 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2012-01-19 18:27
Several years back, a single-note octo-octo-bass was built out of PVC pipe and was sort of playable with a BBb contra mouthpiece http://www.contrabass.com/2002/2002-06-08.html. At least in theory, it sounded 32' C-1 (8 Hz).
Then yesterday I came across a subcontrabass flute, also made of PVC http://www.hogenhuis-flutes.com/subcontrabassflute. For an instrument that size, it's relatively inexpensive (€3800) and the sound sample is pretty impressive http://www.hogenhuis-flutes.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/Scb29-elephantacc.mp3.
Presumably it would be possible to fit a BBb contra mouthpiece to it. It's at 8' pitch (lowest note C1, 33.8 Hz), but as a stopped pipe, it would sound at 16' C0, or 16.4 Hz http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_pitch_notation, though you would probably be cited by the SPCPW (Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Plaster Walls).
Does anyone know of a flutist with this subcontra, or know enough Dutch to speak with the maker?
Ken Shaw
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: alto gether
Date: 2012-01-19 19:15
Interesting idea, that it is feasible to replace a flute mpc with a clarinet mpc and change an instrument designed for open-pipe resonances to work with closed-pipe ditto. Never mind the extra keys to cover the gaps between fundamental and 3xfundamental on an instrument designed to overblow at 2x - they are probably already there. My naive acoustics doesn't suggest a clear impossibility, but considering that neither good clarinets nor good flutes are really simple cylinders, I'd be surprised.
Experiment: don't know anybody with a subcontra flute? Fine. Borrow a standard flute and lathe down the tenon of an eefer mpc to fit. If it works, then it's time to think seriously about finding a jolly tin giant flute. I really hope it works!
Bb: student Buffet, messing with Selmer HS mpc, Legere 2 1/4, Rovner lig
Alto: Holton, Yamaha 4C, Rovner, Vandoren 2 or Rico Plasticover alto sax 2
Contra Alto: Bundy, Bundy, Ricos work better with orig lig than Rovner
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: clarnibass
Date: 2012-01-20 04:36
>> Borrow a standard flute and lathe down the tenon of an eefer mpc to fit. <<
At least a few people (and since I know a few, I imagine it's significantly more than that) play flutes with clarinet and/or saxophone mouthpieces.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Klarnetisto
Date: 2012-01-20 15:47
The maker's website is available in English, so I think he speaks English:
http://www.hogenhuis-flutes.com/
I don't know how practical it'd be simply to fit a clarinet mouthpiece onto one of these flutes.
However, I do think you're very right in noting that PVC tubing should provide an excellent easily-workable and inexpensive medium for making an octobass clarinet.
Perhaps Mr. Hogenhuis would be able to help with advice on how to manage the key construction for such an instrument.
BTW, he has even made a Hyperbass flute which goes down to an organ's 32' D. If you put a clarinet mouthpiece onto that length of tubing you'd get D of the 64' octave, a minor sixth below the lowest note on the Bb octo-contrabass clarinet!
www.lowflutes.com/files/Hogenhuis_Hyperbass_flute.pdf
Klarnetisto
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
