 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2004-12-29 21:03
OK, I can’t believe it, but I’m ready to buy a decent bass clarinet, thanks to a small, unexpected inheritance from my dear mother.
Here’s what I want: a horn with good intonation and response, a reliable mechanism that doesn’t need constant adjustments, a LH Ab/Eb key, and the double-mechanism register key. I think these criteria eliminate most student models.
I love the rich sound from my hard-rubber Evette bass. And from the pro-model horns I’ve tried, I prefer the big Selmer sound to the refined Buffet one.
I’m leery of a wooden bass because of cracking issues. I am intrigued by an articulated C#/G# though I’ve never had any kind of clarinet with this feature. And since I play in a community band, I don’t need (and have never needed) a low C bass – though I won’t totally rule one out.
Ideally, I’d buy a used Kohlert bass modified by Dave Spiegelthal. But he has none in stock!
I’m leaning toward a Selmer (Paris) bass. I’m torn by the options. One is to splurge on a brand new model 35 – or maybe the new Privilege, which I tried at ClarinetFest and absolutely loved (if it’s not way pricey). Another is to buy a used 33, 35, or even 37 – I really don’t care if the horn is new, as long as it is in very good shape.
What do you denizens of the b-board think?
I’ve bought (and sold) several used Bbs before, but the thought of buying a used bass seems somehow more complex – a smaller market for a bigger horn that (it seems) more can go wrong with.
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Author: clarinetdaddy
Date: 2004-12-30 00:02
If I had the money I would buy a bass with the Low "C". It just sounds so much better than the Low "Eb". I play the Selmer and really like it. In the band that I'm currantly assigned to has three basses all Selmer with Low "C" and none have had a crack issue. I believe the oldest is three or four years old the newest being just about a year. I must also say that I really haven't played anyother makes but they do need many adjustments to get the horn to play in tune with itself. Good luck.
clarinetdaddy
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Author: Igloo Bob
Date: 2004-12-30 00:54
Yeah, whatever happened with that Privilege? I remember ClarinetFesters mentioning that they liked it a lot in their reviews, but I've heard nothing of it besides that.
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-12-30 03:28
Double-mechanism register key -- wow, I still reach for mine like stomping the imaginary clutch in an automatic tranny car, but I wouldn't deliberately inflict it on someone. Brave soul!
The Selmers are solid beasts and worthy of your investigation, as are the Buffets (more playable and clarinet-like for the more casual player). If you are looking used, don't drop the cash on anything you can't play first. You are correct that numerous things can and do go wrong with the big horns.
Good luck in your search.
BTW, Selmer has not officially announced the arrival of the new bass clarinet design yet. I haven't seen it in our dealer price list thus far, but they assure me it is on the horizon... somewhere... out there... in France...
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Author: Igloo Bob
Date: 2004-12-30 03:43
Cool, thanks for the heads up, Mr. Sloss. I'll be eagerly awaiting until it finds it's way out of the horizon. Shouldn't take too long, though, I'm told that the horizon isn't as big as it used to be.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-12-30 06:43
I like my Buffet low C bass. I've tried a lot of Buffets and a few Selmers and prefered the Buffet much more. The only thing that was better about the Selmers is the notes that use the second register vent came out more easily, but that was really the only thing.
If you pretty much set your mind on Selmer, the best idea is to try as many as you can. How many have you played so far?
About the new Selmer model, I know there is a bass clarinet contest in Rotterdam on October and the prize is the new Selmer Privilege. Maybe you can try to win that cotest.
Good luck finding your bass.
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Author: C. Hogue
Date: 2004-12-30 13:55
Clarnibass -- I don't think I'd win any competitions, especially with the Evette acting a bit cranky these days. I think I'll put the Rotterdam airfare & lodging costs toward the new bass -- though I'd really like to visit the Netherlands.
Yikes, I wrote a boo-boo in my original post. I'm not looking for that two-key register mechanism -- just one with the third register vent/tonehole (often called the second vent/tonehole) on the neck or up high. I agree, msloss, it takes a brave soul to want one of those. As a stick-shift driver of many moons, I have to remind myself not to hit the clutch when driving the BF's automatic. I've "driven" an "automatic" clarinet for so long I don't want the extra key.
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Author: Don Poulsen
Date: 2004-12-30 13:57
I play a Buffet 1193-2 low-C bass also, which I really like. But I'm not going to say it's the best for you as you need to consider your own preferences. What I am going to tell you is that I don't think you should eliminate wooden basses based on a perceived cracking problem unless its something you would spend time worrying about. In the approximately 5 years I've had mine, it hasn't cracked. I play it outdoors as well as in. And, one week this late fall I accidentally left it in my trunk for a few days (which indicates to everyone that I didn't practice on it during that time). I was angry with myself for doing so.
I also have a 50-year-old LeBlanc that has never cracked on me. It has some black filler in four little holes at the bottom of the lower joint, but those may be from removing the peg rather than from pinning it. (It's never had a peg as long as I have owned it.)
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Author: Jen L.
Date: 2004-12-30 14:21
I would also not rule out the wooden horns, unless you're going to spend a lot of mental energy worrying about cracking. If you keep them well-regulated in terms of temperature and humidity, they're fine. My 30-year-old Leblanc Low-C has never had a problem, and it gets outdoor exercise every Tuesday evening during the summer (assuming it's not raining). I know there's a lot more wood to worry about in a bass, but really, you just have to be sensible in the same way you do for a Bb.
From what you've described, a well-maintained used horn professional model sounds like a good choice, but as everyone else has said, play it thoroughly before buying.
Jen L.
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