 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Reese Oller
Date: 2024-05-09 22:17
I see lots of questions here about what soprano clarinets everyone possesses, so I was curious: What about your bass/ harmony clarinets?
I own a 1994(?) R13 Prestige bass clarinet, and play on other instruments like a leblanc 7182 contrabass clarinet, (if I go to EIU a Selmer Rosewood as well) and Selmer Bundy alto.
Reese Oller
Clarinet student (performance major at Millikin University)
I can play bass clarinet, Eb clarinet, BBb contra, alto saxophone, bassoon at a decent level, and flute in a pinch.
Post Edited (2024-05-10 22:23)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-05-10 03:27
It's funny that C clarinets are often listed as harmony clarinets when they're the only clarinets that play at Concert Pitch.
Selmer Series 9 full Boehm Eb clarinet
Masspacher (Couesnon) C clarinet
Mid 2000s Buffet Prestige basset horn
An old ring key Selmer basset horn
Yamaha YCL-631 alto clarinet
2000 Buffet Prestige low C bass
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2024-05-10 04:47
Let’s see…
Chinese G clarinet with a custom low C extension
1967 Buffet F basset horn
1972 Buffet Eb alto clarinet
1948 Buffet bass clarinet in C
1947 Buffet bass clarinet in Bb
Royal Max bass clarinet in Bb
Buffet bass clarinet in A
Custom 3D printed bass clarinet in G
Bundy Eb contra alto clarinet
1962 Leblanc 340 “Paperclip” contrabass clarinet in Bb
-JDbassplayer
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Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2024-05-10 09:40
Hi jdbassplayer,
It would appear that you've gravitated to Buffets over Selmers. As someone who seems to have played a great many basses, can you share your reasons for this preference? I recall you mentioning having a Selmer, but presumably you decided to sell it.
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
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Author: Michael E. Shultz
Date: 2024-05-10 15:01
I have a Leblanc Eb alto clarinet.
"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."
Groucho Marx
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2024-05-10 16:29
Yes other than the Bundy I've gotten rid of all of my Selmers, well except for my Mark VI tenor. There's a few reasons for this. In general I find Buffet key work to be the strongest and stiffest, this is especially true of their low clarinets. Even with the Privilege I was not impressed with how much flex there was in the thumb keys, not as much as something like a Yamaha but on a $15K horn there should be almost none. Also the bell of the Privilege I was borrowing quite literally fell apart on me because there was almost no solder on the joint! Buffet certainly has their issues with fit and finish on new horns, but I've seen far more solder joint failures on Selmers than Buffets. Another reason is innovation. If you compare a 1950s Selmer alto clarinet to a modern one they appear mechanically identical with many of the same issues present on both. Buffet however has continuously updated their design, not always for the better but in general their alto clarinets are fantastic. My 1972 alto has a fully automatic double register vent mechanism and a left hand Ab/Eb, the Selmer has neither of these features. Selmer desperately needs to update their lineup, especially their basset horn, alto clarinet and contrabass clarinet as they have some serious intonation issues (and have had them for decades!) that could easily be addressed with a few simple design changes. The fact that they haven't fixed these issues tells me that either they don't care or don't have the resources to make simple design improvements, neither of which looks good for the company.
The Royal Max is the exception. Originally I was dead set on getting an 1193-2 Prestige after owning an older Prestige, even going as far as bidding on a few auctions. That was until I tried the Royal bass clarinets at Low Clarinet Fest. I was blown away, they are fantastic instruments that feel similar to the Prestige but with better response and intonation. After swapping around the necks on all 3 models I ended up deciding that I preferred the resonance of the Max with a Firebird neck which is what I eventually got.
-JDbassplayer
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2024-05-10 17:41
I have a Kessler 1st gen low C bass clarinet. I replaced the bell since it appears to me to be one designed for a low Eb BC which made the hole in it flat for low C#. 2015. Backup BC now.
I play a late Selmer 37 low C bass clarinet made in 2004. I love this instrument!
I play a low C Leblanc BBb Paperclip from 1973.
I have a Leblanc EEb Paperclip but it does not get out much. 1975
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: super20dan
Date: 2024-05-11 04:15
bundy eb-its a good horn! . selmer-nobletx2 bundy and a horrid marlerne hard rubber altos, leblanc 400x2 bass and a bundy bass. i also am disappointed in my selmer alto-expected better. both my noblet alto outplay it
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Author: Tom H
Date: 2024-05-11 06:06
I've played Bb, Eb, C and A clarinets and a bit of alto sax. When I was teaching Band I could play a fairly decent trumpet/flugalhorn.
