 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: KayR
Date: 2000-12-04 16:13
My son is playing bass clarinet in his junior high school band, and has grown tired of dealing with the poor quality instrument. (It's held together with a wing and a prayer.) For his birthday next year, he's asked for his own instrument. Could some of you experts out there recommend something that would keep him going for a while, and not cost me much more than $1500? Thanks for your help!
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2000-12-04 16:51
Sounds like me in high school many years ago. The school instrument I played wasn't in the best of shape and was hard to play. My parents bought me a refurbished pro-quality Leblanc instrument that the local university had previously owned and apparently given up on. I used it for about 25 years, mostly in community bands, before deciding to treat myself to a new horn. I have had to have it overhauled a few times over the years, but it still plays well. If not for the sentimental attachment, I might offer it to you. It was my best inanimate friend.
But I digress and don't answer your question.
I guess that the moral of the story is, if you can find an old pro-quality horn that is in good shape and in your price range, consider it. I have also heard on this message board that plastic Vitos are decent instruments.
If you get a used horn, get it from someone you trust, such as a reputable local music store, and make sure that it doesn't need repair work.
--Don Poulsen
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Author: Kurt
Date: 2000-12-05 02:45
I've been very happy with the Vito I have. Basically it's a plastic version of the LeBlanc intermediate instrument but can be had for under $1000. I suggest getting one with leather pads I did not head this warning and probably should have (its probably ony $50 dollars more). I'm quite happy with it untill a nice pro model low C horn falls into my lap. (wink, wink anyone )
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Author: bob gardner
Date: 2000-12-05 03:06
I purchased a used/new bass Selmer (Bundy) for a $1000 dollars. It is a nice bass; however I'm having problems with the middle register. Received a lot of great advice about this problem last week. the point is you can get a fairly nice bass for about a grand.
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2000-12-07 01:21
I bought two horns: A Vito and a Selmer Series 9. At the outset I couldn't play either well, but the Selmer was more encouraging, so I sold the Vito. I'm making good progress with the Selmer. I'm inclined to suspect that it plays more evenly and better, but both horns were used, and though both had some adjusting done, neither has had a thorough overhaul. It is possible that the Selmer plays more easily because it is simply in better adjustment, but I think it is probably altogether better. I paid $2,150 for the Selmer in a heavily tarnished state. By the time I have a case and an overhaul and some customizing to the keywork it will be just under $3,000 for the total cost.
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Author: Robert Gifford
Date: 2001-01-21 19:09
SELMER SERIES 9 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't like any selmer except for Series 9... and bob please don't say Selmer (Bundy) don't associate those two together.... I know they are technically made by the same company.... its almost like sayin LeBlanc (Vito) you just don't do it, there's a reason they have it under a different name. $1500 its hard to find a good one though, unless you are really really lucky. Throughout school when I played on insturments they were always $3,000+... and they were entry level professonal.
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Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2001-01-21 22:03
You're making me feel pretty good about my Series 9. I've been playing it intermittantly for a couple of months now, and it is sounding really good up to the first C above the staff. I like the relaxed embouchure of the bass. It makes playing very pleasant. I'm still figuring out which high fingerings I prefer. I don't want to invest a bunch of time learning scale and chord patterns with fingerings I might abandon. I got a tuner recently, which is very helpful in evaluating fingerings. I'm taking my horn in tomorrow to get it overhauled. I'm looking forward to having it in tip top condition, finally.
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