 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: clarinetdaddy
Date: 2008-07-08 12:13
Hello All,
Just wanted to ask if anyone knows where to buy a good
bass clarinet/lowC? Has anyone ever played the Armati bass?
Thanks
clarinetdaddy
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do
nothing".
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-07-08 16:29
Seems you are in USA so I suggest calling some of the big stores and ask if they have them in stock. I bought my bass clarinet in Woodwind & Brasswind but I heard these models are not often in stock now. I'm not sure if you are also asking what is a good low C bass clarinet, so I assume you already know (but if not I can add what I think about that too).
Do you happen to speak and read Hebrew? If you do I can email you my very detailed review of an Amati bass clarinet. If not I can write some of it in English. I think there is also a review of an Amati bass clarinet somewhere here on the forum so try a search.
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Author: bill28099
Date: 2008-07-08 17:48
I tried out an Amati bass to low C a few years ago. It was an OK horn but had some mechanical problems so sent it back. Ended up buying a 10 year old Buffet to low C, much better horn for about the same dollars. Ergonomically I much prefered the Amati and had to have a new neck made for the Buffet.
A great teacher gives you answers to questions
you don't even know you should ask.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2008-07-08 23:26
I tried several a while back for a student. The metal was so soft that the keys bent much to easily. Of the three we were sent two would not play at all and the one that did was pretty out of tune. Unless they have improved them a great deal I would stay far far away. ESP www.peabody.jhu.edu/457 (Listen to a little Mozart, live recording, not on an Amati bass clarinet)
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: graham
Date: 2008-07-09 16:39
The Amati I got about four years ago has worked well. However, it was worked on so may not be representative of the instrument straight from the factory. The keys rattle alot but they are not soft and don't go out of adjustment. The tone is somewhat light, but because it is not "wide" it projects quite well to compensate. Notes below E flat do not automatically shut the pads above, as would be the case on say a Buffet. Clarion B is a bit sharp.
All I can say is that I don't regret getting it.
One point on reviews. These are often based on an extensive but time limited test. I have lived with this instrument for four years during which I have used it in, for example, Rite of Spring, Shos 8th/4th/6th, Mahler 6th/4th, La Valse, and all of these in performances, not just run throughs. The instrument has delivered in these contexts.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2008-07-10 07:58
I'll translate and post some things I found about the amati bass. This is the low Eb model which afaik is identical except the extra notes.
First of all mechanics. This is describing all the problem it had from factory but of course some of those are possible to solve and/or improve.
Good:
- The wood seemed good.
- The keys are silver plated (looked like good quality plating).
- It has adjustable thumbrest and tunable neck.
- Real pivot screws with head (i.e. not pilot pivot screws).
- Double register key mechanism.
- Metal pins for left pinky levers.
Bad:
- Very soft keys so playing can feel strange (for example, the left pinky levers can feel like there is no real end to their movement). The soft keys can affect adjustment (not as accurate adjustment). At least the design of the key (arms) allows reasonable adjustment unlike in some of their student model soprano clarinets that I've seen.
- The whole instrument uses natural cork for key linkages which makes the adjustment even more problematic on top of the soft keys.
- No metal under flat springs so sometimes can create a bump and not slide smoothly. On this instrument this happened on maybe the most critical of those, the throat A key.
- Neck and bell linkage designed badly, making them only work at a very specific angle.
- Several tone holes had chips. Especially the top of the two pads for throat F# was very bad and no way it would seal even when pressing hard.
- Some of the pads were a little too thick and/or not adjusted correctly. Cosmetically, there was a lot of glue that oozed outside of the key cups and wasn't cleaned.
- Some of the keys had free play where there shouldn't be any or too much free play where there should be only very little.
- The connetion of the main joints is not so good and it is very easy to bend it if not assembling the instrument very carefully.
- The lower joint tenon was a little too thick (would get stuck in the bell).
- Some keys (I didn't disassemble all of them) had gooy (I think that's the professional term) leftovers from bad key oil. I don't know if this is from factory or some repairer.
- Double register mechanism not as tight and accurate as some better models (mainly because of the main joints linkage).
- The case is just a suitecase type case which I think is not good for a bass clarinet, which IMO needs a case with shoulder straps. Some keys were bent and it never fell so maybe it could happen while carrying it in the case (or from playing).
After everything was adjusted as much as was possible (changing linkage materials, pads, correcting tone holes, etc.) it played pretty good. The sound was more similar to a Selmer than Buffet but not the same either. I thought the sound was good, but I can't describe in vague terms like bright and dark which I think just confuse more than anything.
Generally when playing it felt like one of the better instruments (Buffet, Selmer) with every parameter reduced a little. Good but not as accurate intonation. Pretty good but not as full sound. Decent but not as tight and smooth keys. Response of the entire range was as good as any instrument. Maybe worth mentioning that the transition from throat A# to B is not as good as the better instruments (the sound of notes is more different than a Buffet).
One other thing, the stock mouthpiece, just like any stock Amati mouthpiece I've played, was pretty much useless. I'd only use one if you absolutely can't afford a different one, but if you buy this instrument you can anyway. It was possible to play it, and for a good player manage to sound ok, but compared with a decent student mouthpiece like Yamaha or Fobes Debut it's just awful.
Nitai
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