 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BassetHorn
Date: 2005-03-25 00:52
Hello all, a question for the paperclip contra players out there:
When you are playing the contra either standing or sitting, what do you use to prop it? A stand? A stool? Or do you just rely on the peg? Is it long enough for either sitting or standing position?
Can anyone give me some specific details? I am thinking of getting a paperclip so I am considering the practical issues.
Thank you.
Willy
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2005-03-25 14:18
I don't play contra, but I'd suggest doing what I do with my bass -- use the peg AND a neckstrap. It frees your hands up from having to balance the instrument so much.
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Author: Wayne Thompson
Date: 2005-03-25 21:58
Good question. This year was my first time playing this monster. (The big BBb Contra, right?) The school had a new one, with the black finish. I was surprised that the peg was so spindly, and not long enough. I'm 5'11", not so tall, and I had to bring a piece of 4x4 to rehearsal to put under the peg so the horn would come to my mouth without stooping. With the 4x4 and the peg at its extreme extension, the horn was tall enough for me to sit on a normal chair. I also used a neckstrap and I found the hoop for it absurdly high and close to my face. I put cable ties on the horn about 10 inch lower than the installed hoop to attach the neckstrap to. The peg does have a very good clamp so that the horn felt secure with respect to the weight, but I wish the peg had been sturdier in addition to longer. The whole situation seemed shaky and sloppy to me. That's why I mention that our horn was new. Leblanc had been making these a long time; did they take some shortcuts when they started assembling them in the US?
I'll comment here that I found the key position surprisingly poor in places, too. I did a moderate amount adjusting to get the left thumb touchpiece and the register key to lay in the same plane so my thumb had a chance of rolling from one to the other, as in slurring from throat Bb to Clarion B.
Wayne Thompson
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