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Selmer Contrabass, lowest note??

Author: Cfaagf
Date: 2022-05-23 19:53

Hello,

I'm playing a 1978 (allegedly prototype) Selmer contrabassclarinet. It's lowest note is a written c, which should of course sound as a concert b-flat. However, I always have trouble recognising it's pitch as indeed being a b-flat. On closer listening and comparing it to a synthesiser, I get the feeling that this note is actually a lot lower than a b-flat, which could well be possible if you look look at the length of the bell, measured from the last hole (for written c-sharp). Although getting gradually wider and wider, this part of the tube is about 4.5 times als long as the distance between the two last tone holes (for c-sharp and d), so I find it well possible that the result would be a much lower tone. I wonder if I should have an extra tone hole added to the bell to get the right c natural (concert b-flat).

Is there anyone who has the same experience with the pitch of this lowest c? I would be happy to hear about it.

Best whishes,

Cfaagf.

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Re: Selmer Contrabass, lowest note??

Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2022-05-23 20:54

It's a low C, just very badly out of tune and with poor response due to bad design. The even crazier thing is that the new Selmers still have the same problem 44 years later! Blashaus offers a service to correct these issues by adding additional vent holes and doing a few more modifications. You know, because why would you expect a $39,000 instrument to play in tune...

https://www.blashaus.ch/wp-content/uploads/Kontra-Bassklarinette-22-12.pdf

-JDbassplayer

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