 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: MondeLuna
Date: 2006-04-04 06:15
I was wondering if there are any good bass clarinets out there for an affordable price. (under 2500) Most of the bass clarinets I have tried don't speak well in about C (in the staff). I was wondering if any of you have played on a Selmer 1430P, Yamaha YCL221. or an Allora bass clarinet. Any feedback would be appreciated. After playing A buffet prestige 1193 it's been difficult to go back to a plastic bc. I'm not looking for the perfect horn because no plastic horn will offer that. I'm just looking for a decent playable plastic horn w/ a good sound.
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Author: pmgoff78
Date: 2006-04-04 13:15
The Leblanc 400 from the 60's-70's will be a great horn and probably not too expensive. They pop up alot. Try Wichita Band Instrument Co. or charlesfail.com.
Sometimes you have to call because the horn isn't listed until they are finished working on it.
New......you might have some problems. Horns just get more and more expensive by the day. Used is a good route to go IMHO.
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2006-04-04 13:46
As long as you can "settle" for a low Eb range horn, you should be able to do pretty well. Other than dents and dings in the neck and bell, bass clarinets are pretty robust in structure, and most problems can be corrected with a rebuild.
In the late 1960's, I found (literally) a Buffet bass clarinet (Albert system, to low E) buried in the horn storage room of Drury College in Springfield MO. So old and decrepit that it wasn't even on the inventory, it was a tarnished, moth eaten mess. (From what could be learned, it dated back to the early years of the Twentieth Century.) Three weeks later (and with a lot of care and consultation with my repair guru in Saint Louis, it was a hell of a hot playing horn again. It didn't look like my silver plated Selmer Model 33, but it played about as well.
Also, I'm the current custodian of a Conn bass saxophone that was (when purchased) a wreck. Shipped unsupported on a train in a large wooden box, the horn had basically collapsed upon itself when it was received. However, with a lot of careful restoration, it again works pretty much like it was intended to.
Used is the way to go. Move carefully, and make some educated decisions, but don't hesitate to mine the after-market. Once the horn is in your hands, get it set up right and you'll be able to prevent it from further degradation.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: MondeLuna
Date: 2006-04-04 14:27
It doesn't matter to me if the horn is new or used. Just as long as it plays well.
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Author: Katherine Handcock
Date: 2006-04-04 15:45
Hi MondeLuna,
I haven't played the Allora, but I have played the Selmer and the Yamaha. I like the Yamaha better--it spoke more clearly and had a nicer tone, in my opinion. The Yamaha is also nice because it's a five piece bass, so the case is very compact--although if you ever foresee very young students playing it, you'll have to warn them to be careful of the bridge key when assembling.
I know some people will disagree with me, but I would also suggest that you try the Jupiter 673BN bass clarinet. Jupiter instruments were pretty rotten when they first came out, but their newer clarinets are good value for the money. Actually, their 731NMT wood clarinet is now my favourite intermediate instrument, even though I've always been a Buffet fan before! Anyway, the Jupiter bass has a nice feel to its keywork, good sound and tuning. It's a five piece bass, but comes in a case with the two body sections together, which I don't quite understand--it seems to take away the major advantage to the five piece instrument.
Hope this helps you out!
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-04-04 16:34
I believe that these newer insts. deserve mention along with the student models from Leblanc, Amati and Selmer. I've given Tom Ridenour's [Ariosos ?] Eb and low C basses tryouts of about an hour's duration each, courtesy of Larsen Music [B-Mays] in OK City. As brand new [not " broken-in"] horns, I was quite satisfied with the Eb, but found that my small hands could not comfortably reach the low 3 notes on the C. I would suggest their use thru the 12 th grade in schools, but [of course] I prefer wood basses with Double Register Keying for improving the lower clarion and perhaps some better playability. AM thots, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2006-04-04 20:23
One problem with "stored as one piece" two joint bass clarinets that I have seen over the years is that the socket has cracked. I don't know if this was from the abuse while assembled in the case, or from some other cause, but I've not seen the same sort of damage in a two piece body that was carried disassembled.
Leblanc used to do this with their high intermediate horns, the ones in the pro line but without the register vent on the neck. They even fastened a strap across the joints, the better to keep them together. One of many odd things that came out of Kenosha...
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: pmgoff78
Date: 2006-04-04 21:11
I play an old Leblanc 400 and I seem to remember my repair tech (who sold it to my parents) telling us that is was stored in 3 pieces and he bought a 5 piece case for it. Interesting....
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