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RE: Bundy Alto Clarinet

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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