 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-03-28 19:36
I have been calling around for alto clarinets and I'm
going to look at a Bundy in a few days. A retailer has
obtained it somehow; it's a used instrument. So far the
prices for new plastic altos start at $825. I just want something to have fun with--I might try it in the community band I play with. How is Bundy with harmony clarinets? thanks. Michael
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-03-28 20:22
You should be able to find and buy an alto clarinet for only a few $100's, the demand is quite low. Search on EBAY for "alto clarinet" to get a feel of the market, also look on the Brook Mays site. Unless your fingers are large and "fat", get a plateau model, not an open-hole model. I have several and play only my Selmer. I am working-up an old Pedler to see if there is any advantage in having a "double-register-key" inst. Questions? Don
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Author: Lelia
Date: 2000-03-28 21:54
I own a 1979 Selmer alto clarinet with Selmer HS* mouthpiece and like that combination very much. This seems to me to be a somewhat louder alto than most -- easier to play more loudly without the tone deteriorating. There's also less change in tone quality over the register break than with some models. I'm not familiar with the modern Bundy alto, but the 1960-ish Bundy alto I played in junior high was serviceable enough. I had intonation problems on it, but some of them were no doubt due to my being a beginner on alto clarinet after switching from Bb soprano. The Bundy was certainly a much better alto than the metal monstrosity I had to play before the school's new instruments arrived! Now, that would be a great way to make customers appreciate good or at least average instruments -- give us the world's worst wrecks to play first! Anything would have sounded great to me compared to the Silver Stinker (I've forgotten the real name -- we're talking 40 years ago). Okay, now I'm rambling. Back to topic -- I'd suggest you try any alto before you buy it. Listen particularly to the D above the register break -- actually D, E and F, but particularly the D. If it sounds weak and muffled, with a really big difference between that note (or those three notes) and the notes below the break or above the staff, then try to find a better instrument. The D through F range is the weakest part of the range on nearly all altos, but you'll hear a *big* difference between the best altos and the worst -- including the best and the worst within one brand and model.
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Author: Gary Van Cott
Date: 2000-03-28 22:34
I played a Bundy borrowed from a school for a while. It is ok in the lower register (really the lowest octave) with a decent mouthpiece. I used a Vandoren B44 but there are others that are ok too.
The throat register wasn't very good and the clarion was very uneven. No real competition to the Buffet I have now but that was really expensive. Even that instrument has a couple of problem notes (long B and high C) but is wonderful otherwise.
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Author: Donn
Date: 2000-03-28 23:21
Not long ago I bought a Bundy alto clarinet thru Ebay. It seemed to be a well-made instrument. I did a little tweaking of the keys to get it playing. I had the most trouble with the rocker arrangement of the double register key, getting it to simultaneously close the holes, although I never really understood all I knew about the reason for the double key. I never got comfortable with the alto, so resold it and went back to my trusty Bb. I'm still curious about the keywork.
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-03-29 01:28
Thank you all for the advice. "Double register key?" uh oh, what am I getting myself into? Don, I wouldn't have thought to look on e-bay; I know so little about
what I'm buying that I was hoping to buy locally so I could
test it out first. I appreciate the info. about the "weak notes"--I'll keep that in mind. I will try to keep my
impulse buying to a minimum and look around. I'll let you know what I end up with (if anything.) BTW, the used Bundy is going for $600. It sounds like that may be a little high unless I just fall in love with it. Michael
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-03-29 11:56
I did a search on "alto clarinet" and found some great
posts that were from early 1999. They were very helpful.
I just wanted to say a belated "thanks" to everyone for all
the time and effort put into answering these questions.
From what I read, I'm feeling a little less sure of the Bundy alto clarinet. I'll check it out, but I may wait and invest in a little nicer Selmer or LeBlanc or Buffet.
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-04-01 04:38
I have tried the Bundy alto clarinet and it is in need of a lot of work. There must be some leaks because the notes just above the break are almost impossible. I don't have any history with altos for comparison, but most of the holes are open, and it only has one register key, so I'm guessing this is an old horn. The case looks very old and all the shine is gone from the inside of the bell. I'm going to keep looking around--I can't settle for this one. Michael
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-04-01 14:02
Very wise, Michael, sounds like an old dog, good for experience only, I suggest getting a full plateau model only. Did you find that your hands had "reach problems"? I have tried out several old Bundys [in playable shape] and they weren't comfortable, right hand in particular. Look on EBAY to get a feel of cost of a better one. Don
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-04-01 23:03
Don Berger wrote:
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Very wise, Michael, sounds like an old dog, good for experience only, I suggest getting a full plateau model only. Did you find that your hands had "reach problems"? I have tried out several old Bundys [in playable shape] and they weren't comfortable, right hand in particular. Look on EBAY to get a feel of cost of a better one. Don
Thanks Don. Does "full plateau" mean that all the tone holes are covered with the metal? I was just reading in David Pino's book THE CLARINET AND CLARINET PLAYING (p.219)
that the alto clarinet has "more or less gone out of fashion." I know that knowledge has value on its own (and I'm interested in learning to play the alto) but is it very realistic to think I'll ever use it in a community band?
Do band directors like to have the diversity? Michael
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2000-04-02 00:26
Yes, like the bass clar. , all tone holes are pad-covered, and there should be a small hole for altissimo register access in the "touch" for 1st finger left hand. Re: music, the AC has function in comm. bands and importantly in clar. choirs and has been "coming back into favor" , possibly due to our promotional efforts right here. When playing my Selmer [LeBlancs also are good], I try to achieve Basset Horn tonality, particularly after hearing some Mozart!! Don
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-04-02 03:52
Don Berger wrote:
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Re: music, the AC has function in comm. bands and importantly in clar. choirs and has been "coming back into favor" , possibly due to our promotional efforts right here. When playing my Selmer [LeBlancs also are good], I try to achieve Basset Horn tonality, particularly after hearing some Mozart!! Don
I have found an alto clarinet to rent; it's being tweaked by the store technician.
I'm looking forward to learning something new with the alto, and as soon as I feel ready to do the instrument justice, I'll tell the director of my band to look for the alto clarinet parts for me. I'll let you know how it goes. thanks Don. Michael
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Author: mike
Date: 2000-04-03 19:58
I play bass (and occasionally some alto) in a community band. There will often be alto parts in old marches and what not, and some contemporary composers will call for alto, but a lot of the time you will either play an alto sax part or sit out, depending on how the conductor feels about it. The fellow who used to play alto in our band was so fed up with the lack of parts that he switched back to soprano.
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Author: michael
Date: 2000-04-04 03:15
mike wrote:
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I play bass (and occasionally some alto) in a community band. There will often be alto parts in old marches and what not, and some contemporary composers will call for alto, but a lot of the time you will either play an alto sax part or sit out, depending on how the conductor feels about it. The fellow who used to play alto in our band was so fed up with the lack of parts that he switched back to soprano.
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Hi Mike, I mentioned the alto clarinet to my band's director tonight and she seems enthusiastic about it. I still haven't gotten the instrument yet; it is being fixed up by the store that is going to rent it to me. Michael
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