 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: pinky
Date: 2010-09-02 12:02
Hi,
I am a currently a professional subbing clarinet player and am looking to widen my skills in the bass clarinet area. I've played a very little before and have always found it quite uncomfortable and unnatural compared to playing standard clarinet, basset, Eb etc. I'm looking for advice regarding mouthpiece, ligature and reed selection. I currently play a B4013 with Vandoren V12 or 56 size hard 3 or soft 3.5 reeds, am female and of small stature (should that make any difference!). Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
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Author: William
Date: 2010-09-02 14:33
I play a Buffet Prestige low C bass--Walter Grabner CX_BS mpc, Vandoran Optimum lig--parallel rail insert. Orchestral & wind ensemble venues.
FWIW, Walter has discontinued the CX_BS model (customized Selmer C* mpc) in favor of his newest Lawrie Bloom model, a custom Zinner blank. Mr. Bloom is the bass clarinetist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, collaborated in the development of the mouthpiece and plays it in the orchestra.
As for reeds, I am play-testing some prototype Forestone bass clarinet reeds which are extrodinary--better than Legere's--and will be available soon. I have not used cane reeds for at least five years.
I also play Forestone Bb clarinet reeds as well as the new alto and tenor saxophone reeds which have been recently re-graded and improved.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-09-02 14:59
Since you're not in the states I suggest you try as many "easy" to get mouthpieces as possible. I've always suggested trying the Selmer C* first but see if you can't get at least three to try since, like every other make and model I've ever tried, their all slightly different no matter who makes them. As far as reeds go, that will depend on many factors but I've been using the Rico Grand Concerts for many years now #3 1/2, you would probably be better off starting with some #3s. I love the Rovner ligatures but all of these items mentioned are different for every person so what works for me, or William or L. Bloom might or might not work for you. My best advise is to find a professional bass clarinet players in a symphony near you and take some lessons. The bass voices differently from all the other clarinets and you need some professional help. I also have some information on my website that may help you overcome some of your problems if you can relate to them. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Ed
Date: 2010-09-02 15:14
There are a number of good bass mouthpieces. Clark Fobes makes very good ones that are worth checking out.
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2010-09-02 15:47
It's helpful to keep in mind that the bass is its own animal. the chalameau should be pretty responsive (as long as there aren't any major leaks). It's when you get into the clarion (particularly above third line D and up) that you have to get used to an odd "overblown" feel (I've always thought everything up there felt like one big squeak).
If you like the B40, you may want to try a more open mouthpiece with a softer reed, such as the Pomarico Crystal "Jazz 1" with a Vandoren 2 1/2 or 3. The more open set ups on bass make some stuff a little easier.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: dansil
Date: 2010-09-03 15:22
Hi William
I'm keen to try the Forestone bass clarinet reeds but have been recently trialling the tenor sax reeds on my Leblanc Paris Eb bass. Unlike the Forestone clarient reeds which I love I still prefer cane over the Forestone tenor sax reeds. How do the prototype bass clarinet reeds compare with the currently available tenor sax reeds?
Cheers, Danny Silver
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Author: davetrow
Date: 2010-09-03 15:49
I play the Fobes Nova on an old Selmer 9 bass, which seems to work pretty well. I regularly get compliments on my tone quality. I haven't any experience with other mouthpieces except the Selmer C*, which doesn't work for me (I'm thinking of having it refaced by one of the various craftsmen mentioned on this board), but what seems more important to me, as others have noted, is the extreme sensitivity of the bass to leaks and other malfunctions.
Just the other day, while having the Kooiman Maestro fitted to my soprano, I had the tech look at the bass, which was giving me fits on the clarion A and B. He cleaned out the register tube and slightly adjusted its keywork, and everything was wonderful again, or as wonderful as it can be on a high-school bass with decades-old pads that needs a complete overhaul.
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-09-03 15:55
Just as an add on to by above answer, the Selmer C* I use was "voiced" by David McClune but I've had students that have found some very good ones from stock, just a matter of trying several. My second is a Forbes RR facing, also a very good MP. I've had a few students that also sounded very good on the Grabners. As I said above, it's very individual as to which one is best for you but you really need to feel reasonably comfortable playing the bass before you will know which one is the best for you. It's a matter of which comes first sometimes, the chicken or the egg.
ESP
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
Post Edited (2010-09-03 16:02)
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Author: William
Date: 2010-09-03 21:55
None of my Forestone tenor reeds played well on my Grabner CX_BS bass clarinet mouthpiece. However, the prototype Forestone bass clarinet reeds play wonderfully and I have thrown my old cane and Legere bass reeds away. Haven't tried the Forestone bass reeds on the tenor yet, but see no real need to................
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Author: timw
Date: 2010-09-03 22:45
I also have a Leblanc bass clarinet that my sister in law was kind enough to give me. Dancil mentioned that she has an Leblanc Eb bass clar. My lowest note is my Eb (concert Db)-so does that mean I also have an Eb Bass Clarinet? I have to admit that I just don't know. Until I had one, I assumed bass clarinets were all the same.
BTW, it drives me a little crazy that I have to play all D (as written for Bass Clar) notes an octave higher, but what can I say, its wonderful to be able to play bass clarinet along with clarinet in our community orchestra.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-09-04 16:11
There is no such thing as an Eb bass clarinet. They are all in Bb, or a special order in A. The basses that go down to an Eb are what used to be the standard basses and now there are those that go down to low C and have become very common. They just refer to them as the low Eb or low C bass clarinets, both in Bb though. An Eb instrument would be either an alto or contra alto clarinet for the low instruments. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: timw
Date: 2010-09-04 18:47
Thanks for that response as well as all your other postings Ed. I've learned a lot from you.
Tim Ward
Collingswood, NJ
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Author: 2E
Date: 2010-09-05 12:21
Hey Pinky,
Why not organise a one-off lesson with MSO bass clarinetist John Craven? I'm sure he'd have some great suggestions and tips to make bass less awkward etc.
2E.
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