 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: graham
Date: 2000-03-13 03:37
I am a high school bass clarinet player. I need my own instrument for personal use outside of band. I am planing on playing the bass for the rest of my life!!!
Does any one have any recomendations as to what brand to buy? Many people tell me vintage selmers, new selmers or new buffets. I have herd nothing about yamaha, leblanc or Amati. Does any one have anything to say about these brands? Is there a brand I have not listed that makes good horns? Should I invest in a low c, or wait until the arangement and my personal use calls for one? Does any one know where I can obtain a good horn at a reasonable price?
I know the wwandbw has goog prices and nemc has some better prices but are there any other mai order place that have good prices also? I found that on my school vito a size 3 1/2 works best. I also have trouble with every note above the E above the brake. Will a better instrumetn fix this?
I would try one out myself but I live in new mexico and we are bass clarinet deprived. Henri Bok told me about the new selmer 25/II. He says it is more recent tan the 37. Is this true? I have not personaly herd of this instrumet in any of my research over the past year and was wondering if any one else had?
Thank you for all your help,
Graham
P.S.
I have herd bad things about the amati ACL-391,2 But have heard nothing about their new model ACL-691,2. Is this model equaly unplayable? It has new keys, a new bore and is basically a whole new instrument according to GEorge seger of Amati usa.
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Author: ROBERT P.
Date: 2000-03-13 06:18
YAMAHA IS GOOD. AMATI WOULD BE A VERY BAD CHOICE.
I RECOMEND A LOW C.
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Author: SusieQ
Date: 2000-03-13 14:24
The local music store in my area will match the WW&BW prices on a bass clarinet, so I would check the catalog and bring it in to your local store to see if they will give you the same price. As for what to buy, it depends on how much you can spend. I have been playing an old Bundy I picked up for $100 for 15 years and it will stand up to any of the new student models, but I dream about having a Buffet that goes to low C.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-03-13 15:34
Hi Graham - You have so many questions re; bass cl, that are difficult to answer, that you need to study the many threads on this BBoard and in other sections of Sneezy, perhaps Mark C can point them out better than I. I play bass cl regularly in our community band and very seldom do I find a need for a low C horn, except in some symphonic works and some church-type "studio-orch" arrangements, usually to low D only. The diff. in cost from a low Eb is great, no doubt as you know, and both carrying and playing the greater length is also to be considered. My best is an older Selmer 33, also have a 50's Conn [low E NAT.]which is a good player, just not as "resonant" down low. I believe there have been some Conns at low-bid-prices on EBAY. Brook Mays' free ads and the Wichita Band site may give you some info. Otherwise, having lived in Durango, CO, the nearest pro help will be Albuq. or Denver. Re: your present problems, it sounds as if you have pad leakage and/or adjustment problems, prob. upper joint, also register key and its tube may need a careful look-at.
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Author: graham
Date: 2000-03-15 01:16
I tried an amati soprano and it seemed desent.
Would you guys recomend getting a intermediate one or a pro and not bother with a student?
Graham
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Author: Alec Thigpen
Date: 2000-03-17 21:37
I recommend a low C, as there will be times you will want those notes, and the horn is more linear than the Eb - smoother transitions and not as prone to overblowing the low notes. The higher resistance will be quite noticeable though. The newest Buffet 1193 is reported to be very well tuned with improved response from the older 1193. I would arrange a trip to the store with the most to choose from and take a clarinetist friend and a tuner for objectivity on both fronts. Try the Selmer and Buffet if you want to keep the choices simple, add Leblanc then Yamaha if you want to complicate your task more.
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Author: Fred McKenzie
Date: 2000-03-19 01:15
graham wrote:
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I am a high school bass clarinet player. I need my own instrument for personal use outside of band. I am planing on playing the bass for the rest of my life!!!
Graham-
You may do that, as I probably will. However, I don't think you should attempt to buy the "ultimate" instrument at this stage. Perhaps you can purchase a reasonably priced used wooden instrument to tide you over. Otherwise, just keep on playing the school's instruments.
I think you should try several different instruments over a period of time. For example, there will probably be better school instruments in college to become familiar with. Your choice today would likely be different than the choice five years from now.
I don't agree with the recommendation to purchase an instrument that extends to low C. Our band has an extensive library, and we play frequent concerts. I only recall two pieces over the last several years, that went below Eb. (One was the Canadian Brass Christmas.) On the other hand, the expensive Buffet with low C is reported to be better than any other Bass Clarinet over the normal range. That would be the only reason I would consider it, not because it goes to C!
Fred
<A HREF="http://www.dreamnetstudios.com/music/mmb/index.htm">MMB</A>
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Author: graham
Date: 2000-03-22 00:52
Mr. Berger,
What do yu mean by pro help? If you mean in the case of music stores and pro bassists there is none in albuquerque.
We are bass deprived. Do you recomend a music store in denver were I could go to Try out different basses.
Thank you,
Graham
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