The Most Advanced Clarinet Book--
tomheimer.ampbk.com/ Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001315, Musicnotes product no. MB0000649.
Boreal Ballad for unaccompanied clarinet-Sheet Music Plus item A0.1001314.
Musicnotes product no. MNO287475
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Author: zizala
Date: 2024-05-11 07:15
I play two CG Conn bass clarinets.
1941 484n Low Eb
1953 482n Low E
I'm using mouthpieces that are all on the more open side:
70's Otto Link 5*
Lomax LA Studio S4 facing
Grabner CX-BB-90
The Grabner has become my favorite.
For my purposes with jazz and free improv both are quite good instruments,
With the Low E bass I have had to learn to tame the brassy presence and effects of the Low E bell note as best I can, but it makes up for this with its free blowing qualities and has plenty of cutting power when called for.
If I had to keep just one it would be the Low Eb, but I'm still glad to have the shorter bass.
Considering their age and the era when they were built they're not holding me back at all.......
...or I just haven't yet bothered to know any better!
Post Edited (2024-05-11 22:25)
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Author: Djudy
Date: 2024-05-11 14:05
I play a Selmer alto from around year 2000. While the key layout was better on my vintage Lebanc alto, it didn't have an adjustable neck and I wasn't happy with the tuning differences when playing in the community wind band. It also seemed to not hold it's adjustements well under these playing conditions (hauled around, outside etc) and I got tired of throwing money at it. The Selmer is spot on in tune top to bottom and and sounds good, as good as I can make it given my weak technique and synthetic reed, and I enjoy playing it despite the reach for the right hand sometimes.
I recently joined a second community band to be able to play bass clarinet because I like low clarinets and got tired to transposing Bb cl 3 or euphonium to my Eb instrument. To give this a try I got a vintage Leblanc bass (low Eb, double register, that I have been unable to date but the logo is from before the '60s) which is enjoyable to play and serves my purpose for the moment.
I have several wonderful Bb clarinets but just felt the pull of the lower register. Both of these instruments were purchases of opportunity; covid was a factor because while it limited travel and direct trials of instruments it also , sadly, caused instruments to come on to the market that otherwise wouldn't have (death and taxes !). I was prepared to purchase a Buffet Prestige alto when the lockdown hit and that evaporated. Would it have been a better instrument for me I'll probably never know. One thing is sure, a brand new instrument, for me, is out of the question for reasons of cost and wood quality.
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Author: davyd
Date: 2024-05-11 18:39
I own, but nowadays rarely play, a Noblet bass clarinet (low Eb), bought new in 1989.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2024-05-11 21:37
Hi All,
From beginning to end:
Olds (Leblanc stencil), Ridenour 147 then a 925e, and an SML bass (my 1st wooden bass). I now got very serious about playing bass and got a Selmer Series 9 Model 32 then upgraded to a Selmer 65 which I picked out in Elkhart. To have a low C instrument I picked up an Asian bass; never liked it and sold it a year later. The Model 65 is all I really need now.
On bass, I play solely on McClune Selmer Soloist C* mouthpieces (I have three) refaced to S2. If you can get a Selmer Soloist D, that plays something like an S2.
Hank
Corrected above.
Post Edited (2024-05-12 07:08)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-05-11 21:56
Taiwanese low C bass? Which Taiwanese company makes low C basses? The only low C basses I know of that are currently being made are either Chinese, Czech, French, German or Japanese.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Kiela
Date: 2024-05-11 23:57
I might as well list my entire clarinet collection. I've been building up to include all main sizes from Eb down to contrabass.
Eb: Yinfente (2019), got it on a whim back then. Subpar ergonomics and plays too flat, probably needs a shorter barrel (plus all the associated Eb accessories) but it hasn't seen much play in the past few years.
C: Moresky (2024), recent acquisition also on a whim. Out of all the Chinese soprano clarinets this one has the best reputation, and it plays surprisingly well for the price. I'm begining to have a fondness for the C clarinet in particular, it has a bright cheerful timbre that fits nicely between the regular Bb and the Eb.
Bb: LeBlanc Normandy (1965), a hand-me-down that I've owned since high school. It served my purposes at the time but I could seriously use an upgrade. I haven't bothered yet since most of my clarinet playing is on bass and the other low clarinets.
Alto: Noblet (1968). Alto is one of my guilty pleasures, and I've put the Noblet through its paces over the years. I try to use it as much as I can.
