 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: brianhjazz
Date: 2015-08-09 10:06
Hi, I am wondering if anyone on here has/has tried the Manning Custom low C bass clarinet who could give a review of it?
I am in need of a low C bass for a musical tour contract this winter, and I am looking for a horn that is high quality but won't bankrupt me in order to buy it ha! I love the Manning custom cases, and if I did get one of his horns I would for sure get a clari/bass clari double case, but I have never played one of his basses so I don't know how it compares to the Ridenour or Kessler horns that are over $1000 cheaper.
I do know that the Manning bass is wood, whereas the Ridenour and Kessler horns are a composite material, but I would be traveling the horn with me and not on the truck, so that wouldn't be a concern if the upgrade to wood would be worth it.
Any thoughts on the Manning or other sub-$4K low C basses would be much appreciated. Thanks!
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2015-08-09 17:27
I'm not familiar with these instruments, but Midwest Musical Imports (based in Minneapolis as is your ISP) rents pro-line instruments. Just a thought.
http://www.mmimports.com/
(Not affiliated, etc.)
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Author: AAAClarinet
Date: 2015-08-09 18:49
I just played the older model Ridenour low C bass for a local theater show and it was great. Nice big sound and good intonation. Its my understanding that the newer ones are even better.
AAAClarinet
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Author: CEC
Date: 2015-08-09 21:10
I tried the Kessler at the beginning of this year. They are a super-nice people to deal with. It was pretty nicely made with a nice case. Tuning was okay. Resistance was very even up and down the horn, but kind of stuffy IMO. I didn't like the sound I was getting out of it - pale, thready, dry, restrained. An "uptight" feeling and sounding instrument, overall. But this is just my opinion. Many folks seem to like them, so YMMV! I'd recommend you give one a try if he has them in stock. They are very accommodating.
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Author: brianhjazz
Date: 2015-08-11 07:25
Thanks for all of the replies!
CocoboloKid: I actually came across that review recently when I was google searching horns. Congrats on the WSS tour gig! I played one of the Ridenour basses in big band during my masters, and I agree with your review almost to a T. The RH thumb cluster was one of my biggest peeves, the other being that I felt like the keywork was sort of weak and I actually had a few issues with bent keys when I was trying to be careful putting the horn together, etc.
Do you remember how the RH thumb cluster on the Manning compared to the Ridenour? In a perfect world I would love to have rollers on that cluster similar to the LH pinky cluster on a saxophone, but that might be asking too much on a non Selmer/Buffet.
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Author: BflatNH
Date: 2015-08-11 19:24
On some of the criticisms of the Ridenour 925C, I have made the following modifications.
1. on the LH pinky finger low D, I noticed the rod bending due to the force from the slotted lever engaging the roller, and added a plastic cover to the "U" shaped support fork to retain the rod (form a bearing), giving the key more effective leverage by not bending. As for the force required, I lightened the springs on the low keys and released redundant (another spring was already returning the key) springs.
2. on the RH thumb keys, I shimmed the thumb keys/levers (with cork, where I could do so) so as not to open more than necessary (not to change the pitch of the note when open) reducing the height of the RH thumb key when not pressed, making playing adjacent thumb keys rapidly much easier.
I haven't seen the Manning bass to see if it potentially has these problems.
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(Which I also purchased for a tour so I didn't have to worry about cracking; it's now my primary bass.)