 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: buedsma
Date: 2006-02-02 10:44
I was rather amazed by the sound and playability of those bassclarinets . i play a leblanc ( older version wood ). The jupiter did play easier , the sound was maybe a bit more agressive with differen tnuances in it .
Anyone experiences or comparisons with other wooden bassclarinets ??
Trying to make a decision about low c or not , and in the case of Eb : wood or not !
gr
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-02-02 12:11
Your experience isn't at all surprising, because the Jupiter and Leblanc are similar designs! Despite the difference in materials and price, both are single-register-vent designs. It wouldn't surprise me if the Jupiter is a direct copy of the Leblanc Vito; and nearly all the wood Leblanc models (despite their marketing position as 'professional' instruments and commensurate high price) are actually nearly identical to the student Vito model acoustically and mechanically.
Before you buy, try Selmers, Buffets, Yamahas, Amatis, and Ridenours (both low-C and low-Eb versions of each). Material doesn't matter (seriously). Unless you're planning to do a lot of orchestral and/or chamber music playing on bass clarinet, range to low-Eb will suffice.
And most importantly, get a really good mouthpiece before you change instruments! Clark Fobes and Walter Grabner bass clarinet mouthpieces would be my first choices.
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2006-02-02 13:54
While I agree that material (in the short term sense) doesn't matter, the "less than pro" materials are often accompanied by less than pro workmanship as well. It's harder to tolerate the second than it is the first.
I eyeballed (did not play, since I did not have a mouthpiece with me during the hurricane evacuation) a Ridenour horn last October, and I have to say that I was shocked at the poor fit, finish and design of that instrument. To low C in range, the keywork on the lower end was poorly designed (bad ergonomics compared to Selmer, Buffet and even Leblanc horns), poorly fitted (with many keys binding to some extent, and with some of the long rods and axles flexing so much that they appeared not to close the key on the seat), and poorly finished (two keys did not properly engage their connection points on the long keys on the lower left side).
While I have heard hereon some enthusiastic reports about Tom's new horns, I can't say that (based only upon picking the thing up and running through the mechanism) that I would even bother to play one. Sure, it's a bass clarinet, and sure, it's a lot cheaper than others on the market, but you get what you pay for.
I'd even go so far as to say that I'd rather struggle with a vents on the body Leblanc horn (shudder...) than even try to play a Ridenour like the one I handled at Brook Mays...
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2006-02-02 15:07
Terry,
If you search past threads you might be interested in my own experience with the Ridenour low-C bass clarinet. Not as bad as yours, but there were many similarities.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-02-02 16:26
Thank you, Terry.
That sounds exactly like "my" Chinese tenor sax.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Terry Stibal
Date: 2006-02-02 16:39
Having said all of that, I think we are all somewhat missing the point here when discussing instruments of Chinoise origin.
Recall the image of Japanese products that was held back in the 1950's. "Made In Japan" were bywords for cheap, tawdry, tinplate, metal stampings that would rust or otherwise disintegrate within a year.
Contrast with that Japanese products today: quality, precision, "luxury" yet still ubiquitous items that are often the sought-after objects in their category. While I'd not put Yamaha clarinets on quite such a high pedestal, their saxophones are equal to the best that Selmer can produce, and I've heard much the same about their flutes and trumpets.
Whether due to a desire to beat us round eyes at our own game, or through some mysterious Six Sigma process foisted on them by Deming, or just through natural evolutionary processes, Japanese manufacturing has come a long way in a short time. World-class cars, world class musical instruments, world class heavy industry stuff (Sumitomo, Mitsui) world class electronics (remember Magnavox? RCA? Philco? Dumont?), all of it well made and (considering duty and import costs) as cheaply or cheaper as domestic production.
Korea replaced Japan for a while as the "tinplate" capital of the world, but (of late) Korean consumer goods have moved up in the world as well. (In the heavy industrial line, their equipment (Daewoo and the like) is already considered world class, for what that's worth).
Well, now it's China's turn. They have moved quite a bit in ten short years, now that it is acceptable to trade with them. (Remember when we all hated "godless Commies"? You sure don't hear that anymore, do you?) I would imagine that, once they get their techniques straight and come up with better brand names (Lark brand clarinets, anyone?), we will see a new Yamaha arise somewhere on the mainland that will be ranked up there with the other "big" names.
However, the Ridenour clarinet (or, at least the one that I saw) hasn't quite reached that stage at this juncture...
leader of Houston's Sounds Of The South Dance Orchestra
info@sotsdo.com
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Author: buedsma
Date: 2006-02-02 18:32
not much experience out there on playing jupiter bass clarinets ??
But a lot of opinions on economy :-))
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Author: buedsma
Date: 2006-02-03 15:33
well :
the jupiter bassclarinet mechanics are very sturdy , a lot better then on older leblancs .
Apparently selmer bundy and vito is better known in the US.
Here in europe jupiter is doing the rent-and-buy if you want later thing .
Don't know at your side of the water ?
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2006-02-03 15:50
Considering Jupiter now use quality materials (better alloys, pads, etc.) in their manufacture, there's no reason why they can't be ranked as the next Yamaha as they've come a long way since 20 years ago when their saxes were becoming popular in the UK - the only other student models were East European clunkers which were like their cars - unreliable, rough and failed miserably on emissions.
Jupiter have a manufacturing plant in mainland China where their clarinets and other components are made, but so does Yamaha and a lot of other companies, and Jupiter also make body and mechanical parts for large, well known and prestigious companies as they have the tooling.
Their bass clarinet is made in China as opposed to Taiwan as it has the gold sticker on it saying so, but I had a look at a brand new one and it did seem to be well made and finished, though I didn't get to play it as I didn't have my mouthpiece with me.
And as for affordability, I don't think there's much competition as it's well priced for most people or education authorities wanting an affordable bass, and it will certanly rival the new Yamaha plastic bass, as well as the Selmer USA and Vito basses.
Just out of interest - why did the Hanson bass clarinet sink without a trace?
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2006-02-03 15:50)
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Author: katmom
Date: 2006-02-09 05:53
The Jupiter bass clarinet, in my humble opinion, is by far the best plastic bass clarinet on the market right now. As a repair technician, I applaud the hardness of the keys - they stay in adjustment soooo much better than the present competition. What good is a bass clarinet that is always in the shop?
And, I agree that buying a wood bass clarinet is not going to get you that much for your big truckload of money. Perhaps a wee bit of tone quality, but a good mouthpiece can make that up in a hurry. I see far too many folks wasting their money on wood bass clarinets these day. And then they come into my shop with serious cracks.
Important to note, also, are the serious tuning issues with the Ridenour bass clarinet. The Jupiter is far better.
Jeanan
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-02-09 14:53
Oh, by the way, Terry: Cost effectiveness, quality, 6-sigma and all that snake oil has nothing much to do with the appeal of a product. Those are "required qualities," the basics. The competition between companies is played on a higher field.
As General Motors has not learned, "ITS THE PRODUCT, STUPID."
Terry's comments on Korean vehicles are right on. It started with superior body fits, attractive tail lights, and now its in the suspension systems.
DUCK, here it comes again.
Yeah, this is business economics, but we play with/on products; so I don't feel bad looking up the road for the on-coming revolution in affordable, quality instruments. There are more Pacific Rim reeds in our swing band than French instruments --by far. Monday, I'll have a look at the brasses.
Bob Phillips
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