 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: externals
Date: 2005-12-27 15:32
Hello, my name is John.
I would like to know if there is any difference in playing a student bass clarinet and a professional bass clarinet, as in difficulty in playing or fingering.
I've been thinking of getting the Buffet 1180 (low Eb) but I've been told that if I spend a little bit more now, I wont regret it. I know I cant buy the 1193 so I'm looking at the Yamaha YCL 622 (low C) or the LeBlanc 330S (low C). Should I buy the student 1180 or go for the professional ones?
*I've never played a bass clarinet, but I've been playing the Bb soprano for 4 years, and I'm loving the sound of the bass so I want to play it.
Edit: If there is one that you recommend please do so.
Thanks,
John
Post Edited (2005-12-27 15:35)
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Author: Merlin
Date: 2005-12-27 16:21
Have you considered looking for a used pro model bass?
I've seen some excellent Selmer basses from the mid-seventies, that go for low prices, simply because so many people are now looking for low C basses. I have a low Eb Selmer from this period that is my primary bass. Most of the gigs I play really don't require a range beyond this.
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2005-12-27 16:34
I concur with the above opinion. If money is tight, and if you are not sure of a "professional" gig to begin with, there's little call for the extension notes on a bass clarinet. You'll seldom see them written (outside of some modern concert band music), and they're not really essential to becoming a good bass clarinet player.
(I use them to transpose the occasional bassoon part, and for some baritone sax doubling where I play the bari part on the bass since it blends better with other clarinet players. Other than those uses, not much goes on below low E on either of my two basses.)
Used horns can be a bargain, but I'd steer clear of anything once owned by a school organization. Bass clarinets and their ilk are some of the most abused objects ever seen in a school music room, and you could be buying a potential crack queen if you pick one up. Better to pay a slight premium for a privately owned horn and not have that worry.
The major difference between a "pro" horn and a student one is going to be the register key mechanism. The 'student' version of this is the one without a linkage to the lower joint; the 'pro' version has a second "bridge key" that actuates the register mechanism. This is VERY exposed to damage (and probably has been damaged many times on a school horn), but it makes a lot of difference for the notes in the lower end of the horn's "clarinet" register. You can play (and play quite well) on a 'student' version, but the 'pro' version sounds better and "speaks" the notes far, far better.
(Leblanc "pro" horns used to have the 'student' version of the register key...a good reason to avoid older Leblanc products no matter what the condition.
Other than the register key, most pro horns will also have the alternate Ab/Eb lever for the LH little finger.
Tom Ridenour is/was importing a "new" student quality bass clarinet that had the extension notes. However, the one example of these that I saw was a mechanical nightmare right out of the box. I'd not buy one based upon the mechanical issues alone.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2005-12-27 16:47
I don't know if the newer Leblanc low C basses have linked the low Db and C keys with the rest of the extension keys - if not, it does mean you have to hold the low D key in order to use bottom Db and C with the right thumb - but you do have both LH and RH front low D touches - not to mention the forked Ab/Eb mechanism that does away with the LH Ab/Eb lever, and probably a more versatile alternative to the LH Ab/Eb as has been mentioned here:
http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/read.html?f=1&i=195506&t=195390
I've heard the Yamaha low C bass is very even in tone quality across the range, has the linked (right thumb) low D, Db and C keys and LH low D lever (but no front RH low D touch) - I've never played one myself but they do look well designed and built
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-12-27 18:31
My two cents' worth:
--The Buffet 1180 is an intermediate (not student)-grade instrument, a nicely made horn but has a single-register-vent mechanism design, as does the Noblet (with which it is quite comparable) and as do most of the so-called "professional" Leblancs, which IMHO ought to be marketed (and priced) as intermediates because that's how they're designed and that's how they play.
-- As for Yamahas, they've always sounded thin and felt flimsy to me, including their top-of-the-line low-C model. Okay for clarinet choir and chamber music, but they just don't have the oomph in their sound for concert band and orchestra work.
-- We've already discussed the Ridenour basses here on the forum; they're a Chinese-manufactured hard-rubber copy of the Yamaha, with the same playing and keywork characteristics but worse workmanship and cheaper materials.
-- You can do without the extended range unless you're planning to play in orchestras, in which case you ought to have it.
--If I were in the market right now I'd look for a used Selmer 33 or 37 or used Buffet 1193. If you're set on a Leblanc, try MANY of them and have a professional bass clarinetist with you to try them out also.
-- As always the MOUTHPIECE is the most important thing -- make sure yours is really good before you even THINK about trying out instruments.
I base these opinions on 30+ years of playing bass clarinet and more than 15 years of overhauling/restoring/modifying them.
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Author: externals
Date: 2005-12-27 20:20
Well I got a Buffet 1180. It was affordable though still expensive but still after reading tons of reviews and this board as well as others, I decided to go with it. I bought it new for $3600.
Soon I'll have to research on a mouthpiece cause I know factory mouthpieces especially Buffet arent that great.
On my sop. clar i love the optimum vandoren ligature. I wonder if they have one for bass clar.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2005-12-27 20:35
externals wrote:
> On my sop. clar i love the optimum vandoren ligature. I wonder
> if they have one for bass clar.
The Vandoren Optimum ligature is made for Eb clarinet, Bb clarinet, alto clarinet and bass clarinet.
Bass clarinet ligature w/ silver plated cap is 89.99 at WW/BW
Bass clarinet ligature alone is 49.99 ...GBK
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Author: externals
Date: 2005-12-29 05:40
Anyone know of a good mouthpiece. not so expensive though.. I hear vandorens are very popular but if there is any other please share. Thanks
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2005-12-29 15:28
John, Buy the best mouthpiece you can find and don't buy 'cheap". This BB is chock full of advice about mouthpieces (most of it good). It's rather like asking "What toothbrush shall I buy"? Everybody has an opinion and most of us have a half-dozen (mouthpieces) and a dozen opinions (at least) that we will swear by on any given day; yet we constantly switch back and forth. If you stay with the instrument you will accumulate and spend more for mouthpieces over a period of a few years than you did for your horn. Soooo, buy GOOD once, and then try it for a considerable period of time (like 6 months) before you think you have to make up your mind. Examples that I have include (your mileage may vary) Refaced--by Dave S; NEW, Grabner, Forbes.
These folks will work with you to meet your requirements (when you think you know them) but for right now I'd recommend only one--Walter Grabner's CXBB. It's not too expensive and will work for you for a long time, then do your own research based on your own ideas and capabilities.
Bob A
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