Bass: Vito (year unknown) and Kessler custom Gen 1 (2015). The Vito was a frankenstein'd instrument with neither a serial number nor a peg holder. It served my purposes well over the years but I've since upgraded to the Kessler. Now I feel like one of the cool kids with the fancy low C extension!
Contra alto: Selmer Bundy (year unknown). Another one of my guilty pleasures, contra alto (or Eb contrabass or greatbass, etc) is a lot more flexible than most give it credit for, though admittedly it's less impressive now since obtaining a low C bass.
Previously I had access to a LeBlanc paperclip contra and currently have access to a LeBlanc basset horn, which plays wonderfully. A contrabass with range to low C would be the last one to complete the list, but of course it would also be the most difficult to obtain.
Post Edited (2024-05-12 00:08)
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2024-05-12 00:05
Here's my ist
Eb: Buffet Tosca
basset horn: Selmer
alto: Buffet Prestige
Bass: Buffet Prestige with Icon neck and bell
Contra-alto: Selmer Paris (made for Universal Studios ad used in many films)
Contrabass: Ridenour to low Eb and LeBlanc to low D
Like many, I prefer the feel and keywork on the Buffets although the SOUND on my contra-alto is AMAZING.
EEfer guy
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Author: Kiela
Date: 2024-05-12 00:24
Ebclarinet1 wrote:
> Here's my ist
>
> Eb: Buffet Tosca
>
> basset horn: Selmer
>
> alto: Buffet Prestige
>
> Bass: Buffet Prestige with Icon neck and bell
>
> Contra-alto: Selmer Paris (made for Universal Studios ad used
> in many films)
>
> Contrabass: Ridenour to low Eb and LeBlanc to low D
>
> Like many, I prefer the feel and keywork on the Buffets
> although the SOUND on my contra-alto is AMAZING.
>
> EEfer guy
I recently had the chance to play the gorgeous Selmer rosewood contra alto, and I absolutely agree about the sound. It plays and sounds even better than it looks! Aside from the LeBlanc basset horn, it was possibly the best playing low clarinet I've ever tried. The contrabass may be more practical to use with its lower range, but timbre- and playability-wise there was no comparison.
Post Edited (2024-05-12 00:25)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2024-05-12 01:10
Jupiter never made low C basses - they've only made low Eb models and the recent one has all the keywork on the joints (with a keyless bell).
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ruben
Date: 2024-05-12 10:21
Kiela: the Leblanc Normandie is a student instrument, but amazing for a student instrument. Some of them are REALLY good. Hang on do it!
rubengreenbergparisfrance@gmail.com
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Author: Julian ibiza
Date: 2024-05-12 11:12
My wife plays a low C hard rubber Chinese bass( the design with the Selmer style keywork) and I think that these budget instruments actually play pretty well, although initially it came in need of hours of fiddling about to get all the little build issues sorted out. After that I found that a number of the pivot screws were tending to back out on account of their slight misalignment within the rod and so had to set them with nail varnish, but after that it's stayed in regulation perfectly.
They're kind of like buying a kit car in that they can be made to go " brooom-brooom" eventually.
That said the Royal Global product is a big game changer for China made instruments, with the Max in particular offering remarkable quality for cost by all accounts. Also, in regards to JD's earlier observation on Selmer seemingly not making amendments to keywork that they should, Les Craven was just telling me that he simply sends sketches of keywork changes that he wants his China manufacturers to make ( he's now using a different one to the Ridenours), and they just do it, and that's without him placing any significant order for the amended model.
These are things that rather make me wonder where the wind is blowing here.
Julian Griffiths
Tel. 34 696 798 853
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Author: Ebclarinet1
Date: 2024-05-12 17:46
Kiela,
This Selmer conta-alto is grenadilla and was made special for Universal Studios. it weighs a ton but has an amazing sound. You can hear it being played in the Batman and Superman movies!
I don't get to play it in public often but it is very cool.
EEfer guy
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Author: graham
Date: 2024-05-12 21:56
High to Low
Uebel E flat circa 1970s
Buffet C dated to 1888
Buffet basset horn circa 1999
Amati bass circa 2000
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Author: Mojo
Date: 2024-05-13 17:48
>Author: Ebclarinet1
>Date: 2024-05-12 00:05
Ridenour made a contrabass?
MojoMP.com
Mojo Mouthpiece Work LLC
MojoMouthpieceWork@yahoo.com
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2024-05-13 20:39
>> You can hear it being played in the Batman and Superman movies! <<
Do you know which ones?
There's no way I'm going to rewatch anything but the first two Batman movies...
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