 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: iriegnome
Date: 2018-10-11 17:18
My daughter is a sophomore in college as a clarinetist. She has been told she is no longer allowed to play bass clarinet until she gets a "better" instrument. We have very little money. Her college is paid for though grants mostly. So spending money we don't have on an instrument isn't the easiest of things.
We are looking for a Low C Bass clarinet. It will replace her Noblet student model. Please tell me what are some of the things I need to watch for? Look for? I have an expert repair person, so "needs work" is ok with us. pads and such. I know I need to steer clear of broken joints, cracks and the like. But any info and input would help a great deal. Models, Brands, Makes, Series all would be pointers in the correct direction. We are located between Chicago and Milwaukee, so any Clarinet dealers that you may know would also help for her to play some of these.
Sorry for being long winded (Ha..a pun).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2018-10-11 18:06
I think the most important question to ask is what is your budget?
I would recommend a Kessler if money is an issue. It's even cheaper than the Ridenour mentioned above and they supposedly came out with a new model. You won't get much cheaper than that.
-Jdbassplayer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: iriegnome
Date: 2018-10-11 18:27
I don't have a budget. It is going to be find one that will be a good player for her throughout her college career and beyond and figure out if or how to pay for it. I prefer vintage instruments (I am a bassist). Her saxophone is a 1937 Conn, so I can work with anything. We looked at a Kessler yesterday, but had never heard of them. I am not sure about Asian built instruments, but they are probably just fine. I have a thing for MIA instruments built in the 50's and 60's. Seems like some extra fine quality (but again, I have no idea what I am talking about when it comes to clarinets)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ed
Date: 2018-10-11 18:40
While there are fine vintage instruments out there, sometimes the newer ones have better ergonomics and tuning.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ken Lagace
Date: 2018-10-11 19:22
Have a talk with Tom Ridenour. He has fine instruments with new technology and they are rather inexpensive.
His emai and site are;
tomsemiterrific@gmail.com,
https://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/
and an honest evaluation of his low C bass Clarinet.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uTrbNPagqk
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2018-10-11 20:33
I have a 1955 Selmer and while I love how it plays it had terrible intonation when I first got it, some notes were 50 cents sharp! I basicly had to completely rebuild it from the ground up and make a lot of modifications, including adding a new neck, to get it to play in tune. Even this bass would sell for 5000+ on the used market. A new Ridenour or Kessler would play much better in tune than any stock vintage bass you can find for a lot less.
-Jdbassplayer
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Tobin
Date: 2018-10-11 23:04
Although it is just one man’s opinion, Michael Lowenstern has reviewed several budget bass clarinet on his YouTube channel “earspasm music”.
The latest Kessler is on there as well.
James
Gnothi Seauton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2018-10-12 00:48
Hi Iriegnome,
I question why your daughter is "no longer allowed" to play her student model Noblet. I'd dig a little deeper and find out who made this pronouncement and what's the basis.
Perhaps an issue of intonation? Maybe the instrument needs repairs. All of these are fixable on a Noblet student level bass clarinet. (BTW: I played a lot of gigs for a lot of years using a Vito stencil bass clarinet). You need to gather some intel before rushing out and dropping several $K. why now are you specific about having a Low C.
If she is a clarinet performance major, I find it hard to fathom her need for a better bass since most of her work is on the Bb soprano. Some bass clarinet proficiency would be a bonus, of course, but possible without a Low C.
Something just does not add up here for me.
HRL
PS I play Selmer bass clarinets and have owned several Ridenours. Great instruments with the Ridenour the "best bang for the buck."
Post Edited (2018-10-12 04:26)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: dorjepismo ★2017
Date: 2018-10-12 02:40
Hank might be onto something. Unless there are really debilitating problems with the instrument, it sounds off for a school person to say something like that. I'm currently borrowing a Vito for some chamber work, and while I wouldn't want to make it a lifetime thing, I'm fairly sure I wouldn't be prohibited from playing it in a college orchestra if I were actually, you know, in college. It sounds like a bass clarinet, the keys work, and it can be made to play in tune. If the young woman has aspirations to play professionally, she will eventually need something that will cost a fair chunk of change, but if that isn't going to happen now, then is the low C really necessary? Doing without it would probably open up a lot of used instruments along the lines of this Vito that would at least move her down the road some. Depending on what her problems are, springing for a top-rate mouthpiece, say, by Grabner, might transform a mediocre experience into a satisfying one.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: nellsonic
Date: 2018-10-12 02:41
I would second the Ridenour suggestion. I have one and it's a great value for the money. Call them if you are interested. They will work with you to make it affordable. They are great with that.
