 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: The_Clarinetist
Date: 2012-03-30 22:01
I was just wondering if anyone has had any experience with this low C bass clarinet that gear4music offers.
http://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/Deluxe-Bass-Clarinet-by-Gear4music/5OX
It is interesting because it looks quite similar to all the other chinese low C bass clarinets out there except for the RH low D lever, which is a configuration I prefer.
There is a short thread about this horn on saxontheweb where poor keywork quality is mentioned but I figured there might have been upgrades since then. Anyone?
http://forum.saxontheweb.net/showthread.php?66090-Anyone-tried-the-new-Gear4Music-Bass-Clarinet
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: john4256
Date: 2012-03-31 07:20
Don't touch them at all!! I bought one. The keywork was appalling, very easily bent out of shape, and the instrument was unplayable when it arrived. It went straight back for a refund. I would put this chinese junk (no pun intended lol) right out of your mind.
I bought a Yamaha instead.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: The_Clarinetist
Date: 2012-04-13 15:41
Has anyone else played this bass clarinet? Maybe there has been an update since john4256 tested it. It seems like a foolish thing to fail on the choice of metal. I mean, why not spend an extra 100 £ or something making the instrument playable?
http://www.gear4music.com/Woodwind-Brass-Strings/Deluxe-Bass-Clarinet-by-Gear4music/5OX
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: The_Clarinetist
Date: 2012-04-13 18:51
You confirm they have redesigned it. If so it might be the older model john4256 adviced against, allowing their last version to be worth buying. Though I am not sure how to interpret their offer with a 14 day money back guarante and their optional extended warranty...
Have you tried any of the two versions?
Yea I noticed that too about the non existing bell key. They probably chose that design due to simplicity and durability, still I would prefer having the vent key on the bell and a shorter instrument. Their design also requires a longer case.
This chineses low C bass clarinet seems to differ from most others out there as it has a sixth RH little finger lever wheras the excluded third thumb key can be easily added afterwards by attaching one to the rod for low D that runs laterally to the rods for low C# and C. Having three thumb keys from the beginning, as on most other chinese bass clarinets, leaving you with only five RH little finger keys is an inferiror alternative as it is much harder to ad a sixh RH lever.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2012-04-13 19:06
You might want to look into David's review of the Ridenour ow C Lyrique bass, which was posted earlier today. Probably a much safer bet!
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: The_Clarinetist
Date: 2012-04-13 19:47
Thanks, but I am particularly interested in this specific bass clarinet from gear4music and therefore started a thread about it. I did read Davids review. For Europeans it is easier to buy an instrument here than in the US.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-04-14 07:42
The improvements mentioned in Dave's review were done by the factory that makes the Ridenour instruments. It is about 99% chance that if a Chinese factory makes improvements, even when based on someone else's suggestions, then they will sell the same product with improvements to others. It's probably around 1% (or less) chance that you could prevent them doing that. Only when they risk losing a huge importer and that means they need to find out first (often not so easy).
I have noticed significant improvements in Chinese bass clarinets that I've tried for the last few years directly from Chinese companies (though I haven't tried any this year). It is likely that all the importers benefitted from these improvements more or less the same. It's also possible there is older stock still for sale.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: The_Clarinetist
Date: 2012-04-14 10:22
Then it might be a good idea to go and try Gear4music's bass clarinet. However, they have some special service offers for it implying there are some quality issues with it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2012-04-14 12:48
It appears that you are dead-set on this horn -- Are you able to trial the instrument? You could tell us your experiences with the instrument and company.
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: The_Clarinetist
Date: 2012-04-14 14:16
Well I object to the formulation since I haven't tried it and don't know if it is any good, might as well be complete rubbish. But it does come to a compelling price and I like the key configuration. I have not done any thorough search but it seems to be the only chinese bass clarinet offered in Europe so I might test it in the future, depending on people's opinions of it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2012-04-14 15:37
The_Clarinetist wrote:
> depending on people's opinions
> of it.
Why not form your own opinion by trying it? The opinion of others may or may not be valid since your interests do not necessarily lie in he same plane as theirs.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: The_Clarinetist
Date: 2012-04-14 17:25
Well I don't want to waste time and money on something that might be a piece of crap.
john4256 stated: "Don't touch them at all!! I bought one. The keywork was appalling, very easily bent out of shape, and the instrument was unplayable when it arrived."
