 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2020-12-24 12:29
So now RZ offers everything from bass to eb clarinet. Their bass in particular seems to be a completely new design, none of the keys bears much resemblance with the Amati model (which was also made in Kraslice). By the way... Amati seems to be out of business (refer to this article in German: https://www.nmz.de/kiz/nachrichten/traditionsreicher-instrumentenbauer-amati-denak-insolvent)
The Amati website can’t be reached anymore and while there’s no knowing whether RZ had any ties to them, I wonder whether parts of their equipment and/or workers have been acquisited. Anyways, good for RZ as they seem much more successful at actually marketing their product to wider base of players.
As I love my Amati A very much, aside from the somewhat difficult tuning, I wish RZ all the best. That being said, there was simply no way Amati could compete. Almost their complete lineup was outdated and they had near to no proper distribution channel - things RZ on the other seems to be doing right from the start. Anyone playing them on a regular basis?
Best regards
Christian
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2020-12-24 17:23
http://www.amati.cz/en/
Looks like for now they are still in business, although they say they are “re-evaluating their supply chain” so make of that what you will.
I’m surprised how fast RZ came out of nowhere. Unfortunately I’ve never gotten to try one but they do seem to be gaining ground. That being said there’s so many clarinet brands these days, I’m wondering if they can successfully carve out a niche like Backun and Uebel have done. They do have some interesting products, like this clarinet with a 2 piece upper joint:
https://woodwindboutique.com/bb-clarinets/198-rz-solo-bb.html
-JDbassplayer
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2020-12-25 00:51
Jdbassayer,
I stand corrected. Amati indeed still produces various instruments.
So the bass is likely based on an Amati. Bell and neck might be even identical?
A while ago, I briefly tested the RZ eefer. While I can’t say anything positive or negative about it certainly wasn’t as badly out of tune as an Amati (which, imho, is terrible in the altissimo range). Also, the keywork seemed very solid. Unfortunately, I didn’t take more time to try it out...
Post Edited (2020-12-25 00:54)
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-12-25 00:55
That's a fairly long bell socket, so I'd expect the lower joint tenon to have a corresponding hole in it.
Bit odd there too as they could've used a shorter lower joint and the bell key tonehole soldered below the bell socket (like most low C basses and Buffet Prestiges from 1999 onwards), or a longer lower joint with all the keywork on it (as on older Buffet Prestige basses before 1999) and a plain bell.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2020-12-25 13:03
There’s also the same connection to the c#/g# pad cup from the rh plateau keys, exactly like on the Amati.
Chances are, it‘s the exact same bore with some changes to the undercutting.
My guess: RZ bought the equipment from Amati and quickly did the changes discussed above, so they could complete their lineup. Or they have some sort of blanks made @Amati and them take them to their shop.
I’m not really sold on the idea of a „pimped“ Amati bass, unless it’s really cheap, it probably can’t compete with Selmer/Buffet.
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Author: Johan H Nilsson
Date: 2020-12-25 13:30
RZ and Amati are located in the same city (Kraslice). According to an RZ representative I talked to at the Clarinet fest 2018, they had taken over some of the Amati staff.
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Author: graham
Date: 2020-12-26 14:47
Operating either low E or low E flat allows the D etc notes to sound. (Re the Amati).
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Author: Kalashnikirby
Date: 2020-12-26 15:15
Chris... when you had a glance at that new Amati bass, was there a chance to play test it?
A friend of mine once had the Selmer, Buffet and Amati brought to one shop so he could compare them head-to-head - he said the Amati couldn’t compete in any way and wasn’t even much cheaper. So I wonder how the RZ bass turns out.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-12-26 21:06
Older Selmers (Series 9 and earlier) and Leblanc basses also require the low Eb key to be held down as low D, Db/C# and C are independent to the rest of the keywork on the lower joint. While it keeps the mechanism and adjustments simple, it can make getting around some things awkward.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: ebonite
Date: 2020-12-27 02:23
Chris P wrote:
> Older Selmers (Series 9 and earlier) and Leblanc basses also
> require the low Eb key to be held down as low D, Db/C# and C
> are independent to the rest of the keywork on the lower joint.
> While it keeps the mechanism and adjustments simple, it can
> make getting around some things awkward.
>
That's true but there are also some advantages to having the thumb keys unlinked. Imagine something like a tremolo between low c and low g. You can hold the thumb key down while pressing and releasing the low Eb key (or low E key on some models). Less metal has to move compared with models that have linked keywork. Also you can use the thumb keys to change the tone and intonation of some notes, like third-space C, which can be sharp on some instruments.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2020-12-27 03:17
I can do a low C to G tremolo no problem on my Prestige with just the thumb key. Yes there are a lot of keys to move, but having the springs balanced and regulated well is indeed 'key'.
It's a shame no other maker has used the Leblanc-style RH forked Ab/Eb mechanism on basses as that offers possibilities that aren't always practical or easily doable with the Ab/Eb lever (eg. low Eb up to Ab up to Db repeated). Having BOTH LH and forked Ab/Eb would be good.
But the addition of a front low D touchpiece on the RZ basses does bring them into the modern age. As long as it's as nicely balanced as the Buffet (and Uebel) one and not like the previous Selmer one which was far too short.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2020-12-27 10:08
>> That's true but there are also some advantages to having the thumb keys unlinked. <<
Yes that might true in some cases, but overall, for by far most players, those advantages are minuscule compared with the compromises.
>> when you had a glance at that new Amati bass, was there a chance to play test it? <<
I compared them a few times, both when the Selmer had the 37 and then with the Privilege, and agree with your friend.
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