 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: matthiAS
Date: 2005-05-01 20:16
Hello,
I need advice for the 'ulimate' equipement. The sound of Louis Sclavis and Eric Dolphy is what I like.
Would you recommend a low C- or a low Eb instrument?
In Germany the choice of mouthpieces is limited; Charles Bay, Vandoren, Selmer and Pomarico.
Has someone made experience with Grabners CX_BB_90?
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Author: Igloo Bob
Date: 2005-05-02 02:43
Doesn't Pomarico make a "jazz mouthpiece" for bass? I remember seeing one on WWBW's website, you might check there. Have never tried it, though, and the only difference I'm aware of is the larger tip opening. Low C instruments are a good deal more expensive, but if you really want one I'd look at Selmer first - Yamaha and Leblanc are usually considered inferior at the pro level for basses, and the sound concept for the Buffet Prestige isn't quite right for jazz, IMHO. This is from my limited experience with the instrument (two trials) but most of what I've heard from others agrees with my experience. Selmer stopped production on their model 37 recently, which was an excellent horn, and just brought out their new bass. I've heard varied opinions on the new one, so really can't say much about it.
On the low Eb instruments, all student models in my experience play and sounds basically the same, with the exception of the Yamaha YCL-221, which is superior for roughly the same price. All my opinion of course, and there are certainly members of this board more knowledgeable than myself on this subject, hopefully they'll chime in.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-05-02 04:46
Dolphy and Sclavis (but all members of the Trio De Clarinettes really) are my favorite bass clarinetists too.
All four of these players use Selmers. Don't know about Dolphy at the time, but Sclavis is an endorser for Selmer, and uses their saxophones too, so obviously he would use Selmer clarinets.
The only professional bass clarinets I've tried are the Buffet and Selmer. I totally disagree with what the first poster said about Buffets have a wrong sound concept for jazz. I don't think there is a "right sound concept for jazz".
Choosing between a low C or a low Eb clarinet, I would really recommend getting a low C clarinet. The low Eb professionals are so expensvie already, that you might as well get a low C.
Since you are not that far from Paris, I would go to Selmer and Buffet factories, and try lots of both brands. Selmer might have 37s left.
From what I could see Selmers had better upper clarion (E-A) notes, but I liked the low notes (especially the low D, Db and C) on the Buffet, and the overall sound of the Buffets too.
About mouthpieces, I've tried a lot, and the one I use and my favorite so far is the Clark Fobes. Vandorens (B40), Selmers, and especially Pomaricos are good too, but you'll have to try many of them to find the one you want.
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Author: Ulrich
Date: 2005-05-02 09:34
Hi mattiAS,
although i'm also german I'll write in english.
The ultimate equipment doesn't exist. It depends on your personal choice, your embouchure, your sound imagination.
First of all, the best advice I can give: try as many mouthpieces, reeds, ligatures and of course instruments as possible. It took me about five years to find a good setup for myself.
About instruments:
depends on how much money you have.
One of my students just bought a Yamaha 221 resonite bassclarinet which sounds great, costs about 2000,- Euro.
Of course the leading brands are Selmer, Buffet and Leblanc.
Selmer has a bigger, warmer sound because the bore diameter is bigger. It's also easier to play.
Buffet has a smaller bore diameter, the sound is more clarinet like. My first instrument was a Buffet and I still love it.
I can highly recommend the new Selmer "Privilege" bassclarinet which is really fantastic but also very expensive (about 8500,- Euro regular).
Instruments down to low Eb play easier than the longer instruments because the way the air has to go is shorter, the reaction time of the instrument is faster. Your favorite L.Sclavis plays very often a short one.
About mouthpieces:
you need a more open mouthpiece.
A Selmer "G" or "H" (if you find a good one which is very difficult), the crystal Pomarico (I have a vintage one with a 2.90mm tip opening), Charles Bay, Vandoren (B40) and Clark Fobes (my new favorite is a model HB with a 2.00mm tip opening). Try as many as possible. Check out www.holzblaeser.com in Berlin. They often have several good mouthpieces.
About reeds:
also, try as many brands as possible. The reeds with the best cane quality and which are not to expensive are Marca (the Excel model works very easy with a clear sound) and Glotin. Vandoren often uses very young cane which sounds terrible after a short period. Also the plastic reeds work well for jazz (e.g. Legere ).
About ligatures: again, try, try, try. I use several different ligatures for different playing situations, B & G, Wislow.
BUT, of course it's important to have a good setup but even more important is to know how you would like to sound. With this knowledge the biggest step has been done.
If you have further questions, contact me under ulrich.drechsler@chello.at
best wishes,
Uli
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