 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: D
Date: 2006-07-08 20:21
Greetings Oh Wise Ones
Out of the student bass clarinets curently available, do any have the steeper angled neck (more like the soprano angle)? Also out of the student bass range are there any which stand out as better value or is it just dependent on luck and a good repair tecnichian?
I am drawn to the Jupiter because I am a stingy beast at heart and it seems to be the cheepest, but similarly I don't want to waste money if I can spend an extra £100 and get something significantly better.
I await your wisdom in humble awe
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2006-07-08 20:53
The horn offered through T. Ridenour has a "steep" neck angle, or at least the one I fiddled with up in Dallas during our Hurricane Rita evacuation did.
While I have always preferred the "clarinet" angle to the more available "tenor sax" one, I would not recommend purchasing the Ridenour horn. Too many quality issues on the one I examined.
Instead, buy a student horn for which an after-market neck is available. A little more expensive, but better in the long run.
Of all the factors in playing bass clarinet, I would rank the neck angle as third in its influence (after mechanical integrity and mouthpiece selection) in influencing the ability of a newcomer to "learn" the instrument.
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: D
Date: 2006-07-08 21:10
Thanks Terry, that is helpful.
I probably should have said in my first post, I also play the alto sax (started before the clarinet actually), but I have always struggled with the neck angle on it, and really don't want to end up with a bass coming in from the same direction. I think it might be the shape of my jaw, but the soprano angle is just easier for me.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-07-09 06:47
"Instead, buy a student horn for which an after-market neck is available. A little more expensive, but better in the long run."
Is there such a bass clarinet? I think better investment of your money would be to have the neck's angle changed. I think it would definitely be cheaper than getting another neck (if there is one at all).
Although, I would say if you can afford it then buy a good used bass clarinet, even something like a Selmer if you can.
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2006-07-09 12:53
Good used bass clarinets (Selmer Eb range horns included) retail for far more than new student horns, at least in the transactions that I've monitored. Getting a Selmer USA student horn for a lesser price plus a couple of hundred for the after-market neck is a far more realistic solution.
As for the modified seating position (leaning forward, horn tilted under player to effectively "modify" the neck angle through horn positioning), it can be done. However, encounter the wrong chair and it's back to the "flat angle" setup all over again, something that can be very distressing when a player has learned to rely on the original plan for the good angle.
The better solution is to use the proper neck, and thus not have to deal with specialized posture and the like. I've gone through about twenty bass clarinet students back when I taught, and the ones with the modified neck (and the well-maintained horns) always out-performed the stock straight necks, hands down.
What is so mystifying is why student horns continue to ship with the "flat neck" in the first place. It's not rocket science (my old Buffet "Albert" system horn from the early 1900's had a neck angle close to the current pro horns), it's not all that costly (and, with the tuning slide on the horn as it is on student horns, is even cheaper to fabricate). But, it remains the province of the after-market for the less-expensive horns.
My Model 33 has a hybrid neck, composed of the upper section of the original Selmer neck with the crook section of one of Charles Bay's early custom necks. WHile I was never quite satisfied with the Bay neck's overall configuration (and while the Bay neck's upper section was made of extremely soft brass than was easily bent and dented), the hybrid neck works just fine. The finish differences (the Bay neck had different plating than the Selmer original) was addressed when I had the horn overhauled and silver plated. (The newer Bay necks are of a much higher quality, from the samples that I've seen and evaluated.)
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-07-09 14:55
I will clarify a little. Older used clarinets (for example Selmers) don't cost that much more than new student ones, at least in my opinion, if you look into the future (i.e. you are likely to eventually want a better bass if you buy a student model, but an old Selmer might be good forever, even some professional players use them and not new models).
About the angle - changing the angle on the neck will probably cost much less than getting another neck. Also you can get it closer to the exact angle you want.
About students who play the more angled neck playing better, I can only guess it is because they are used to soprano clarinets so it is more comfortable for them.
Although I really prefer the more angled neck to the straight one, if I look at all the best bass clarinet players, most play with the straight angle. I'm not sure why though. Although I can't stand the Selmer 35/37 angle, I would prefer if the angle on my Buffet was slightly less angled.
Hope that helps.
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2006-07-09 17:47
I purchased a bass clarinet from Hayes House of Music in Kansas. It was low-priced, a used Leblanc Paris model. Even though it had 'supposedly' been completely refurbished, I then had it refurbished by my guy for a little more and purchased a Jupiter neck for $75 to replace the unfortunately choosen Vito neck that it came with that was damaged beyond use. The neck looked like the resizing job went terribly wrong.
My total investment is just under $2000. I was trying to keep it under $1500 but ran into some unanticipated work. It's hard to buy used online.
I added a Hite mouthpiece, which is really nice for a beginner like me. The instrument doesn't squeak, has great intonation, and a feel I'm used to. I have Leblanc Paris alto and Bb soprano clarinets too.
That's a little better than buying a new one of similiar quality for the $4000 or more that you typically see. I suspect a music major would appreciate this player. For me, it is way more than I deserve. ;o)
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
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Author: D
Date: 2006-07-11 08:54
Gandalfe I think you did really well with getting it playing for $2000.
I wonder if clarinets are generally cheaper in the USA than the UK. Because the only bass that you can purchase here (UK) new for under £1000 is the Jupiter (as far as I know) and second had ones all seem to be way above that because it seems like only the good ones come onto the market.
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