b=
e there again next year, which are the last three on my list).
I don't know if I'll be able to even try a Leblanc or Vito, but I'm definit=
ely not going to order one without trying the same model first.
Referring to your questions:
1. I don't know. I don't like the idea of paying $20,000..... but I don't r=
emember the Eppelsheim being that expensive, though maybe I remember wrong =
(I'll speak with him again to find out). One problem is that I don't see ho=
w I will be able to try the least expensive one, Leblanc paperclip.
Carrying a stool isn't necessary. Leblanc paperclip and Eppelsheim=A0are ok=
when sitting. I've seen people play them on a harness even. The Ripamonti =
and Selmer seem to be ok on a peg when playing standing up.
Is the Vito one piece body? I definitely don't want a one piece body contra=
bass clarinet, since it would be almost impossible to take anywhere.
2. It's not a matter of what range I need, but what range I want, and from =
playing them I definitely prefer a low C contrabass. I don't especially wan=
t to go through the hassle of getting one only to low Eb.
I don't play "literature". Instead improvised music, or if something writte=
n (which could be anything really, modern jazz groups, chamber, opera, musi=
cal, etc.) then it is written based on the instrument I have.
3. I play soprano and bass clarinets in pretty much every concert, and afte=
r having a contrabass I'll probably be playing it in most concerts as long =
as bringing/carrying it to the concert isn't a problem.
I will organize playing and changing the instruments how I want, and if som=
ething composed, it will be planned so the change is possible. So switching=
is not a problem at all.
I guess Selmer don't notice adjustment of their instruments too much becaus=
e in Musikmesse this year Selmer also had a not working bass clarinet. But =
having a repairer (I prefer that word to technician) next to me all the tim=
e isn't a problem because I'm one.....
What is the key configuration of the Leblanc (i.e. what keys and where for =
low Eb, D, Db and C)? How about the Selmer? I think the Ripamonti was a lit=
tle strange on their bass clarinets (if I remember correct, right pinky Eb =
and D were reversed than normal) but I don't remember if it was the same wi=
th their contrabass clarinets (which I remember felt very comfortable). It'=
s also nice with a metal instrument no worries about the wood, weather, etc=
.
Thanks again!
Nitai
=A0
Dear Clarnibass,
Because the Klarinet list doesn't like my AOL connection, please allow me t=
o respond personally.
I play bass, contra alto, and contrabass clarinets with (1) the Los Angeles=
Clarinet Choir, (2) the Claremont (California) Winds, (3) the Orange Count=
y (California) Wind Symphony, and (4) the Orange County Symphony (bass clar=
inet only).
My bass is a 1983 Buffet RC Prestige to low C with a Richard Hawkins mpc, m=
y contra alto is a vintage Selmer Bundy to low Eb with a Selmer C* mpc, and=
my contrabass clarinet is a Leblanc "paperclip" to low C with a Woodwind C=
ompany mpc that was refaced by Tom Ridenour before he left Leblanc.
There are several questions to ask yourself before you start looking seriou=
sly.
(1) how much are you willing to pay?=A0 The rosewood Selmer and the metal E=
ppelsheim contrabass clarinets are well over $20,000 U.S.=A0 I do not know =
the Ripamonte instruments as they are rare in the United States.=A0 I would=
avoid the VITO like the plague.=A0 You also must carry a stool around with=
you because they're very long one-piece instruments.=A0 In addition, the V=
ITOs being plastic also have a tendency to break in the middle.
(2) What range do you need? The VITO instruments only descend to low Eb whi=
ch is totally unacceptable for virtually all the modern contrabass clarinet=
literature -- especially wind ensemble and clarinet choir.
(3) Will you be playing multiple low clarinets?=A0 It is virtually impossib=
le to switch from playing a straight contrabass from sitting on a stool to =
playing an instrument that can be played from a chair. The Leblanc, Selmer,=
and Eppelsheim instruments can be played seated in a chair.
I am intrigued by the Eppelsheim instrument and hopefully will get to audit=
ion one owned by Vinny Golia who's on the faculty of Cal Arts in Valencia, =
California about 25 miles up the Interstate from me.
I tried a low C rosewood Selmer at ClarinetFest in Vancouver when the Los A=
ngeles Clarinet Choir was performing and it was TERRIBLE.=A0 Using my own m=
pc, I could get only one octave to sound from the throat G to the low G.=A0=
F and below were so horribly adjusted that they wouldn't speak and NOTHING=
above the break was playable.=A0 I fault Selmer and their very French tech=
nician for not properly adjusting the instrument in the first place.
That said, Julia Heinen who's has the clarinet studio at Cal State Universi=
ty Northridge, bought a low C rosewood Selmer for the university and it is =
a magnificent instrument.=A0 However, it requires CONSTANT adjustment becau=
se of the expansion and contraction of the less dense rosewood.=A0 When it =
works it's wonderful, but you need a technician sitting next to you at all =
times.
Bottom line: I absolutely LOVE my low C Leblanc paperclip.=A0 I paid $2,000=
for it 15 years ago fully overhauled from Charles Fail Music in Atlanta, G=
eorgia.=A0 Last year I spent $1,600 having the instrument overhauled by Tom=
Yaeh at RDG Woodwinds in Los Angeles.=A0 Tom also overhauled the paperclip=
owned by the LA Philharmonic and played by David Howard and two other pape=
rclips owned by Alan Savedoff who plays contrabassoon with the Pacific Symp=
hony (Orange County, California) and Gary Bovier who plays with the Long Be=
ach (California) Opera Orchestra.
My "paperclip" has never let me down and it is an absolute joy to play.=A0 =
Granted, it has a distinctive sound that is not quite that of a bass clarin=
et played one octave lower, but at those frequencies, it matters little.
Please feel free to ask me any more questions you might have.=A0 Having liv=
ed with my "paperclip" for 15 years, there are many "problems" I haven't en=
countered.
Cheers,
Don Gross
**************
Feeling the pinch at the grocery store? Make dinner for $10 or less. (http:=
//food.aol.com/frugal-feasts?ncid=3Demlcntusfood00000001) =0A=0A=0A
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