 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kontra
Date: 2009-12-27 02:51
Im looking for a bass clarinet that has the sound of a wooden one, but isnt wood, because I dont want to have to worry about the wood cracking. Any suggestions?
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Author: William
Date: 2009-12-27 16:27
I have been playing a Buffet Prestige low C for about six years in all seasons of Wisconsin climate and it hasn't cracked. And if it does, so what--I'll just get it repaired. Most clarinets play the same after proper repair. But, if you are really worried, then the Greenline might be for you. However, I have heard that the Greenline material is rather brittle and fractures easily if mishandled. Anyone else have first-hand knowledge of this??
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2009-12-27 16:35
Greenlines (like most instruments) are weakest at the tenons, so any undue force such as a fall is likely to break the middle tenon. I've also seen Greenline bells with the sockets broken off, just as I've seen plastic clarinets with the same kind of damage.
So long as you play any wooden instrument in well, maintain it well, have it serviced regularly and don't subject it to extreme changes in temperature and humidity, you should be alright.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-12-27 16:50
If you can afford a professional wood bass clarinet then try several out a buy the one you like the best. The top model professional bass clarinets are the best ones and as stated above, if you take care of it you will not have a problem with it cracking. My Selmer bass clarinet is 45 years and never had a crack. The reason I've not replaced it is that I've never found one I liked better. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2009-12-28 18:07
Eddie -- I'd be interested to know what adjustments, if any, you've made to your Selmer bass over its 45 years, either to make it play more in tune, make it sound better, or for any other reason. For example, on my model 37 which I've had for two years, and which dates from 1988, the lowest D plays sharp with my setup. I've added a bit of wax to the top of the corresponding tonehole on the lower joint, and that solved the problem.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2009-12-29 04:58
Ed Lowry--I don't have it in front of me, but I remember seeing in The Clarinet a fairly lengthy article on tweaking the Model 37. This would be back in the 90s, I think. I don't remember much more than that since I wasn't playing bass back then, and in fact it could have been one of their back issues only available as a xerox, which might put it back in the 80s. But check The Clarinet back issues and I'm sure you'll find the article.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-12-29 05:48
>> which might put it back in the 80s <<
Selmer started making the 37 model bass clarinet in 1994.
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Author: DougR
Date: 2009-12-29 17:48
Thanks, Clarnibass, you drove me to my archives and a good thing too. The only things I remembered correctly were the xerography and the year (1987), but actually it's an article by Clark Fobes in the Clarinet about fine-tuning the octave mechanism on the Selmer 33. So as Emily Litella used to say, "Never mind."
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Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2009-12-29 18:43
Doug R: Thanks for the note. I've seen the Fobes article which is available (somewhere -- perhaps his website) online.
Clarnibass: Thanks also for your note about the initial date of model 37's. I'm interested in your basis for the 1994 start date. I sent an e-mail to Selmer in France, with my serial number (E12xx). Doublon Thierry responded that it was manufactured in December 1988 and when I asked in a followup note, stated that it was a Model 37. What do you think?
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2009-12-30 04:31
Selmer Paris use different model names for those bass clarinets so it is a little confusing. What I know form several sources including Selmer Paris is that in 1994 (I think it was that year, I guess it could be a year earlier or later) they came out with a new model. That was the newest model until they started making the Privilege and it was known as the 35/37 model. Maybe the previous model was called the 37 too and is older than 90s but I don't know. It is a different model anyway. Maybe it's like the Buffet that some older models are called Prestige but they are very different than the current model with the same name. I can try to find out more.
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Author: Kontra
Date: 2009-12-30 04:41
Ok, I know this isnt really the topic anymore, but I'm stuck between choosing these two brands. Are these two any good? The kessler low c bass clarinet or the Ridenour low C bass clarinet? I cant really afford the bigger brands so im limited.
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Author: Ed Lowry
Date: 2009-12-30 20:36
Thanks, Clarnibass -- I'd be interested in what other information you find.
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