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 New bass question
Author: Wayne 
Date:   2009-04-01 18:36

Just picked up my "new" bass, an old Selmer Bundy which plays nicely. I've noticed a build up of some "crud" along the interior walls.... Is there any way for me to clean this out without hurting the pads ? Also, it came with a Brilhart #2 mouthpiece... I'm new with this bass thing but normally play soprano with a Vandoren M15 (which I've grown to like). I've read nice things about the Fobes Nova and I'm thinking of trying it. Suggestions and comment appreciated..

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 Re: New bass question
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2009-04-01 18:58

Hey look, a fellow Bundit. :-)

Pull a damp (not dripping) rag through the bore, maybe with a drop or two of dishwashing liquid. Repeat as necessary, finish with a water-only and a dry swab.

(can't comment on your mouthpieces, I have a no-name Spiegelthal and a Behn Ouverture and am happy with them)

--
Ben

Post Edited (2009-04-01 18:59)

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 Re: New bass question
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2009-04-01 19:17

I resent being called a 'no-name', Ben! How do you think my poor father would feel if he were still alive to hear that? Heck, his father and his father's father were all Spiegelthals, too!

Now that I've gotten that off my chest......Happy April Fools' Day to you and your family across the Big Pond (in the land of the Beautiful Mountains and Cork Grease Which Smells So Good You Want To Eat It Instead Of Smearing It On Your Tenon Corks).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To get back on topic, a plastic-bristled brush (e.g. a large bottle brush) can be pulled through the instrument without hurting the pads, as long as its diameter is suitable (though they're a bit hard to find around here, for some reason).

Regarding mouthpieces, those by Clark Fobes, Roger Garrett and Walter Grabner have all received good reviews on this BB.

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 Re: New bass question
Author: tictactux 2017
Date:   2009-04-01 19:30

> I resent being called a 'no-name', Ben!

<hangs head>

Oy...the unabridged sentence would mean "I have a no-name hard rubber mouthpiece masterly refaced by David Spiegelthal" :)

Speaking of basses - how's Herr Uebel doing?

Back to topic - the bottle brush idea is good, I forgot to mention it. But I won't tell you what I clean sax bells with... [toast]

--
Ben

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 Re: New bass question
Author: David Spiegelthal 2017
Date:   2009-04-01 20:13

Ben, you MUST tell us what you clean sax bells with! Let me guess.....Swiss dark beer?
Thanks for the correction, you've gone from slightly insulting me to excessively flattering me --- my head is going to explode, I think.

As for Herr Uebel the Oehler-system bass clarinet, he has (mostly-)successfully performed in his first orchestra concert, doing the second suite of ballet music from Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet. Where the instrument truly excelled (compared to most Boehm-system basses) was on the very last note of the piece, a pianissimo repeated, then held, low-D. The Uebel has an incredibly focused sound on that particular note, which in comparison comes out spread and breathy on my Boehm-system Kohlert. Way off-topic, my humble apologies to all (except to Ben, who asked......) [frown]



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 Re: New bass question
Author: Wayne 
Date:   2009-04-01 20:57

Thanks to all, I'll try the damp cloth first. I've been using the black swab that " The Doctor " sell to swab the bass... Are the swabs produced for Bass much different ? So far, it's been a gas to play this old Bundy, but theres a lot of vibration going on in my head !! Sort of makes the soprano seem easier to play after an hour of scales and simple tunes on the bass....
So far, I'm playing while seated using the peg: Just ordered a std bass strap, Fobes mouthpiece and the hercules stand to round out my new bass purchase. The bass came with Vandoren 2.5's which work well in the bottom two registers, not so well above.... I usually play on 3.5's and will try those next. All these years and I'm back on a Bundy !

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 Re: New bass question
Author: blazian 
Date:   2009-04-01 21:28

I own a Fobes Nova!

Sorry, got a little excited since I actually have something minutely important to say.

I must say that the Nova is the best mouthpiece I've ever played. That's what I use all the time. It replaced my well used Vandoren 5RVL. Minor detail: It's for my soprano clarinet. I also have a Brilhart Ebolin mouthpiece for my soprano. I would say that the Brilhart is comparable but not as nice tone-wise.

All I can say about bass clarinet mouthpieces is that I play a C* and a no-name mouthpiece (refaced by nobody).

Tell us how it goes with the Nova! I'd like to know if it's worth trying out.

- Martin

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