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Extended range bass clarinet: my newbie experience and a question

Author: gsurosey
Date: 2012-08-23 03:58

My Bundy bass clarinet is getting some new pads, so I've been borrowing a Buffet RC Prestige bass clarinet this past month for octet rehearsals (we have one real bassoonist and me covering the other bassoon parts on bass). I didn't know Buffet Prestige basses were RC, but that's what the silver-colored circle plate had written on it. It's a very nice instrument and I would like to have one myself someday (maybe or maybe not a Buffet, but something with the extended range on it). It has 5 pinky keys in the right hand, so I think it's an older model, since I believe the newer ones have 6. On one of the pieces, I'm playing Bassoon II and the extended range comes in handy. I also like how the upper register sings (hooray for the double register mechanism). I've also never used my right thumb to play notes, and that was interesting. The bass I used had 2 RH thumb keys (for Db and C). It's also the first bass I ever played on where I felt the thumb rest was too high (perhaps to accommodate the thumb keys?). On my Bundy, my thumb sits on top of the thumb rest more often than not.

Not long after we finished playing, my left forearm was sore and I realized it was from reaching for the low D that's only located on the left side. On the newer Buffet Prestige low C basses, is that 6th right hand pinky key another fingering for the low D? I have short pinkies and had a real hard time reaching that key (and had to really twist my wrist to get to it). I know that if I ever get the opportunity to buy a low C bass, I'll definitely want to try it out to check for that.

There really is a question here. Do most/all extended range bass clarinets (and lower clarinets) have the issue where reaching for the pinky keys causes all sorts of hand contortion and resulting soreness? Is there a particular brand where I might have an easier time reaching the pinky keys (without having to modify the instrument)? If I ever get the chance to own an extended range bass, I want to make sure I can get something that's not going to be painful to play. As it is, I needed to either add a cushion to the chair or tip the bass backward so I could reach the mouthpiece (dang shortness affliction). Ironic, because earlier in the year I played a performance where I had a tough time playing my Bundy bass because the chair was a little tall and I had to slouch to play my bass (the peg attaches to the body instead of the bell and the attachment is kinda high up on the body).

Ah, if I only had thousands of dollars to drop on a professional bass clarinet, it would be mine...

EDIT: I started playing bass clarinet in the spring of 2003 (5th year in college), but this month has been my first opportunity to play one with the extended range on it.

----------
Rachel

Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max

Post Edited (2012-08-23 04:00)

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