 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Louis Sinoff
Date: 1999-04-05 17:49
I am looking to purchase a new or used alto clarinet to play in a wind ensemble. Since I have no idea of its characteristic sound, intonation is the most important criteria. Does anyone have any recommendations for makes and models. What is the characteristic sound for this instrument? I play soprano and bass, but do not recall ever hearing an alto played.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-04-05 20:05
Welcome to an elite [not "nerdy"] club. Having owned 4 Altos, of which I still have a semi-antique [open-holed] Conn and a good plateau Selmer [make sure you get a full plateau, and some A C's are better with a Double Register Key structure - like a pro bass] . The others were a French Gerard, whose "DRK" was not well engineered, and a very good LeBlanc, which, for my small hands, was somewhat easier for the "long-reaches". There are several used AC's on EBAY now, suggest you read and view them carefully, try out any you can find. As to tonal character, Brymer and Rendall [prob others] discuss this. To me its obviously between Bb/A and bass. Since its only a halftone lower than the great Basset Horn [however played with a larger mp], when playing my Sel in Community Band, I pretend its a B H which improves my tone quality!! Will add to this if you wish, hope Arnold the B H'ist may comment. Don
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Author: kimbo
Date: 1999-04-06 01:27
i play the AC and at first i did not enjoy it i thought it sounded ugly but after playing for some time i got use to the sound im still working on my embrochure anyway i play a selmer im not sure witch model its my schools anyway i think its a nice sturdy instrument but i dont know about buying one don is right check ebay out for one
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Author: Amy
Date: 1999-04-06 02:07
Well, I have been cursed with playing a plastic Vito alto clarinet. It's the only one my school owns, its rather old, and I have to play cause we need it for clarinet choir. Ugh---it sounds awful!!!! It does take practice to get it to sound good though. Eventually it starts to develop the same tone quality as a bass, but it does take some getting used to. Be sure to get a good mouthpiece, that always helps a bunch. I've started to get it to sound like a clarinet, with a decent sound in the lower registar, but in the upper registar it continues to sound like a saxophone, which isn't what I'm hoping for. All I can say is STAY AWAY FROM PLASTIC VITO ALTO ClARINETS!!! (at least really old ones, like mine) No offense to anyone. 
Amy
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Author: JennyA
Date: 1999-04-06 10:02
I'm playing alto for a couple of numbers this spring. I've played a grand total of about 10 times so far, so I'm hardly an expert, but...
I have found that everything from open G down sounds fine. Everything above is thin and nasal. I don't really have the option of getting a good mouthpiece, since this will be a casual thing for me, but I do know that the sound improves a bit once the instrument is thoroughly warmed up.
And Amy, it's a plastic Vito!
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Author: Fred McKenzie
Date: 1999-04-06 11:06
Louis Sinoff wrote:
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I am looking to purchase a new or used alto clarinet to play in a wind ensemble.
Louis-
Several years ago, I found a used LeBlanc wooden Alto Clarinet at a very good price. At the time, I thought I was getting quite the bargain. Now, I realize that there are a LOT of used Altos on the market. There just isn't as much demand for them as for other instruments.
I suggest you look for a wooden instrument from one of the major companies, just as if you were looking for a Soprano. I like my LeBlanc, but would probably like the Selmer and Buffet as well.
Fred
<A HREF="http://www.dreamnetstudios.com/music/mmb/index.htm">MMB</A>
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Author: Arnold the basset hornist
Date: 1999-04-06 11:43
Just a note about bore size:
Watch the bore size(s) if you plan to purchase a new mouthpiece for an alto. I think the bore diameter differs more from one brand to another at the alto clarinets then it does at the Bb clarinets.
For the basset horns I've heard of diameters reaching from 15.5 Millimeters to 18.0 Millimeters - awfull playing with a mouthpiece which bore does not fit. I just put my basset horn to a complete overhaul (and ordered two mouthpices bores to be enlarged - two of six I own now). Moreover, I had problems playing with other reeds than alto clarinet reeds, especially as I prefer long tables (Someone told me "use alto sax reeds, almost the same size" - but a different cut, for the lowest tones too hard, for the altissimos too soft).
When I started, I had a sax like sound, too.
