 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2012-02-20 16:10
Just bought a Selmer 25 basset horn and was wondering what mouthpiece/ reed/ ligatuire combos were most successful. The Selmer mouthpiece that came with it seemed very stuffy.
Right now I'm using a Clark Fobes, Gonzalez FOF 3.5 (which is my standard Bb reed), VanDoren Optimum ligature of the equipment I already have that works the best. Hawkins and Hite mouthpieces that I tried are all quite stuffy on the basset horn too.
Like the horn otherwise. Very in tune with itself even in the altissimo range, which can be a bit wild.
Any suiggestions would be most appreciated.
Eefer guy
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-02-20 16:26
Any Bb mouthpiece of your own choice should work with it as they're designed to be played with them.
Some of the low notes can be a bit dodgy tuning-wise on Selmer basset horns - don't know if they've done much research and development on them since 1988 (the last new one I tried was a D series back then), though I suspect not.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2012-02-20 18:39
I find that the Selmer Basset Horn works best with a slighly lighter setup than for my normal Bb/A.
The long narrow bore and lower pitch influences this I think.
Don't try and "push" the Selmer too hard, it responds best to gentle persuation.
I usually use my regular Bb mouthpiece (VD A1 Crystal) on the basset but on a few occasions have used a longer lay model and suspect that it would probably respond a little better to that but haven't found time to work on it yet.
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Author: Wes
Date: 2012-02-20 21:43
On my Series 9 Selmer bassett horn, I did not prefer some of the traditional Bb French mouthpieces that work so well on many Bb clarinets. The mouthpiece I like is a Selmer C85 with an open facing. Previously, I had used a very old Selmer C mouthpiece that I had refaced.
My instrument is like new and is a wonderful player. Now, if I could only find a gig!
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-02-20 21:47
I've also found my A1 crystal works well on the Selmer basset horn and also Selmer bassets are much better instruments than Uebels in many respects - if you get the chance to compare the two, you'll most likely agree. Even though the Selmer is a narrow bore basset horn, it has far more tonal substance and a much easier instrument to get on with than the larger bore Uebel.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2012-02-21 00:25
Thanks for the suggestions and keep 'em coming. Looks as though I'll be ordering some mouthpieces!
I took the tuner to this horn and it plays VERY in tune with itself, but this is a new horn so they might've fixed problems in the 9 model in the 25.
I had played a LeBlanc since 1988 and was more accustomed to it; it played much like alto clarinet, not too much resistance. The Selmer has a much more veiled tone. It definitely needs to be coaxed too. I find that i do better playing it from the start in a session. After I play bass or Eb, i find I force the sound too much.
Eefer guy
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2012-02-21 01:41
Of all the major makers of Boehm system basset horns, Leblancs are the largest bore basset horns on the planet with a whopping 18mm bore (which is the same as their altos) - Buffets have just over a 17mm bore and use an alto mouthpiece and the Selmers are the narrowest bore ones and come in at just over 16mm or maybe more recently under 17mm (sorry - don't know the exact measurements). The crook bore on my ancient ring key Selmer basset horn is 16.2mm.
Obviously there are other makers of basset horns out there - Stephen Fox and Ripamonti make Boehm system basset horns as do several of the German makers.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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