 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Tom A
Date: 2003-10-12 11:18
Well, necks actually, but I'm interested in the angle of the mouthpiece, which is dependant on the neck.
I believe that the ideal bass has a neck which curves quite sharply up. This means, if the instrument is vertical, that the mouthpiece comes out of the mouth at about 30 degrees from perpendicular, similar to playing a B flat clarinet. That way, the lip and teeth pressure will not constrict the reed and mouthpiece.
However, the majority of student instruments I encounter, both in teaching and on a certain internet auction site, including even my old Noblet purchased from the Sydney Con, have necks which point almost horizontally towards the mouth, a similar shape to tenor sax necks.
So, two questions:
Are people familiar with this "problem" and is it a consideration in what sort of basses they play, hire or purchase?
If it is actually a problem, do you techs know if a neck can be reshaped to a more favourable angle?
Cheers.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2003-10-12 11:37
my bass clarinet came with a neck similar to the one you think is better. it's a buffet clarinet. i like it. my teacher bought a selmer from the factory and could choose between a few shapes of necks and chose the more horizontal neck because he is also a sax player. i think whatever is comfortable is the best. i'm sure most sax players will find the horizonal neck better and people like me who don't play sax will probably like the other one.
when you buy a bass from selmer and maybe buffet too i'm not sure, there are usually 2-3 types of necks to choose from i think.
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Author: LeWhite
Date: 2003-10-12 11:55
I am aware of the problem, but when I play bass, since I don't own one, I play whatever I can get, and usually it's very very very bad... So I just do my best and don't complain.
I'd LOOOVE a new bass those, my OWN bass. To play ALL the time.
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2003-10-12 18:24
William, you asked if tech's know if a neck can be reshaped.
John Gibson pointed out in a thread on mpc that "Dave specializes(spiegelthaizes) in restoration of Bossey Hawkes clarinets." In addition to that he "Spiegelthaized" an older R. Malerne (Conn Stencil) Bass cl for me to include a "Bay" type neck. I left it to him and he did it it all, so I suggest you contact him. Seems like there is very little he can't do (expect provide us with a picture of himself riding his donkey). ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif) .
Bob A
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-10-12 21:42
Rite, Bob A, we need to know more of Dave S! On my frequently-played bass, with my "overbite", I'm comfortable with my Selmer neck which "presents" my Pomarico mps horizontally to me at [nearly] right angle to BC orientation. A personal preference. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2003-10-13 14:54
First, I don't ride the donkey, he's too small --- kids only! As for b.c. necks, most except for newer models do indeed come in too horizontally for most people, thus back in the 70's (I think) Dr. Charles Bay began re-angling necks --- you would send him your neck, he'd cut it just below the mouthpiece socket and re-solder it at a sharper angle. I had this done to my Noblet neck when I was in college. Now, he custom-makes necks that have the "improved angle" (as he calls it) designed in, but unfortunately you have to purchase one of his mouthpieces with it and he charges a rather high price (IMHO) for the package. What I can do is re-angle existing necks the way Dr. Bay originally did, and I charge considerably less than his current price for a new neck + mouthpiece. I really don't enjoy doing the job, however, it's time-consuming and messy and leaves the neck somewhat "cosmetically challenged" afterwords, so I usually just quote it as an option for those buying refurbished bass clarinets from me. I really don't want to get into the neck re-angling business at this time. I've also written a one-page guide to doing the job one's-self, should anybody out there be brave (foolish?) enough --- contact me off-line and I'd be happy to fax the instructions to anyone who is interested.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2003-10-14 17:13
I prefer the more angled neck as came with my Buffet 1193-2. But, even with that, I still angle the instrument to where the bell is almost under my chair, giving me an angle similar to that most soprano instrument players use. Using both the neckstrap and peg makes it easier for me to do this.
My former instrument had one of the more horizontal necks. It didn't have its peg, so I used a neckstrap exclusively and angled the instrument way back, which only works if you sit on the front half of the chair.
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Author: FrankM
Date: 2003-10-14 17:22
I believe the new Yamaha student bass clarinet, the 221, has a neck angled more like the Bay's
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