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Bass clarinet inquiry - embouchure

Author: gsurosey
Date: 2010-12-02 15:44

At rehearsal last night, I accidentally discovered that if I prop my bass on my eefer case (and sit forward in the chair and tip the bass forward/bring the bell back towards me), it's right where I need it to be height-wise and I don't have to deal with the strap. Sweet! I also noticed that with this setup, in order to get the best response, I'm pushing up into the reed with my lower lip to the point where I can feel it in my jaw (not sure about what my top lip was doing; I don't remember!). Is that normal on bass? I know embouchure-wise, bass and soprano are different. I've found that my bass playing is better if I move farther down the mpc toward the neck.

I wasn't sure if the pushing from the bottom thing was because that's normal on bass or because of a neck connection problem I have. The neck wiggles even if I have the screw as tight as I can hand tighten it (and then I get laughed at because more often than not I have to loosen the screw with a pair of pliers; I'm careful not to snap it).

Anyway, I was thinking that my pushing up on the neck held it in a stable position and was helping out that issue (man, I need money for instrument adjustments!!). Any suggestions on this? I've tried shimming the neck with teflon tape, but that came off (thought it's a great shim on my Bb to make the RH E/B meet the crows foot at the same point the RH F#/C# key does.

Thanks!