 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Scoti
Date: 2011-03-13 15:51
Hello again everyone,
Just thought I'd give an update on my bass clarinet search. I really thought I wanted a low Eb instrument. I tried several really nice ones and almost bought one. Then a friend loaned me his model 33 low C Selmer. Once I got use to the extra weight and length, I really saw how I could make use of the extended range. So I'm looking for a low C now! Thanks to you all for your input!
Scott
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: PrincessJ
Date: 2011-03-13 16:54
You won't regret it - I feel "restricted" with my low Eb bass, and as much as I love the instrument, I would have liked a low C.
-Jenn
Circa 1940s Zebra Pan Am
1972 Noblet Paris 27
Leblanc Bliss 210
1928 Selmer Full Boehm in A
Amateur tech, amateur clarinetist, looking to learn!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2011-03-13 17:01
PrincessJ wrote:
> You won't regret it - I feel "restricted" with my low Eb bass,
> and as much as I love the instrument, I would have liked a low
> C.
That may depend on repertoire. If I had a low C bass and couldn't play its range because of the band's repertoire that doesn't call for those low notes...
--
Ben
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Simon Aldrich
Date: 2011-03-14 03:56
With my contemporary ensemble, I can't remember that last time I played a bass clarinet part which *did not* descend below a low Eb. Nearly all bass clarinet parts these days go lower than Eb.
Any serious bass clarinet player will regret getting a low Eb bass clarinet, as opposed to a low C bass clarinet. I have witnessed this with colleagues buying a low Eb bass clarinet to save money.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Scoti
Date: 2011-03-14 05:08
Hi everyone,
Yes, I'm convinced that the Eb would not be a wise investment after playing the low C. Thanks for all the input!
Scott
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: davetrow
Date: 2011-03-14 06:01
Be sure to try a Buffet 1193 if you can. The one I'm lucky enough to play is glorious. And I'm using the low notes in both wind ensembles I play in.
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2011-03-14 14:07
Heaven forbid I should say anything negative about Buffet here, but I have yet to hear in person a bass clarinetist who plays one whose sound I like. The local Buffet bass players I've heard (a small sample, granted) have sounded thin and buzzy to my ears. I don't know who plays one in a major symphony orchestra, undoubtedly there are some and undoubtedly they sound fabulous.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: gsurosey
Date: 2011-03-14 15:10
I wouldn't call it a major symphony orchestra, but my teacher plays a Buffet bass (to low C) in the RPO here. I'm not sure what model it is.
----------
Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2011-03-14 15:21
Nowadays the orchestras that used to be called "second-tier" (like the RPO) sound every bit as good as the traditional "majors", to me anyway. I haven't heard the RPO recently, but in my opinion orchestras such as Baltimore, Saint Louis, San Francisco, Houston etc. sound fabulous. Maybe because the standards for admission into orchestras have gotten so insanely high and there are so few jobs for so many applicants, that just about any orchestra has superb players in every chair.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-03-14 17:00
Even if you're using a low C bass in a concert band and the band parts don't descend below low E or Eb, you can always put some things down the 8ve where you feel like it and the voicing/arrangement allows (eg. sustained low Ds, Dbs or Cs instead of middle ones) to add more depth - especially if you have weak tuba players.
But that could also create problems too if you have weak tuba players as they may not be in tune with you!
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wicked Good ★2017
Date: 2011-03-14 17:59
J. Lawrie Bloom, Chicago Symphony, plays a Buffet bass. Seems pretty "major" to me. :-)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
There are only 10 kinds of people in the world:
Those who understand binary math, and those who don't.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2011-03-14 18:06
"The exception that proves the rule"? Actually, I've never understood that phrase, it's nonsensical.
Great players like Lawrie Bloom would sound good on a Bundy or Vito or just about anything. But the less-than-great players I hang out with have not sounded so good on their high-dollar Buffet basses. That's all I'm saying.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wicked Good ★2017
Date: 2011-03-14 18:22
Couldn't agree more. No high-dollar horn will help in those cases. Myself included.
(But still happily playing on a D.S.-refaced Ridenour mouthpiece on my high-dollar Buffet bass.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
There are only 10 kinds of people in the world:
Those who understand binary math, and those who don't.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: davetrow
Date: 2011-03-14 22:15
David, in the expression "the exception that proves the rule," the word "proves" means "tests." Originally, the expression would have been "proofs the rule" (like proofing alcohol), but English usage has changed.
Dave Trowbridge
Boulder Creek, CA
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Chris P
Date: 2011-03-14 23:16
I thought the phrase was 'the exception to the rule'.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2011-03-15 11:06
Sorry I brought it up.......
AND NOW, BACK TO OUR THRILLING DISCUSSIONS OF LIGATURES AND CASE HUMIDIFIERS!!!!!!!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
