 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: TheSaxyOne21
Date: 2003-08-08 15:58
Hey all! I was wondering what the tonal differences were between the A Clarinet and the Basset. They are both in the same key, except for the basset has the low C extension. Are the tones the same? Also, if I were to get a basset and join orchestra or whatever, would I be able to use my basset as my A clarinet?
Help is much appreciated, jaimie
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-08-08 16:23
I guess, technically, there wouldn't be any restrictions to using a basset as your "regular" A clarinet. But it's a bit like using your $800,000 Ferrari Enzo as your everyday car. The basset is tremendously expensive and really only needed for two compositions that I'm aware of ("authentic" version of the Mozart Concerto and the Clarinet Quintet). Plus I understand it takes vastly more air support and effort to produce a concert-worthy tone, and (I asked this very question yesterday) I believe it has a very different tone quality.
Still, I've never even seen or heard one in person, much less played one myself, so someone else will have to give you the skinny on its specifics.r
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: William
Date: 2003-08-08 19:47
I've only played on one LeBlanc model, but what I remember, aside from the increased resistance due to the extended length, is that it is a 'heavy' instrument to hang onto while playing. Constant use in the orchestra might become a bit hard on your RH thumb and embouchure.
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-08-08 20:34
Stephen Fox, Bulletin Board sponsor and heck of a nice guy, will make a Basset extension for your own A clarinet.
As I understand it, with one of those, you don't have to lug all the hardware around unless you really need it. The Clarinet can be used with or without the extension.
Regards,
John
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Author: TheSaxyOne21
Date: 2003-08-09 19:41
Does anyone have any pictures of this extension? I went to the website but I'm still a little confused. Is it just a whole new lower joint or does he take your old one and reface it? do these play with the same tone and bore as your original clarinet?
Thanks for the help all, I'd still like to kno a little more about the tone tho
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-08-09 19:51
TheSaxyOne21 wrote:
>Is it just a whole new
> lower joint or does he take your old one and reface it?
Yes (Steve will do either; it's up to you. Remember, if he re-does your lower jooint, you're now "stuck" with a heavier clarinet.
> do
> these play with the same tone and bore as your original
> clarinet?
Changing the lower joint is going to have some effect on the tone. However, knowing Stephen and his craftmanship, it'd probably sound better than the original ...
> Thanks for the help all, I'd still like to kno a little more
> about the tone tho
Unfortunately, if you have the lower joint re-done, you have no choice - you have to take the risk. If you have a replacement joint manufactured then at least you'll have your original joint for the 99% of the time you don't need the basset extension.
Stephen's basset horns are considered some of the best ever available in any time period.
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Author: William
Date: 2003-08-09 23:15
Plus, I believe he makes the NX clarinet on special order. I had the pleasure of playing the original NX at George Jamisons residence while he was doing some work on my Buffet A. I remember the lightness of the key action, the extra holes for improved accoustics and the eveness of the scale. It was stored in a custom made wooden case which George produced from his "back room" and said, "Here, give this on a try...." I did and was impressed. But at that time--in the late seventies I recollect--it was still a "work in progress" and not for sale. Stephens "NX" models are said to be copies of the original "finished product" and I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has actually used it in an ensemble. In his living room "back then" it seemed to play very well. Just wondering.......
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-08-09 23:42
William wrote:
> Stephens "NX" models are said to be copies of the original
> "finished product" and I would be interested in hearing from
> anyone who has actually used it in an ensemble.
Actually, Stephen finished the NX; Stephen got the final design work from Virginia Benade, Art's widow (Virginia is a delightful lady if you ever meet her, along with being one of Cleveland's finest pianists and an editor on a seminal work on violin acoustics!).
