The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: drex
Date: 2002-03-06 21:54
I'm in the market for a used bass clarinet, and it looks like I can get a decent deal on either a Bundy or a Vito. Sorry I can't give much more info about the instruments, seeing as I'm rather inexperienced in matters pertaining to clarinets (I'm a saxophone/flute player). I'm just looking for some advice as to which make should prove to be more reliable. The Vito is a bit more expensive, but not enough to disqualify it if it is the better clarinet. Thanks.
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Author: KayR
Date: 2002-03-06 22:11
My son plays his school's Bundy bass clarinet, which we've taken upon ourselves to maintain for the past 2 years (it's our donation to the school music program). The instrument has required visits to the repair shop about every 3 months. I asked our repair tech what she would recommend, and she said the Vito over the Bundy. She also liked a Yamaha student model.
Good luck,
Kay
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Author: James
Date: 2002-03-07 03:01
VITO!!! Leblanc's bass and reg clarinets are the highest quality plastic clarinets on the market. Nothing comes close (sorry if i offend yamaha fans). If you get a vito you get a great instrument it with great feeling and a excellent scale that is also reponsive in all registers. Definatly vito is the best.
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Author: Kim
Date: 2002-03-07 03:05
My vote is for the Vito. (Of course it has nothing to do with the fact that one of my Italian Greyhound dogs is named Vito. We got him through rescue at age six, so he already had the name-quite the coincidence!) Seriously, I think that Vitos are better than Bundys.
-Kim
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Author: willie
Date: 2002-03-07 04:21
The only gripe I have about the Vito bass is their tendancy to break all too easy at the center tenon even on a light tip over. It happened to my daughter's and I also found 9 more just like it in one shop while looking for a new lower section. Other than that, I think its a great playing horn for the money. Even better when equipped with a better quality mouthpiece like a Brilhart or Selmer C*.
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Author: willie
Date: 2002-03-07 04:23
P.S.----- Pay the extra and get the optional leather pads!
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2002-03-07 14:29
They're both fairly sturdy and reliable, but feel totally different. I've played good-playing examples of either type, as well as the occasional dog, but I prefer the Vitos (mainly because of a more comfortable neck angle and playing position, and flat-topped keys rather than the concave keys the Bundy has). If you can get to a music store that carries both brands, try a few examples of each and see which you prefer. And if you go for the Vito, as stated above, definitely spring for the leather pads --- I think it's verging on criminal irresponsibility for Leblanc to even offer bladder pads on a bass clarinet! Also, beware of poor quality control on Vitos, especially with regards to lousy adhesives used to glue on pads and corks. Finally, if you can, try out the Yamaha plastic basses --- essentially a Vito clone, but with better workmanship according to Gordon (NZ).
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 2002-03-07 15:15
I have also heard good things about the new Vito and Yamaha basses, but what about the old used ones still around. I was in the market for a new student model bass and was told by several reliable people, to just hang on to my old Bundy (early 1960's model), that the new ones wouldn't be any better than what I have. I have been playing it for 17 years with few problems. Are the old Bundy's better than the new ones? It seems that the good used bc's are almost as expensive as the new ones. Good Luck in your search Drex and thank for letting me put in my 2 cents worth.
SusieQ
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