 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bass-obsessed
Date: 2010-04-21 22:44
i have been looking into buying a bass clarinet for some time but am totally lost on what brand/model. i don't really have a price limit. any suggestions?
bass-obsessed
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Author: clarinettist1104
Date: 2010-04-21 22:48
no price limit? that is VERY enviable! I'd say Selmer Paris Privilege low C, it's near $10,000, and many professionals are using it.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-04-22 01:49
I totally agree about the Selmer. Check out my website for articles and recordings about the bass clarinet if you haven't already. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2010-04-22 05:45
After many of just about all companies, I still prefer the new Buffet and Selmer bass clarinets over others. Not that others aren't worth trying too. I personally prefer the Buffet but I don't think it is better than the Selmer, just preference.
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2010-04-22 11:42
Given unlimited funds (ha!) I would want both a Selmer Privilege (for those Boehm-system bass clarinet gigs) and the Schwenk und Seggelke for the Oehler-system work. Oh yeah! If only I were a mortgage-fund CEO.......
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Author: RAB
Date: 2010-04-22 12:04
I have played a lot of bass clarinets and I studied bass with Dr. Reyfield at UC Redlands for 2 years. And I have repaired many instruments and set up the ones that go out for the store I work at.
IN MY OPINION, the New Selmer and Buffet low C's are wonderful! I have an old Selmer 9 that I have used for years and while I was in the Air Force Band I played on a Leblanc, Yamaha and a Buffet. all of these instruments have their own quirks!
If you are wanting to spend a small amount of money, the Yamaha student seems to have a good track record.
I think the most important thing is to have a good mouthpiece and make sure the instrument is in good working order. I would suggest the Selmer C*, Fobes nova or Fobes professional regarding mouthpieces with a #3 reed. of course there are many others that work well also.
Also try to get a few lessons with a teacher who plays bass clarinet. It can be an entirely different animal from the Bb, and a good teacher can make you succeed on the instrument. I know that if Dr, Reyfield had not helped me I would have struggled on the bass clarinet.
Good luck and I think the bass is a wonderful instrument to play!!!
Rodney Berry
Repair Dept
Muncy Winds Music Company
Boone, N.C.
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Author: bass-obsessed
Date: 2010-04-23 23:43
Thanks so much! With so much going on right now I just don't have the time or energy to research bass clarinets so I really appreciate this!
bass-obsessed
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-04-24 01:34
You also might want to talk to Walter Grabner, a sponsor of this site. Look for Clarinet Xpress under Mouthpieces and Barrels on the right side of the page. He crafts fine bass mouthpieces and features Buffet 1193 Prestige Low C basses in his shop. He is also quite easy to work with. His site is <http://www.clarinetxpress.com.
Disclaimer: I am not in any way affiliated with Walter Grabner. I am just a satisfied customer of his, having purchased soprano clarinets and mouthpieces.
Jeff
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2010-04-24 01:53
Hello,
I suggest calling Backun. It says on their website that they have several used bass clarinets. I asked about them a few months ago. They had a selmer low Eb with a C extension made by them. They had also undercut and fixed all the tone holes. It was a bargain price as well.
Happy Bass Hunting.
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Author: William
Date: 2010-04-24 14:48
I play a Buffet Prestige 1193-2 low C bass clarinet and love it. Other's play Selmers (great instruments as well) and love them. I think, as long as you find a Buffet or Selmer that plays well for you, you cannot go wrong with either brand. Personally, I would avoid the Leblanc pro level basses. In spite of the fact that they play very well, when you get them inside an ensemble, they just do not have the "power" of the Buffet or Selmer.
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2010-04-24 17:27
My husband plays a Buffet low-C bass with a Fobes San Francisco mouthpiece, and sounds like a million dollars! HUGE sound, but also very round and ensemble-friendly.
Susan
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2010-04-24 20:06
You should join the Yahoo Bass Clarinet Group at http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/NewBassClarinetGroup/, which gives good advice.
You won't go wrong with Buffet or Selmer. Nearly everyone plays one or the other.
Stock mouthpieces are usually mediocre. I don't know what Buffet is thinking, but their mouthpieces are usually unplayable, at least for me. Selmer mouthpieces are made of good material, but are almost always crooked. Two of the best makers, already mentioned here, are Grabner and Fobes.
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: USFBassClarinet
Date: 2010-04-24 22:33
I second Ken Shaw here. In fact, The C* that came with my bass was actually decent sounding, but I ended up donating it to the high school I graduated from and bought a Grabner.
I do not know how much of a hurry you are in to get an instrument, perhaps you can wait til july and come to clarinet fest to try them. Then every mouthpiece maker will be there and several instruments to try. You could try them all side by side with different mouthpieces and get all your shopping done at once. Plus, Henri Bok, Lawrie Bloom, and Howard Klug as well as a few others will be playing.
Post Edited (2010-04-24 22:34)
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2010-05-01 22:56
David Spiegelthal wrote,
>>Given unlimited funds (ha!) I would want both a Selmer Privilege (for those Boehm-system bass clarinet gigs) and the Schwenk und Seggelke for the Oehler-system work. Oh yeah! If only I were a mortgage-fund CEO.......
>>
But if you were one of those, you probably wouldn't be any good at all as a musician -- because anybody who hears a clarinet player knows whether we can play or not. Experienced listeners know whether we've practiced or not, too. There's no way to cheat and no place to hide on a clarinet (especially on a bass clarinet).
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
Post Edited (2010-05-01 22:58)
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