 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: David Kinder
Date: 2001-06-20 23:25
I've just discovered the Bass clarinet ads on ebay. it looks like there could be a real bargain in some of those. My question is on the bass clarinet itself. Are there 2 piece plastic basses, or are all 2-piece basses wood? I want to be sure before I start bidding. I am looking for a wood bass clarinet, and I need to make sure I get all the facts first. Thanks!
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Author: willie
Date: 2001-06-21 03:14
Be careful about some of the two piece body plastic basses on eBay. Some have been broken at the middle tenon and repaired. Sometimes its obvious and sometimes, not. Most I've seen were well used old school horns from city auctions and could use an overhaul. If it doesn't have a neck, be prepared to dig deep unless you know where to get one fron an old cadaver at the repair shop. But however you can find some nice ones too, especially if it was privately owned. Some have single and some have double register keys. I'm not exactly sure how to explain that but maybe some of the repair techs here can explain it better than I.
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Author: Mike Harrelson
Date: 2001-06-21 03:27
No, you can't assume that a five piece (upper joint, lower joint, bell, neck and mouthpiece) is wood and the one piece is plastic. The plastic vito, for example, can break down into a five piece by the use of and allen wrench on the middle joint ring.
Name and model is your best indicator. However many who sell bass clarinets don't really know what they are (in fact sometimes the bass is really an alto clarinet).
That being said, usually a five piece is wood and a one piece is plastic. But be careful.
Good luck
Mike
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-06-21 14:37
I have never seen a single-piece body wood bass clarinet. Almost all plastic and hard rubber bass clarinets have one-piece bodies, although I strongly suspect there are exceptions to this. Don't write off non-wood bass clarinets --- some of the better-sounding bass clarinets I have tried (including my personal instrument) are non-wood (mine is a hard-rubber Kohlert).
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Author: Mike Harrelson
Date: 2001-06-21 16:38
The Leblanc 400, which is wood, is available in a one piece case. Judging a picture on ebay might lead you to think it is plastic because the upper and lower joints are together in a one piece case.
However I must bow to David Spiegelthal as my new Vito with leather pads outplays the out of adjustment wood Leblanc's I had been playing. Plays in tune, better range and nice sound.
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Author: William
Date: 2001-06-21 21:59
Charles Bay has said many times that plastic bass clarinets sound just as good as wood--it all depends on the accoustical nature of the specific instrument and how well it is "set up." Too bad the folks at Selmer havn't figured out the economic bonanza they could realize with the production of a Bundy low-C model. Good clarineting!!!!!
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-06-22 10:43
A one piece is far more difficult for a technician to work on.
Plastic ones have significant problems because of the dimensional instability of the plastic with temperature changes (compared with the keys). Sloppy pivots are required to allow for this.
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Author: David Spiegelthal
Date: 2001-06-22 14:17
All in all, I believe (as I sit here alone in my padded room) that hard rubber is the best overall material for clarinet bodies. Good dimensional stability, easy to machine, doesn't crack like wood, and maintains a smooth interior finish. As opined above, can sound every bit as good as a fine wood instrument if properly made. Downsides: brittle (will break if dropped), and turns olive-green with extended exposure to sunlight (which process can be partially reversed with ammonia compounds). I find it ironic that the same people who swear that hard rubber mouthpieces are the best, won't even consider the use of the same material in the bodies of their instrument. So don't think plastic, think hard rubber. End of sermon.
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Author: Gordon (NZ)
Date: 2001-06-24 02:44
You forgot to mention that with age (sunlight?) it stinks, and tarnishes silver keys quickly. But I agree with you.
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