Do you think I would bother travel 4000 kilometers just to confirm John was right? If he says that the keywork is easily bent out of shape I have no reason to question his "opinion". I think a functioning keywork lies in every clarinetist's plane of interest. Now what I was trying to find out was if there has been any upgrade of the instrument correcting these flaws and, equally important, if anyone has tested it.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2012-04-14 20:03
The_Clarinetist wrote:
> Well I don't want to waste time and money on something that
> might be a piece of crap.
...
>
> Do you think I would bother travel 4000 kilometers just to
> confirm John was right?
I wouldn't ... I'd have it shipped for a trial and see for myself. It might cost a couple hundred dollars, but that's just me. I like to weigh opinions (though here you may have a hard time knowing whose opinion might be valid) AND try for myself if I'm a serious buyer.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2012-04-14 21:04
I hope someone responds with the information that you require.
You have given John's opinion a great deal of weight. How many positive opinions are you going to need to override it?
I don't think you're going to have that many people respond to your inquiry -- that is one reason why I suggested giving the instrument a trial. And like Mark, I wouldn't travel to try it -- I'd have it shipped.
Good luck!
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-04-15 05:11
>> though here you may have a hard time knowing whose opinion might be valid <<
Definitey true. It is not that rare to read opinions of others on a forum, sometimes even those who are supposedly very knowledgable and experienced, only to be disappointed when trying yourself. Not just with an instrument, but with what you thought were reliable reviews. Sometimes it's just a difference in intrest lke you said and sometimes it's even more than that.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: The_Clarinetist
Date: 2012-04-15 08:44
I agree with you, but ordering it without testing it will result in a higher price, 230 £, since I am not British and, as you mentioned, the shipping cost. However, I might go there on a trip someday anyway to sort out multiple errands. Though it is a pity the British don't seem to evaluate their products as you Americans. I figure I'll just let the thread rest for a while and maybe average Winston comes by and drops a line.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Anneke
Date: 2013-01-29 10:18
Hi, I'm new to this forum, but have been following this thread with great interest.
I'm living in Belgium, and because of the evolution in exchange rates (strong euro vs weaker British pound), prices of the Gear4Music instruments are dropping for customers living in the eurozone. I'm seriously considering buying a G4M Deluxe Bass clarinet, improved 2013 model down to low C over the next few weeks, depending on when prices are at their lowest point . I contacted G4M to ask about the improvements in this model, and it's mainly the keywork setup and material choice they changed. Hopefully, the keywork issues because of the easily bending metal will be history with this new model, or will at least be solved to a great deal, as I know you can never expect to quality from an instrument priced this low.
I hope to be able to provide you with a (hopefully positive) review somewhere in the near future!
An
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: The_Clarinetist
Date: 2013-01-29 17:07
Welcome to the forum! Too bad the thread has been inactive for so long.
I agree, things are really getting interesting now that the British pound has become weaker. Though it might be an uncertain game with fairly little to win or lose trying to find the most profitable exchange rate, so much easier done in retrospect. At least the trend has been advantageous so far...
When I contacted G4M about the 2013 mod I got esentially the same answer; the key mechanism is improved using a stronger alloy.
I am really looking forward to your hopefully positive review!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2013-01-31 23:16
Don't ever buy any clarinet without trying it out first, especially one made in China.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jack Kissinger
Date: 2013-02-01 03:48
Ed, if I'd followed that advice, the only instrument I would have is my alto clarinet.
Best regards,
jnk
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2013-02-01 12:58
What Ed said.
AND what Jack said (although even my alto clarinet was a 'buy without try' deal)! But then again, I can fix anything I get, a considerable advantage compared to the situation of the average buyer.....
Based on my limited experience with Chinese-made bass clarinets and a few Chinese saxophones, I'd predict that (a) the designs will be blatant copies of instruments from Yamaha and/or Selmer; (b) they will work OK once regulated by a good tech, but will probably not work properly as-received; and (c) they won't have really good tone or intonation even when completely adjusted by a pro. Passable perhaps, but not great.
They are relatively inexpensive, for sure.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
