 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Topher
Date: 2004-04-12 18:34
Hey everyone,
I've been playing the bass clarinet for more than a few years, and toward the beginning of last year I got a Buffet 1180 bass. It is a beautiful horn, but the "long" clarion notes (B, C, C#, and somewhat D) have always been very resistant, with a stuffy tone and tending to be about 15 to 20 cents sharp. At first I thought it was just a matter of going from a Selmer student model to this awesome Buffet beast, but over the past year these notes have not improved. It was purchased as a factory display model, so I couldn't return it or order multiple to chose my favorite. Is this a common problem with the 1180's (which have a single register vent), or did I just get a freak? All the pads, keywork, etc. have been checked, so it is not a mechanical problem. I use a Vandoren B45 and Vandy Blue Box #3 1/2, if that is important. Thanks in advance for your help!
topher
PS-I am saving up for a 1193 and a nice set of sopranos, since my plan is to go to college on the clarinet. I just want to know if my instrument is abnormal before I try to sell it.
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Author: Brad
Date: 2004-04-12 19:14
If you had no problem playing those notes on your Selmer you should also have no problem playing them on the Buffet. You might consider having your horn looked at by a repair tech to check it for leaks etc. I recently had my Buffet 1193 serviced and it made a huge difference especially in that register. The adjustments he made were almost all related to fixing a lot of small leaks.
Good Luck
Brad
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-04-12 19:31
The symptoms Topher describes (resistant and sharp "long" clarion notes) are endemic to, and nearly universally found on, bass clarinets having a single-register-vent design, which the Buffet 1180 does (unlike the more advanced 1183 and 1193 models). Every once in a while one finds a single-register-vent bass that plays well on those notes, but it is VERY rare. And as for 'fixing' the problems, it's nearly impossible: I've tried many times to make the Leblanc/Noblet/Vito, Robert Malerne, and a few other single-vent basses play openly and in-tune in the lower clarion, and have rarely made more than a very small improvement. It's a design flaw, pure and simple --- so having a repair tech look at the horn will be a waste of time and money, I'm afraid. The solution is an 1183/1193 or other D-R-V bass (e.g. Selmer 35/37, Amati 691/692, etc.).
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Author: javier garcia m
Date: 2004-04-12 20:28
I have a Buffet 1180 also, the notes you say are more resistant than the clarion register. Regular practice has improved the sound on this register. Differents reeds (I have a Vandoren B44 mouthpiece) make some difference. Maybe if you try other mp. I don't have more mouthpieces to try.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-04-12 20:32
I had the opportunity to play one of these basses a few years ago and I thought it was lousy. Very uneven and crummy intonation.
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Author: graham
Date: 2004-04-13 08:45
David: the ones that played in tune with the SV key:- is it fair to assume they were very flat indeed from low G sharp down to E?
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Author: allencole
Date: 2004-04-13 14:25
I recently play one of the new Yamaha 221's (a redesign including rubber o-rings at the tenons) and was astounded at its clarion response. It is the only SRV horn that I've tried with this kind of response. Wasn't sure about intonation but didn't have any complaints at the time.
Has anyone else had experience with this model?
Allen Cole
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2004-04-13 14:42
I feel the Vandoren B45 mouthpiece could be a possible problem here...I have tried some of Walter Grabner's bass clarinet pieces and they tune really well even on junk Selmer Bundy bass clarinets!
Walter can also do facing work that may improve the pitch on your mouthpiece as well....however, I am not sure whether such open facings as the B45 are that easy to adapt and tune for a reface...
David Dow
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2004-04-13 14:59
graham,
No, in fact the two single-register-vent bass clarinets that played well in the lower clarion register (out of the many dozens I've played over the years) played in tune throughout their range --- proper intonation in the clarion was not achieved at the expense of extreme flatness in the low chalumeau. Wish I could explain why those two instruments played well! Sounds like Allen Cole's Yamaha was another 'favorable anomaly'. The three Yammies I've tried were not so good, I'm afraid.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2004-04-13 18:39
The earlier comments by Dave S quite well portray my search [among several basses] for a lower-clarion-playable, reasonably-in-tune bass, a Selmer low Eb 31,2,3's series, with D R Keying. Haven't found better even with newer, low C, Sel and Buff! I just gave up on the Single R K models. After pro repair, I spend several hours on tweaking key work and pad-rise to my desires. It satisfies my mediocre-playing demands. Pomarico mps are best, IMHO. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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