I've tried the newer Kessler, although even less expensive than the Ridenour I don't think it's a good value for a serious player.
Your daughter's clarinet professor should be her first source for information and evaluation of potential instruments. It's very possible that s/he will have some set ideas that will preclude some of what is being discussed here. Start there.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2018-10-12 09:35
>> If she is a clarinet performance major, I find it hard to fathom her need for a better bass since most of her work is on the Bb soprano. Some bass clarinet proficiency would be a bonus, of course, but possible without a Low C. <<
That's possible, though to give a different perspective, I was a clarinet performance major, I played mostly bass clarinet and for me the low C was important.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: iriegnome
Date: 2018-10-12 17:00
Her Noblet was completely refurbished after I bought it. The instrument is 100% playing without any issues at all. What I am finding is that it is mostly snobbery that is the issue. The school has a Selmer 1193 and after tonight's concert, she is being required to either play the 1193 (Which she doesn't like how it plays) or no longer play bass clarinet. She is in a great position at her college since they have no other players that can play Soprano, Alto, Bass, and Contra-Bass (she owns all of them) and even Ab (yes all 5) and can transition to each without any difficulty. Again, I believe it is pure snobbery. They judge the instrument on the fact that it is a "student" instrument, it is bakelite, the keys aren't silver. A whole lot of crap if you ask me. But, a Sophomore in college deserves an appropriate instrument. The Low C would be an appropriate upgrade. Just finding a proper one for her/my current financial means is the issue.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mojo
Date: 2018-10-12 17:20
If the prof plays bass clarinet maybe they can try the 1193 vs Noblet. They might find something wrong with the 1193 and get it fixed.
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2018-10-13 01:49
Iriegnome,
Thanks for the additional details.
The primary issue here is the director/professor wants your daughter to play a school instrument (BTW, if this is a Buffett 1193 that's a really great instrument) rather than her own Noblet.
For what reasons? Makes no difference particularly since a suitable instrument is being furnished. What the director/professor wants is what he or she gets. It has never worked any other way in any musical group or organization I have been a member of or directed.
I would soft-pedal any claims of snobbery by "they" and encourage your daughter to be a team player, enjoy her musical experience, and grow from learning how to thrive even in what might not be her idea of a perfect situation. She will learn important musical life lessons from these events.
The long and short of it is: Play the 1193 and have a great academic year.
Good luck to her.
HRL
PS I am not sure what you mean by "she is in a great position..." by owning and playing a diverse stable of clarinets. Interesting but unless the music calls for those particular instruments, it's not really that important. Maybe trade the Ab and alto clarinet in on a bass clarinet that would be suitable for the director. Or get a flute and learn a nice double.
Post Edited (2018-10-13 03:47)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2018-10-13 08:55
>> The school has a Selmer 1193 <<
Not that it's critical, but the 1193 is a Buffet model, not Selmer. Whether the make name or model name is wrong, if it's a recent Buffet or Selmer low C it's one of the best bass clarinets and should be much better than any Noblet.
Maybe there is a problem with it and that's why she doesn't like it? Maybe she is used to her instrument so the other one feels uncomfortable?
Anyway it's worth giving a try for a while and see how it goes. You're getting one of the best models to use (I guess for free?).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2018-10-13 22:22
Personally, I'm not too much a fan of the 1193 and would prefer the Selmer Privilege. That is to say, if I had the choice!
There is nothing wrong with the 1193 other than its sound, wich one may find to be too much like a b-flat clarinet, but an octave lower... But with a decent setup there is no doubt that your daughter *should* prefer it over the noblet. Unless there's leaks or other setup issues, of course.
For example, the noblet might make significantly more keywork noise/rattling, which could irritate the conducted (or be noticed by the audience). There might be other issues, who knows.
On the other hand, I bought a Leblanc 430s for a very low price and was told by a repair person that it was insufficient for concerts (proved her wrong, ha!)
Either way, these plastic basses cannot compete with a Buffet Prestige and she's going to enjoy the higher keywork quality, among other things eventually. Earspasm hasn't mentioned the soft (casted instead of forged) keywork on the plastic basses as a problem, though I'd perceive it as a highly relevant one in the long run. So maybe look for a used bass during the next months and just play the Buffet in the meantime?
Best regards
Christian
Post Edited (2018-10-13 22:28)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: iriegnome
Date: 2018-10-26 22:20
PS - Yes, the college has a Buffet 1193. My bad. I am a bassist, so you will have to give me a bit of leeway ;-)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
