 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: DLE
Date: 2001-01-08 11:31
As some of you may recall, about 6 months ago I was looking to rent, or buy a Bass. As it happens, I bought one second hand for a reasonable price, and have been thrilled to bits with its performance. It's absolutely wonderful!!
2 questions though:
1. Are Noblet Bass clarinets generally regarded as one of the best, or worst?
I'm not even sure if there is a rating within Bass clarinets, so.....
2. Unfortunately, the Bass came with 2 mouthpieces - the noblet mouthpiece, and a Selmer mouthpiece. I say unfortunately because the Noblet mouthpiece is the one I have been using all the time, since the selmer mouthpiece seems to give off nothing but a squeak!!
Should I stick with the original on the Bass?, or try out other mouthpieces?
P.S. I'm pretty sure that I'm sticking with the original, I just thought I'd get other people's opinions anyway.
Happy Writing!
DLE.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Stephen Froehlich
Date: 2001-01-08 12:18
If it works for you, it is good. The consensus, AFAIK on basses is that the Yamaha/Vito (they're the same instrument) beginner instruments are good enough to get anyone to the level where they should be playing a professional quality instrument. People tend not to talk much about most other beginner horns.
At the pro level that, you get into the Selmer Paris, Buffet Bass debate. (Also Amati/Yamaha's pro models.) Again, there seems to be little discussion/debate beyond those four brands.
I don't personally know how the Noblet basses rate.
On the mouthpieces, the selmer is probably the C*. Selmer C*'s are the standard bass clarinet mouthpiece. They are generally well regarded, and make a nice, fairly pure tone. I would not hesitate to recommend it over the noblet.
As for the squeeks, the two mouthpieces probably have different tip openings, which means that the noblet requires harder reeds than the C*.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: bob gardner
Date: 2001-01-08 14:23
I have a selmer/bundy bass and I just love the lower register, however as soon as I hit the register key my volume drops 50% and every note is a strain.
Do you have similar problem with the Noblet?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-01-08 14:33
Noblets are generally considered to be decent intermediate bass clarinets. I played one through college, and when I graduated to go into the Navy (submarines, not the band) I sold my Noblet to the clarinet instructor at the U. of Md., Dr. Norman Heim. Apparently he considered it to be good enough to buy it from me!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2001-01-08 15:47
I pretty much agree with Dave re: Noblet, having had an old LeBlanc before my Nob, LeB LL and my present #1 bass, a Selmer 30's model, which is the best I've found, particulary since it has "double register keying" that the others did not have. The "DRK' [my term] makes the mid-staff notes [B, C, C#, D, D#] much better and more easily sounding by providing two better-located register vents instead of a compromised single vent. Of course it both costs more and is more complicated, but its worth it to me. Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Francesca
Date: 2001-01-08 21:30
I played on a Noblet bass for years. I think it's an excellent intermediate instrument. I took third place for two years in a solo competition using a Noblet. The only problem I ran into was finding a secure case for a two piece instrument. The one that came with it wasn't the original, but it allowed the poor thing to clunk around every time the case was moved. ( A note to Bob G.: I played a Bundy for a while and noticed the same thing. I never did find out what caused the volume loss. My solution was to trade it for the Noblet.)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: DLE
Date: 2001-01-09 09:32
The Noblet is quite good with volume Bob, as said by Francesca. It gets a little tricky around high C, but other than that, the volume is quite strong.
The case scenario is interesting. The double piece case I have is so tight, that the Bass doesn't have the chance to knock against the sides of the case when it's carried.
- So, you really think I should go with the Selmer mouthpiece?! I tell you what, I'll try it for a week and then some time later, re-post this message, and tell everyone how I get on with it. If it's just a change in the tip, then I'll have to practice changing my mouth position.
I feel so envious of some of you, especially Don with that old 30's Selmer. But then, I'm only 17 years old, so maybe in my long and productive future I'll be able to obtain one.
DLE.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Rasmussen
Date: 2001-01-11 03:31
Bob: I bought a used, abused Vito bass clarinet. I had some minor repairs done to it and tried to play it. The clarion register played very poorly. I have seen frequent references by well qualified players stating that the plastic Vito horns are excellent, but it didn't do much for me. Then I bought a used, abused (I don't learn do I?) Selmer Series 9 with two register holes. After I got accustomed to it, it played relatively evenly up to the 4th C. I haven't tried to play higher yet, but I have no reason to suppose it won't. I think three things are probably true: One, the Selmer is probably better adjusted than the Vito was. Two, the two register holes make the horn easier to play. Three, the Selmer is a better horn.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
