 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: nicbrrghs
Date: 2008-06-18 08:20
I have the following Uebel instrument, believed to be in rosewood it comes in a case marked Ruddal Carte, I was told it was a Basset horn and sold it as such now they inform me its a alto clarinet. One piece body with detachable straight bell.
I could do with some verification so I know accurately what it is. I intend to sell it as I primarily play saxophone and trumpet.
Serial number:F ARTHUR UEBEL MARKNEUKIRCHEN made in gdr 920-791072
I can email pics if that helps
Any help is appreciated.
Nick
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Author: NorbertTheParrot
Date: 2008-06-18 10:20
The terminology around what is an alto clarinet and what is a basset horn is a bit confused.
Usually:
1. A basset horn is in F and plays to the written low C3, sounding F2. It has a relatively narrow bore, and may be playable with a Bb clarinet mouthpiece.
2. An alto clarinet is in Eb and plays to the written low Eb3, sounding Gb2. It has a relatively wide bore, and needs a special mouthpiece.
The trouble is that modern bassets usually have a wider bore than the traditional instrument, and altos used to be built in F. The low-C extension is really the distinguishing feature, but no doubt someone will come up with a basset horn without an extension, or an alto with one!
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Author: nicbrrghs
Date: 2008-06-18 10:54
Thanks for your reply, just had it tested, using a standard Bb mouthpiece, it has the same keywork layout as a standard boehm system Bb(although the register keywork is different). Using standard 'C' fingering the instruments sounds an Eb (Concert Pitch) and plays down to G (Concert Pitch). Does this clarify what the instrument is or not.
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Author: NorbertTheParrot
Date: 2008-06-18 11:28
If it plays in Eb, and its written lowest note is E (sounding G) then that makes it an alto in Eb, lacking the written low Eb (sounding Gb) found on modern instruments (see the picture http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Alto_clarinet.jpg
where the low Eb key is clearly visible).
But what puzzles me is that it plays using a standard Bb mouthpiece.
Sounds like a very narrow bore alto clarinet with a range down to written E3.
I think you just have to advertise it with a full description - but certainly you'd be asking for trouble to claim it is a basset horn. Anyone buying a basset horn will expect key of F and extension to low C, and it fails on both those counts.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2008-06-18 12:12
NorbertTheParrot wrote:
> But what puzzles me is that it plays using a standard Bb
> mouthpiece.
>
> Sounds like a very narrow bore alto clarinet with a range down
> to written E3.
Mind you, I have an Uebel Bb bass clarinet (down to written Db,) and the mouthpiece dimensions are that of a modern Alto clarinet's.
--
Ben
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2008-06-18 13:57
Hi Nick, that's definitely an alto clarinet.
Their basset horns look almost identical to this (same shape crook, same bell and the cranked floor spike), though they have the extension to low C (with three RH thumb touches) and extra vent keys for LH3 and RH3.
The bore is around 17mm on this, so it may play better in tune with a standard Bb mouthpiece (French or German) as opposed to the large bore plastic mouthpiece that came with it which can play incredibly flat.
What you may find annoying is they may not use flat springs screwed into lever keys as is the norm, but a bent piece of spring wire that sits loosely in the screw hole and falls out, or is difficult to relocate when putting the keys on as it moves around so much. Also the locking screws in the pillars will tighten up the point screws when they are tightened, so leave a small amount of end play between pillars before tightening the locking screws. If you do lose a locking screw, a 12BA blued steel flat spring screw will fit.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2008-06-18 14:09)
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