 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: cb3930
Date: 2008-02-14 22:03
I'm currently in the market for a low C bass clarinet - I've played on a low Eb for a while, and have just felt the desire to have those few extra notes on the bottom for some more advanced literature and the like. I've done a bit of research into it, and at the moment a Buffet 1193 and Selmer 37 are out of my price range. I've been looking around on the web, seeing if anyone is selling a used one, but to no avail. So I have come to you guys - could you give me advice on what would be a good low C bass that isn't within the Buffet/Selmer price range? I've heard bad things about the Ridenour low C, but has anyone tried the new "Lyrique" one? Are there any others I should consider, any places I should look, or just any other tips that you might have? Thank you very much!
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Author: 68fordfalcon
Date: 2008-02-15 14:24
cb3930,
I've played a number of current new bass clarinets available, and I think your best option is to save up for a Buffet 1193 or Selmer 37. In the long run, they are really, really great instruments that will hold their value. A less expensive (although possibly in the $5000 range) option is to try to find an older Selmer wood low c instrument. I'm not as familiar with these instruments, but I believe the 32 is sought after and used by many professionals. In my experience, the newer instruments have less variation from one instrument to another. Certainly this is due to the varying levels of maintenance you encounter in finding an older bass clarinet. Also, I have met a number of professionals who use the older bass clarinets, and many have had significant modifications done to improve intonation and response. I hope this helps. Good luck.
Campbell MacDonald
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Author: Ed
Date: 2008-02-15 16:25
I also think that trying to find a used instrument might be the best option. Some of these are great instruments and will likely be less of a cost than the new ones.
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Author: LCL
Date: 2008-02-15 20:06
I play a 1997 Leblanc Model 430 low C, which is said by many to be inferior to the Selmer or Buffet. To satisfy my urge to see if it could be improved, I had it significantly massaged by Morrie Backun last year. He did an amazing job. So Mr. MacDonald's comments: "... older bass clarinets...had significant modifications ... to improve intonation and response." is a good one.
LCL
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Author: sbrodt54
Date: 2008-02-16 00:05
Almost all of the fever around bass clarinets recently has been the low C models, I did try to play several and found the quantity of keys baffling. I would assume after a bit I could get used to all of those extra keys but I had to judge the clarinets on something so I only played a little in the lower range (Eb-C).
The new Selmer is quite nice, they have revamped the construction and they play quite well as does the Buffet. The Yamaha was my favorite though, clear tone and very easy to navigate. I had a LeBlanc too but I found the upper range to be very resistant, the other three outplayed the LeBlanc in that area (high D -D).
The model numbers were LeBlanc LC330S, Selmer 67, Yamaha YCL-622 and the Buffet BC1193-2-0. The Buffet was the only one that needed to be worked on before it would fit together, the joints were not fit properly before it got to me.
All of them had their own approach to key design for the lower notes and they all had their own tone, please try as many as you can before you purchse.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-02-16 06:23
AFAIK the Selmer 37 is not made anymore. Some stores might still have some in stock, but the 67 (aka Privilege) is the new model. Both the Privilege and the 37 are great instruments. I think the Privilege is better in build quality and a little more consistent between instruments than the 37. The new Buffet is also great but IMO requires a modification to the register tube (others don't think it does). Older instruments from Buffet and Selmers could be very good but intonation is probably not as good as modern instrument, they might have some stuffy notes, and the mechanisms are not as good and possibly harder to maintain. They are much less expensive and I know several players who use those.
If you can find one of the newer models used and can afford it that's probably the best option. I don't know what your price limit is but for example one local player bought a used 1193 low C Buffet bass for about $5,000 in a store in NYC. One of the older models will also be good so that's the next best thing IMO.
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