 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Michelle
Date: 2005-01-05 22:42
I am in the market for a new bass clarinet. Unfortunately, I am in an area where there are no models to play on and help me decide what I like best. Therefore, I have several questions before I select blindly from a web site.
1st: regarding the bore size. I see that there are several bore sizes available (.905 to .945). Can you tell me what difference this makes?
2nd: I currently play a plastic Buffet-Evette and can find NO information on this brand anywhere! I want to know what the specs are, bore size, etc and even year manufactured if possible.
3rd: any personal recommendations on bass clarinets? If I had a heap of cash handed to me with no other purpose than to get a bass clarinet I would probably order a new selmer 37. However, I want to entertain educated and possibly experienced opinions!
4th: where to buy? Of course there's eBay, there's retail stores online, but any other suggestions?
I've played through high school on a vito and college on a yamaha (plastic), took a few years off and have been playing the last 5-6 years on my Buffet-Evette in a community band. I am not a professional and probably will never go beyond local community band/orchestra but I want to sound good and play a good instrument.
Thanks in advance for all your efforts in answering my numerous questions.
Michelle
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-01-06 07:42
I have to say that ordering a new bass online is one of the worst things you could do. When I bought my bass clarinet, I tried 5 Buffets and 4 Selmers. If you order online you can't control which one you get, and one of the selmers I tried was so bad, I wouldn't wish anyone to receive it. There is a chance you will get an instrument like that if you order online, and you will be very disapointed.
Ordering a used instrument is a different story. That is someting I wouldn't do, but it could end as a very good deal. Problem is, no one will say the bass clarinet they are selling on eBay has stuffy notes, bad intonation, and thin sound, but you still might get exactly that. If you buy from eBay it's probably best to buy only from a person who actually played the instrument, and sound like they know what they are talking about.
Do you need the low C notes, or a low Eb is fine for you? If you don't really need the low C I would get a low Eb instrument.
Where are you that you don't have any places to try bass clarinets near you? If you are in the USA you are close to a store.
I flew 11 hours, drove 14 hours (4 of them in the heaviest rain I've ever seen), drove back for 12 hours, and flew back for 10 hours (the flight back is an hour shorter for some reason) to choose my instrument.
Hope I could help, and good luck.
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2005-01-06 09:32
Where in the world are you? If you are in the Thames Valley, England, then Dawkes Music / Windcraft in Maidenhead is the place to go. (No connection other than as a satisfied customer). As to model, my wife plays bass and she has a LeBlanc Esprit. This is a good student model. (well, she likes it). It is slightly narrower than comparable Buffet models, has less power but a richer tone. UK list price is £3200, but can be got for considerably less.
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Author: Mike Clarinet
Date: 2005-01-06 13:53
I agree - probably the revolting plastic one listed at ~£1k? Saw it, blew it, decided on perfect pitch (straight into the bin).
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