The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Jim S.
Date: 2002-01-17 16:18
Now I think I've got it:
There is a plastic BBb contrabass on e-bay. I didn't know there was such a thing. Does anyone have an opinion on plastic BBb's?
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Author: William
Date: 2002-01-17 17:26
The description states that is a rosewood model, not plastic.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-01-17 19:09
They're not bad -- probably a small step up from the Bundys -- and certainly worth the $1,670 current bid (though that hasn't met the reserve. If it's in as good shape as the listing says, it will probably top $2,500. However, since most contras come out of schools, you have to be careful. Figure another $275 for a decent mouthpiece (such as Fobes).
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: kenabbott
Date: 2002-01-17 19:31
I have one. I'm OK with it. If you're in the NYC area and want to try it let me knoow.
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Author: Jim S.
Date: 2002-01-17 19:51
Sorry, I'm a way off----Seattle. Thanks for the offer anyway.
Jim
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Author: Jim S.
Date: 2002-01-17 20:15
For experienced eBay hounds:
Do metal BBb's ever show up on eBay? Are they actively bid on? (And sell for thousands?)
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-01-17 21:14
Jim -
Leblanc BBb contras show up on eBay regularly. About 2/3 of them are the paperclip version descending to written low C, and most of the rest are the straight version descending to written Eb. There are a few very early paperclip versions to written low D. They all attract spirited bidding.
I have a paperclip to low C. By the time you buy one, have it put in playing condition and get a good mouthpiece, figure on spending close to $5,000 -- a lot, but better than the $20,000+ they're asking for a new one.
Best regards.
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Author: willie
Date: 2002-01-18 04:47
Its hard to tell on my moniter, but it looks to be a very clean one. As stated above, be careful of some as they my be an old school horn with more miles on it than a NY Taxi. Also try to contact the owner and ask about it. Check to see if it has had any repair work done around the center tenon. I've seen many Vito bass, contra alto and contra basses with broken and repaired center tenons. I "test fired" a Vito BBb for a shop last year in downtown Houston and it was stuffy but playable. Putting my Selmer C* on made it come to life and it sounded pretty good.
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-01-18 15:56
Sneakers -
The "straight" Leblanc contras (Eb and BBb) look like giant bass clarinets and go down to written Eb. The BBb is so big you have to stand to play it.
On the "paperclip" models, almost all of which go down to written C, the tube goes up, then down and then back up again, in a sort of paperclip shape.
Ken Shaw
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