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Re: F Clarinet

Author: Chris P
Date: 2018-08-28 04:18

https://imgur.com/a/U810Vku

Hehe! A basset horn to low E!

I've got an old ring key Selmer basset horn (low C) based on the Buffet design which looks near on identical from the middle socket ring upwards as the lower joint obviously carries far more keywork. That also uses a soprano mouthpiece as does the current Selmer basset horn.

Here's its twin: http://www.clarinetsdirect.biz/SelmerBH-Ismay.html

Mine's earlier than this one by just one number and the top joint on mine hasn't been converted to plateaux keywork. I can see why someone may have done that as the tuning up top is unstable with some conventional fingerings - especially altissimo E and F as they go off the scale with LH1 raised.

For altissimo E and F I either half-hole LH1 for both of them, or for E, keep LH1 closed and open the throat G# key and for F nudge the throat A key open instead of lifting LH1 off.

Mine's a work in progress - I still need to add some extra keywork to the lower joint and considering converting the LH1 ring key to a perforated fingerplate to make the altissimo E and F easier. And a floor spike as mine hasn't got one fitted. But I do have a modern Buffet RC Prestige basset horn which I also need to do some keywork alterations on and tonehole work in the form of fitting tonehole bushes/tubes that enter into the bore in a bid to keep condensation out of the ones on the back of the top joint.

https://imgur.com/a/U810Vku

As well as playing other basset horn parts that don't descend below E, I think it's a pretty useful instrument if you don't always need the basset notes and you also have plenty of music in the solo cor anglais and horn repertoire to play from, so there's no real limit to what it can do.

Next one you should get is a G clarinet to bridge the gap!

Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.

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