 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2000-08-29 13:47
A little story to share plus a couple of questions:
When I came home from work last night, there was a BIG box waiting for me. It contained my new (used) bass clarinet. I am thrilled! I've struggled with a borrowed, decrepit Bundy bass for six months, unable to get above an F# on the clarion register, fighting to honk out a low G (amazingly, low A and E were just fine). I won't even start about intonation. I was feeling like a failure when I played with my community band using this piece of junk.
I could hardly wait as I dug my new horn out of the packing box and case then got my mouthpiece (a C*) and a reed. After a few long tones, I did a steady chromatic scale up to altissimo G (which is as far as I can get on a Bb clarinet) without a hitch! I haven't had time for a workout with a tuner yet, but the tone quality is SO much better than the Bundy.
This is a make of bass clarinet I've not seen discussed on Sneezy or Klarinet - an Evette (sponsored by Buffet) made in Paris. It's a Resonite horn (for muggy 4th of July concerts) but it has the two-vent register key, which I think really makes a difference for intonation, even if the top vent is at the tip top of the body, not on the goose neck.
My questions:
1. Can anyone share information about Evette bass clarinets (when they were made, quirks, reliability issues)?
2. Where can I find a concert peg? The bell of the horn has the socket and screw but no peg. I've looked around at the Web pages of several musical retailers to no avail. Do I have to make one?
Thanks!
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2000-08-29 14:32
Can't help you with the instrument itself, but you can get a complete Leblanc floor peg assembly (can be fitted to any make/model bass clarinet bell)through Ferree's Tools, for about $35.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-09-02 01:06
Like Dave, I can't speak re: Evette basses, C H, but having seen and played a number of E. sop cl's, and now owning a good one, they are quality horns in the Buffet lineup, certainly equal to other intermediate to semi-pro cl's in my estimation. Having double register keying is a big plus as it gives much better mid-staff B thru D# and good clarion above. Having all the mechanisms located on the [longer] U J, is also good IMHO as my Selmer has to connect with the neck key and at times is a problem. Have fun, Don
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