Make sure, there is a socket (mostly at the bell) for a pin to play with floor support. It's a famous feeling to play without having to carry any weight with your right hand thumb, only keeping it in the ballance - and at a (german) basset horn (and some rare speciems of alto clarinets which reach low C) you are free to operate the four basset keys. Try to find a pin to play with floor support when standing, too, perhaps a brass tube from a hardware store will work fine.
Welcome to the altos (even it's not a basset horn),
and remember,
there exists an (incompleted) autograph of the first movement of Mozart's clarinet concerto - for basset horn in G and orchestra.
Good luck (and sometimes "happy transposing")
Arnold, the basset hornist
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 1999-04-06 15:47
What an interesting group of comments, thanx to all. Yes I agree on looking for a good wood AC among the 3-4 majors, and careful matching of mp to the bore of the neck [measure it somehow]. I found an old Olympia mp to be better than a VD B44 and the "stock" Selmer C*. The Selmer adjustable tuning neck is very good in avoiding a step in the bore if one must tune lower. I'm hastening to post to correct my error re: halftone. Of course the AC is a fulltone, F/Eb, below the BH,[was thinking Bb/A, but the transposition is the same as the C/Bb, raise one fulltone and add 2#s] . What little playing I have done on a BH, I followed Dr. Eldridge's suggestion of using my best Sop cl mp and was pleased with the result, since bore size is an important factor to tone quality . Don
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Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 1999-04-06 18:42
I have a current model Buffet Alto Clarinet and it is very good. A good mouthpiece is very important. I have tried 3-4 and like the B44 best, at the moment.
It is possible to get a good sound out of a student alto clarinet (like a Bundy) in the lower register.
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Author: snowjacks
Date: 1999-04-08 00:10
I started playing alto clarinet 27 years ago in high school, and I still play alto in a community band. I double on alto and bass clarinet, since some arrangements lack an alto part. I would personally recommend a Buffet Paris or LeBlanc Alto - they're the only two that I've found that can maintain good pitch and tone quality across three octaves. It doesn't have to be expensive; the altos are the dog of the clarinet family and prices are low on used instruments since supply often exceeds demand. I picked up my Buffet Paris Professional Alto at a pawn shop for $425, and it needed only minor adjustment to play correctly.
Personally, I find switching between from bass and alto to be quite refreshing since bass parts are often boring, and the alto parts are considerably more challenging.
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Author: Melody
Date: 1999-04-13 14:13
I've played an alto clarinet for several years and have tried severals models. Don't get a vito. I recommend a buffet, however if that's too expensive for you, artley makes a very nice alto clarinet. Whatever you do, make sure you get a wooden, open hole alto. As for the characteristics of its sound, it's a cross between an alto saxophone and a clarinet. You can alter its sound by your embouchure. Just keep experiementing and find what works for you, and make sure to try the indstrument out before you purchase it.
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Author: Gene
Date: 2004-08-28 01:51
Hello I'm looking for advice from experienced alto clar.player's I love to play jazz on my alto clarinet but Haven't found the right mpc for the alttisimo notes I play a Boosey&Hawkes 1-10 everything works great except the altissimo notes that get choked or squawk they are high c,d,e,f,g, I can play them slowly and gently but I need them to speak immediatly I use a sanded down 2.5-3 reed and a Clarke&Fobes mpc sometimes they overblow to another note.So I'm looking for a closed tip mpc.
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Author: marcia
Date: 2004-08-28 17:14
I have had some experience with a few brands of Altos. I found Buffet to be extremely awkward as far as hand position goes. And I found it very stuffy. Felt like I was fighting it all the time. Fortunately it was borrowed. Yamaha was an improvement in comfort and quite free blowing. Again a borrowed instrument. I now own a LeBlanc. Bought it on ebay and after Morrie (yes Backun) worked his magic on it it also is very free blowing. The key work on it makes it as comfortable as my sopranos. And would agree 100% with the floor peg suggestion. I think that has made the most difference to me with the overall comfort of the instrument. Good luck. It can be lots of fun!
Marcia
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Author: GBK
Date: 2004-08-28 17:19
Just a reminder: This original thread is 5 years old ...GBK
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