 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: perryg114
Date: 2017-08-29 01:16
I am thinking of getting a used Bass Clarinet for my wife. Most are b-flat but some are in other keys. I want one keyed in b-flat. How do I know what key a particular horn is in? I am looking at a Bundy right now but might consider a better one if it ends up being something my wife likes to play. I have rebuilt several soprano clarinets with good results. I assume a bass is more of the same with bigger pads.
Perry
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Author: pewd
Date: 2017-08-29 02:08
Bass clarinets that are not pitched in Bb are exceptionally rare, you are unlikely to ever see one.
To answer your specific question, you play a C and look at a tuner.
Show us a link to one you think is not in Bb - we'd love to see it.
- Paul Dods
Dallas, Texas
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2017-08-29 02:12
Basses are generally built in Bb - only rarely you may find a bass built in A (Buffet and Selmer) or rarer still in C (old simple system ones).
All Bundy, Conn, Vito, Normandy, Noblet, Yamaha, and other plastic or student level wooden basses will be in Bb.
Basses can use skin pads like soprano clarinets, but you can use leather pads. Depending on the make, pads will differ in thickness. The top joint pads are usually the same thickness pads as bassoon pads (3mm thick) but some basses use sax pads on the larger pad cups on the lower joint (4mm thick).
If you can order specific pad sets (such as a set made for Bundy basses), then the thicknesses will be accounted for. I'd be inclined to use leather pads as they're much harder wearing.
The main difference with basses is they have a perforated pad for LH finger 1, so you can either fit a cork or synthetic pad in there, or punch the centre out from a leather pad and seal the inside edge where it meets the chimney or if it's a plain hole.
The LH main action fingerplates for LH fingers 2 and 3 will need felt discs glued to their undersides as they close the pad cups immediately beneath them (although the LH3 fingerplate can leave the pad cup below it slightly open).
The RH main action fingerplates don't all close the C/G vent pad - only RH1 and RH2 will close that and most basses have adjusting screws for that regulation. RH3 fingerplate is independent and closes the large pad cup on the side of the lower joint.
The low Eb key (for RH pinky key only) should close both the two open standing large pad cups on the lower joint and the bell key as well. It's also the key that sets the venting for the E/B and F/C keys.
On the top joint you'll have a speaker mechanism that needs to be regulated perfectly along with the left thumb plate. It has a large vent to give a good throat Bb with the standard fingering and a smaller upper vent for the upper register.
Both vents should be closed when the speaker key is in the closed position. With the left thumb held down and the speaker key held down as well, only the upper vent should open and the lower (larger) vent should be closed. With the left thumb off the thumbplate and the speaker key opened on its own, only the lower vent should open and the upper (smaller) vent should be closed. Neither of the vents should be open at the same time when the speaker key is held down.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2017-08-29 10:05
Almost all bass clarinets are in Bb. All Bundies are AFAIK.
Some basses are to low Eb and some are low C (there are occasionally some others like low E or D). Maybe that is what gives the impression that it's not in Bb? Some ads might say an Eb bass and mean it's a Bb bass clarinet to low Eb.
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Author: perryg114
Date: 2017-08-29 16:02
That is what I thought but I figured I would talk to the experts before ending up with something oddball.
Thanks for the information everyone. I will let you know what I end up with.
Perry
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