 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Pokenerd
Date: 2022-12-12 23:48
Hi guys,
I was planning on getting a basset clarinet in the future, and two options that I am considering at the moment are the buffet prestige or getting the extensions from Stephen Fox. Does anyone have a suggestion or more information on each of them?
Also why don’t people use basset clarinets as their primary instruments instead of regular sopranos?
Thanks
Minjun
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Author: SecondTry
Date: 2022-12-13 00:40
It's my understanding that the most common basset clarinet is pitched in "A," and I think it's safe to say that your Bb is going to be your primary instrument.
That said, why not just get an "A" basset clarinet over one without the additional range/length....?
Price, weight, infrequency of need...? I'm sure that there are other works aside the Mozart Concerto originally written for it, but many a great version of it has been done on a mere standard key setup "A" clarinet.
As a corollary to price, ours is an expensive hobby/avocation. There's no shortage of things people could buy, and many of them, along with the tons of money clarinet players make (not) might having them prioritizing other purchases, in and outside of the clarinet universe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basset_clarinet
I suppose if you're into playing period instruments that might a reason to get one, but today's Boehm Basset is hardly a period instrument.
And some artists have performed with them, but IMHO I feel this has been more gimmicky, more about "how can I differentiate my performance (or composition) of this piece over all other player's interpretation," than fear (I say in jest) of the audience walking out because a mere "A" clarinet was used instead.
I respect your right to get one. I've never played one so I can't speak to one brand over another, much that Stephen Fox has done some great things in clarinet design that I've benefitted from.
Post Edited (2022-12-13 00:41)
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2022-12-13 01:10
Basset clarinets are uncomfortable to play and while it is fun to play those low notes you won’t get many opportunities to use them and the novelty will wear off fast. Unless you have a specific need I would strongly suggest getting an alto or bass clarinet to play those low notes.
I personally have an extra basset joint that works on my R13A. While it is fun to mess around with it mostly stays in the case.
-JDbassplayer
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2022-12-13 02:56
There is the Mozart Requiem and I believe even the Dvorak Serenade, but I agree with the statement above that for a soprano clarinet player they are challenging to play.
If you need one for a gig I’m sure you can find sources (orchestras; schools) that may be willing to rent them out.
……….Paul Aviles
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Author: lmliberson
Date: 2022-12-13 04:46
Dvorak Serenade is for two clarinets only (two parts, both using Bb & A) - no basset horns, no basset clarinets.
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Author: Marnix van den Berg
Date: 2022-12-13 17:52
Dvorak's Czech suite specifies a basset may be used instead of the traditional cor anglais. (although I believe Dvorak's original intent was to use the basset).
I've performed the Mozart concerto on a basset clarinet and the weight difference was substantial compared to my normal A. I had to use a cord to play it comfortably and still be able to use the thumb keys smoothly.
The instrument (I borrowed it from a friend) was very very nice however.
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2022-12-13 20:38
Attachment: P1010016 (1).JPG (684k)
I've got a Leblanc basset clarinet in at the moment for a service which started life as a full Boehm A clarinet, then had the basset conversion added and the keywork silver plated more recently.
What was once the LH Ab/Eb lever is now the LH low D lever. It has the low C#/Db and C keys for the thumb and a vent hole for low C instead of the usual practice of having low C issue directly from the bell as Buffet, Leblanc and Selmer basset clarinets had.
Normally basset clarinets are relatively basic instruments with the low C extension, but this one has the extras found on full Boehms plus an additional Db-Eb/Ab-Bb trill linkage where the C#/G# key holds down the LH2 ring key so the trill can be done by trilling LH2 only whilst fingering C#/Db or G#/Ab.
The only interval it can't do smoothly is a low Eb-Ab slur as the LH Ab/Eb lever is now the LH low D lever. Although Leblanc basset clarinets as they were from the factory never had the LH Ab/Eb lever anyway.
The owner finds it an awkward instrument to play comfortably because of its weight, so I've suggested she tries out some floor peg attachments to take the weight off her right arm. There are some that velcro onto the lower joint or bell which would be much better than a fitting that's screwed into the wood as they'll eventually work themselves loose, unless fitted to a metal band that clamps around the lower joint or the bell socket.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
Post Edited (2022-12-13 20:44)
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Author: ebonite
Date: 2022-12-13 20:45
Chris P wrote:
> What was once the LH Ab/Eb lever is now the LH low D lever. It
> has the low C#/Db and C keys for the thumb and a vent hole for
> low C instead of the usual practice of having low C issue
> directly from the bell as Buffet, Leblanc and Selmer basset
> clarinets had.
Do you get a low B if you cover up the vent hole?
