 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2005-01-10 21:48
There are 2 Eb clarinets at my school, and I'm wondering which one is probably going to be better to play in the long run. I am going to play a solo at contest this spring- either Arietta and Scherzo or Two Dances from the Nutcracker.
The first is a Bundy, Serial #404, I dont know what model. With it is a mpc that says Geo. M. Bundy in script along the bottom front, and a #3 under that. It is quite tarnished and rather old looking, and is plastic.
The second is also a Bundy, serial #3085, also don't have a model name. The mouthpiece is unnamed as well. This clarinet is a shinier, more "plastic-y" look than the other one, and the keys are less tarnished.
I'd appreciate if anyone could give me some input on which clarinet to use. From limited playing, I have gotten the best sound with the combo of the Bundy mouthpiece (from the 1st clarinet) and the second clarinet. I think the 1st clarinet could be v. nice, the upper notes sound prettier, but it needs to see a tech (the middle of the staff B & C sound really bad), and I don't think my band director would go for that.
Beck
BCG
Post Edited (2005-01-10 21:50)
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Author: William
Date: 2005-01-10 22:38
If it were me, I would select the older Bundy (#404) as it was Selmers intent--with their vintage Resonite clarinets--to build a quality instrument, as close to professional standards as is possible with plastic. I have a vintage Bundy effer that plays 90% as well as my "pro" level wood Yamaha. In any case, also play the mouthpiece that plays best for you. Do not judge it on its looks, only on its performance. Those "middle notes" on the older Bundy probably just need some TLC at the repair shoppe. If its "upper notes" on the first clarinet are--as you say--"prettier", then get the middle notes fixed and go with it. Most of all, have fun and good luck.
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Author: Robert Moody
Date: 2005-01-10 22:40
Sorry...it just gives me shivers to think of either of them being played.![[frown]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie2.gif)
![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
Robert Moody
http://www.musix4me.com
Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2005-01-10 23:36
i agree with william. i also have a 60,s vintage bundy eb and its quite good. if you could get ahold of a quality mpc like a selmer or vandoreen it would aid the cause
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Author: clarispark
Date: 2005-01-10 23:37
Sometimes it takes a bit of work for the sound. My town has many adult clarinet players, some of whom have played for 30+ years, but none of them go for the E flat. Only me. In high school.
I haven't got a choice; the high school has only one E flat clarinet. It's a Selmer, probably fairly old, with a mouthpiece by Hite. It has the same problems around the break, except that the A right under the B you're speaking of also sounds weird. It's always flat. The rest of the notes are sharp most of the time. But it's what I've got.
How long have you played the E flat clarinet? Maybe we can swap advice or stories or something. It's so rare I get to talk to anyone who plays it; I'm the only person in this part of my state who plays it in high school band. Check the blue author name thing, my email's on there.
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Author: donald
Date: 2005-01-11 01:35
get the school to repair the older instrument
get a good mouthpiece
i would recomend finding a craftsman to reface a Zinner blank
while it may seem like an expense you can do without, this will make a huge difference to tone and make life/music much easier/fun/rewarding
chop the bottoms off B flat reeds and use these (or at the very least, try this to see if it makes life easier)
donald
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Author: BassClarinetGirl
Date: 2005-01-11 02:54
I'll see what I can do about the older instrument. I'm really lobbying my band teacher to get my bass clarinet fixed (I really don't have the $ to take it in myself for the repad/fixing/tune up it needs, and since it is a school instrument, I really want my director to take it in). I can probably live with it the way it is for awhile, and maybe get it fixed later- I probably won't be playing it this year beyond my Solo contest.
clarispark- Does your hite mouthpiece work well, and do you know how much it would cost at all? I LOVE my Hite bass clarinet mouthpiece (if I would have know my band director would go for a $120 bass clarinet mouthpiece, I would have broken my old one sooner! Actually, the old one had been GLUED back together by a negligent student and it just re-cracked, the whole cork tenon think came off, it then hit the trash cause I refused to re-glue or ever use again). I am probably okay sticking with the mouthpiece it has with it right now, I think the main issue is either with the pads or keywork, because the key moves funny. And actually, the pads look pretty new. I'm guessing noone has played this instrument in a good 5+ years, and thats on the conservative side of my guessing. No one seems to even want to play bass (many think it's for the people who can't play clainet well... well, the band music we get just supports that theory, unfortunately... "dat ... dat ... dat ...") around here, so when I bust out the Alto or eefer, people are like "whats that?!".
Actually, i don't have very many good Eefer stories yet- except I got some VERY strange looks today when I pulled it out- my left ring finger has a nasty habit of hitting the sliver key when I am getting used to playing it again, and I was pushing too much air through, because I had just got done practicing my bass clarinet duet... it was bad for awhile (about 5 minutes, lol).
About the reeds... There is a bunch of eefer reeds in the one case- they are Rico Royals, I don't remember what strength. I sprayed them off and have been using them, and they seem to play fine. Will these work okay? I really don't want to ruin my good Gonzalaz reeds, I don't have a ton of $ to spend on them. Also, what strength would some of you eefer aficianados recommend?
Thanks!
Becks
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2005-01-11 16:59
BC Girl --
Since you were asking about Bundy eefers, I took another look at the one I bought from Ebay a while back and haven't given much attention to. (I never even put a reed on it, just looked at it, and saw the barrel was cracked, and put it away for "later" -- like, when pigs fly, or something).
It also has the same mouthpiece that you have described -- Geo. M. Bundy signature, and then a "3". The instrument is made of resonite or whatever, but the (cracked) barrel is wood. The serial number is partially obliterated by scratches (intentional?), but it seems to read "2316", which puts it between the two you have.
I cut down a Bb reed, and what do you know, this little ugly thing actually plays! There seems to be something wrong with the lower register -- maybe a leak in the register key, because, amazingly enough, the high register and altissimo sound easily. And what surprises me even more, the tone quality is absolutely excellent. I wouldn't know it was an eefer if I didn't already know. It's just like a very high, very sweet, Bb.
So, thanks for giving me the urge to try this instrument -- and I think you may be pleasantly surprised if you get the older one into playing condition.
Susan
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