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-08-10 00:44
Not to go overboard on Stephen Fox (which is truly difficult, as Steve is one of today's pinnacles of custom Clarinet manufacturing), there's another option:
You could have Steve build you a complete A Clarinet with one usual lower joint and one extended lower joint, so you would have both options on an all-Fox Clarinet. With Steve's pricing structure, it would actually cost far less than most new cars -- and be worth every dollar. Get a Bb to match and you would be one well-equipped Clarinetist.
Regards,
John
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Author: TheSaxyOne21
Date: 2003-08-10 03:45
Wow John! I did the math: [ A Benade NX in A is CA$4,100, and the Basset Lower Joint would be CA$2,750. This adds up to be $6,850, this ends up being about $4,915 US Dollars. ]
and that's actually a pretty great deal when u think about it. The Leblanc Basset was about $4000 when I got the price estimate, and that's just with one basset lower joint. Having the second smaller one would make it vastly easier to play in the majority of passages with the lighter weight.
I would not trade for another Bb Clarinet in all the world tho, even if it was a "Stephen Fox Custom" I am extremely happy with my Yamaha Custom SE I got this past year and love the deal i got for it on eBay quite considerably as well.
Assuming the NX is as high of quality of clarinet as you are making it out to be I am strongly considering that now as a way to get an A Clarinet... The problem is getting my order of instruments right and priorities straight. The constant battle in my head is raging between my Saxophones and Clarinets.
I really really want to play Bari Sax, but haven't gotten to since the woodwind workshop in my hometown when I worked with the Sax Quintet then (They needed a bari player, so I volunteered, learned in 3 days for a concert) I really love the horn, but I can't check one out from the school.
With Clarinets, part of my problem is not playing in 2 or 3 days because I'm worried about germs from my recent bouts of sickness culminating inside the wood of my clarinet. But I have been strongly considering an A Clarinet, or Basset (because of the added key work) for my studies and future work. Also, I have been considering Contra-alto, for a nice low clarinet sound that doesn't just rumble, but can have a prettyful tone.
I don't know, I've got plenty of time to comtemplate which horn to get while I'm saving. It could be a while unless I drive myself insane just from thinking about it so much!
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Author: JMcAulay
Date: 2003-08-10 05:33
Jaimie, I have never seen one of Steve's NX Clarinets, but if he says it's good, it's good.
Decide the direction you're headed. If you really need a contra-alto, by all means get it. If your aim is to be an orchestral player, perhaps an A Clarinet would do you more good. And if you plan to attack the K622, the Fox solution might appear best. If you might go that route, I suggest you correspond with Steve or talk to him. He might even offer you a discount because of the more substantial purchase.
No matter what you'd like to get from him, make your decision as soon as possible and place an order with a deposit. Whatever you buy will NOT be from "shelf stock," it will be built especially for you. And that will take time.
Good luck and regards,
John
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Author: Wes
Date: 2003-08-10 19:04
When I heard the late George Jamison demo the NX clarinet a few years ago, he said that the instrument was better than a regular clarinet in regard to going sharp when one plays softly. This was apparently due to the wider spacing of adjacent tone holes around the clarinet, complicating the mechanism.
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Author: geo
Date: 2003-08-12 15:41
TheSaxyOne21 qouth:
> Does anyone have any pictures of this extension?
There used to be some good photos of his basset extension at
http://www.upper-canada-clarinet.woodwind.org/articles/VOL1No2.html
however, I'm getting a dns non existant domain error... it may have been moved or my provider is having problems resolving the woodwind.org subdomain (I can't get www.upper-canada-clarinet.sneezy.org resolved anymore either).
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Author: Ralph G
Date: 2003-08-12 15:54
Guy Chadash makes an extension as well. He has a picture at http://www.chadashclarinet.com/basset.htm>
________________
Artistic talent is a gift from God and whoever discovers it in himself has a certain obligation: to know that he cannot waste this talent, but must develop it.
- Pope John Paul II
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2003-08-12 15:57
geo wrote:
> however, I'm getting a dns non existant domain error...
That's correct. That site does not currently exist.
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