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Author: graham
Date: 2022-12-13 21:23
Mark Simpson recorded an album of modern basset clarinet pieces on the NMC label. I don’t know whether any of them have been performed otherwise than by Simpson, and you can judge how successful they are and whether the extra three notes add much to atonal music. Or you can just enjoy without judging.
graham
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2022-12-13 21:55
ebonite "Do you get a low B if you cover up the vent hole?"
Yes - I've also seen another basset clarinet conversion done by Brian Ackerman (which started out as a regular Selmer Series 9 A) that has the low C vent hole which will give a low B when covered up.
You can also humour a low B on a Buffet Prestige or Tosca low C bass (or Uebel Emperior and Royal Global low C basses as they're all based on the Buffet design) if you close off the low C vent on the bell with the inside edge of your left foot.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2022-12-14 01:37
Chris that Selmer that Ackerman extended was mine which I bought from John Playfair in 2004. I sold it before the pandemic to help buy my Backun basset.
The concerto and quintet by Mozart require basset clarinet (in A) if you want to play them authentically. The Parto Parto aria requires basset clarinet (in Bb). The Konzertstatz by Sussmeyer requires basset clarinet (in A). Then there are a host of modern works by Maxwell Davies and Mark Simpson. I’m sure there are many others by modern composers.
Steve Trier had a pair of Boehm system Albert clarinets which he had extended. The last I heard Clarinets Direct had that set for sale.
A basset clarinet is a more specialist instrument mainly for the works of Mozart. So unless you’ve got several concertos and quintets lined up then it might be better spending your money on a bass or Eb. That said it might be cheaper to get an extension than buy a complete instrument.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2022-12-14 03:11
I have a Buffet Prestige Basset clarinet in A, and Buffet Prestige B-flat which Steven Fox extended for me nearly 20 years ago. The Steven Fox is by far the better instrument- it sounds better and plays better in tune. Buffet have really not done a good job with their basset clarinet.
Minion asked why people don't use the basset clarinet as their regular instrument. Besides the extra weight and cost, the bore shape is also different, requiring a longer cylindrical section than a regular Boehm instrument. This changes the sound and feel of the entire instrument, which would probably not be to everyone's liking.
I would like to respond to SecondTry's assertion that players of modern bassets are "gimmicky" and that their main objective is to stand out. Perhaps this is the case for some people, and I agree that the way someone plays is far more important than whether they have 4 (or 5) extra notes at the bottom range of their instrument. However, the quest to play the actual notes that a great composer like Mozart wrote down (as far as we can determine what those notes are) surely has to be a priority for any serious player?
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Author: crazyclari
Date: 2022-12-23 02:43
Hi,
I have just had an Opus II extended to low B. Lovely, the tuning is I believe superior to the Buffets and still has that excellent Opus feel.
Beautiful work.
Steve put the low D key off to one side at my request. Tone and response very even.
He provides a support.
No complaints here.
I think the choice is clear.
Obviously players choice, but...
Cheers Glen
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Author: crazyclari
Date: 2022-12-23 02:46
I should have mentioned I bought the lower joint and keys from that site. So I still have the original bottom joint for comparison.
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Author: Pokenerd
Date: 2022-12-31 10:35
Thank you for all the comments. I emailed mr. fox about a month ago, and I did not get a reply from him yet.
How long does it usually take to get a reply back from him?
Minjun
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Author: jdbassplayer
Date: 2023-01-01 03:20
He’s usually fairly busy, you could try reaching out to him on Facebook.
-JDbassplayer
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Author: HANGARDUDE
Date: 2023-01-19 15:37
Liquorice,
Did Steve also add the throat Bb vent on your extended Bb basset? Also if you were to replace your factory Prestige Basset A with an extended standard Prestige A by Steve(matching your Bb), I would imagine that it won't hard for you to sell the factory basset A, a few players out there would be drooling over it as it means they wouldn't need to buy one at full price! 
Minjun,
You could also consider getting a basset joint(with a complementing bell with the right taper if needed) used in lieu of the normal lower joint of your clarinet whenever you need the former, then switch back to the normal lower joint for everyday playing. Both Steve Fox & Jochen Seggelke make such basset joints for Bb & A. It could seriously save you a fair amount money(even though it'll still be very costly) and perhaps getting used to a standalone basset clarinet(or 2 if you opt for Bb as well).
I for one wouldn't be looking at basset joints for a while as there is little need and too little money to get them, but if I could afford it one day I might consider getting basset joints for both Bb & A- A for Mozart(the biggest reason basset As exist) and maybe some other chamber works, while for Bb I could see some potential use for jazz/contemporary compositions and improvisations. But one can only dream on for now...
Josh
Post Edited (2023-11-16 10:37)
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Author: donald
Date: 2023-01-20 11:03
Linoi by Harrison Birtwhistle uses the basset notes (written for Alan Hacker, many years past i did a performance where Hacker sat onstage and provided the bassett notes missing in my (normal range) clarinet.
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