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Reply Woodwinds/Brass
Buying a Bass Clarinet

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-Kangaa

PostPosted: Mon Jan 26, 2009 12:33 pm


So I have just started playing the bass clarinet.

I was talking to my band director. She only had one 'good' bass clarinet (and 2 old ones, not as good), and a girl in the Sr. High band is using it. So when I get older, I would probably not play the good one, or not even play it at all.

My mom has already purchased a Bb clarinet, and was saying how she wasn't going to buy me a bass. The one the school has is not the best, and is kinda cheap.

Should I look into buying a bass clarinet? I don't want to make my mom mad for "abandoning" my Bb Clarinet, even though I will still use it in marching band.
PostPosted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 2:12 pm


I would recomend brands like:
Selmer
Bundy [Good if your looking for a good priced and sturdy Bass Clar. or instrument. I bought a Piccolo form them, and the quality is good.]
LeBlanc [Do they make Basses? redface ]
Buffet Crampon [Or simply Buffet]
Kohlert
Yamaha [It's okay, best for beginners. But.. I don't really like them..]
Amati [Really good. I have a Tuba from them. :3 Yes, the Tuba with 40 dents. xD]

I wouldn't look into:
Cecillio [REALLY BAD. They break on the first day. D:<]
Curiosa

Websites:
1 800 USA Band
WWBW.com
Ebay.com
Casio Interstate
SamAsh.com
Jupitermusic.com
Yamaha.com
LeBlanc
Findit.com [WARNING: Cheap instruments! Do not be fooled, enter at your own risk.]
Connselmer

If you do NOT know the brand name:
1] Whatever you do, DO NOT BUY IT.
2] If you are unsure, check if they have a website. Or check if you can get reviews from others. And print out the page for your BD, so she can check it.
3] Check if anyone else in your band [Anyone, any instrument[ has that instrument barnd. Ask them if they have to bring it to the shop regularly. If they do, don't buy it. Because sometimes for the cheap brands, the shop doesn't have the parts to fit the instrument.

Before Buying:
1] Make sure it has ALL the parts.
2] Make sure it has all the keys, and new woodwind pads. [Make sure they are not torn or stuck]
3] Make sure that if the instrument has dents in bell/barrel, you can get it repaired. Dents in the tuning slides/parts can effect the tone.
4]Make sure it has a case.
5] If you wat to see more pictures, ask the ebay seller if they can post more pictures. Or if you have questions ask the seller.
6] make sure the price isn't no $6000, but it can't be $100, around $800 - $1000 should be good.
7] Make sure it's a student model.

Maybe you should buy one, remember, apperance isn't everything. It's the quality. And, if other kids will be using the basses, maybe you should get your own.

That Girl is Fierce


blackenedstarsoftheworld

PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:07 pm


If you can get a good bass clarinet where you live YAY i can't find one and i play bass clarinet. It's pretty much mine right now even though it belongs to the school but i spent all my birthday money to get it fixed so if they take it from me ill be pissed. I love bass clarinet so good choice in instrument =)
PostPosted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 5:55 pm


Woah, woah, woah! Did I get this right?

x ii ReTrO x

So I have just started playing the bass clarinet.

Don't look into buying one if you are not even sure you are good at it, or enjoy it. I'd say you should wait until you play it for at least a year before you even consider buying one.
Take it from me - I bought a trumpet after playing it for a year and it's covered in dust, and I bought an alto sax, and that's used rarely...

I'm not trying to dissuade you from buying or playing a bass clarinet - I love bass clarinets, and I myself, started out an a piece of sh*t bass. It didn't affect me to the point of quitting playing bass clarinet. I hated it, but, you know, in fifth grade, I didn't even know what a triplet was, so...

Another option is renting an instrument, as they have fairly good ones at many music stores.

If you do decide to buy - I play on a selmer and I will never play on anything else ever again. Selmers have amazing quality but are very expensive.
I would not buy a Yamaha ever again. I hated my Yamaha. Really stuffy tone.
And another thing - don't buy online! I recommend going to your local music store and asking around - you usually end up with better quality, and you get to inspect it yourself.
Love to hear what happens! ^^

the never ending pixel


II3aby

PostPosted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:46 am


I wouldn't but one until you got more experienced with the bass.
Using a crappy one would probably help you in the process,
believe it or not.
And once you do buy one, after your experience, playing
the new one should be way easier, and you'll be awesome. c:

btw ;
Hello, dear!
PostPosted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 9:48 am


FORTE 411
I wouldn't but one until you got more experienced with the bass.
Using a crappy one would probably help you in the process,
believe it or not.

And once you do buy one, after your experience, playing
the new one should be way easier, and you'll be awesome. c:

btw ;
Hello, dear!


Funny, but true! Because I had a few school trombones [HEAVILY used] then, I bought my own. [Then it broke. ._.]

That Girl is Fierce


Aaya-San

Man-Hungry Fatcat

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PostPosted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 5:59 pm


I use a Vito and it's pretty good, but buffet's are best.

Btw, before you judge the ones at school(which I'm assuming you've tested before trusting your bd-I doubt they're as bad as my schools) I ask what reed and what kind are you using?


I personally used wood Vandoren 2.5's and 3's. I then discovered the glory of plastic on bass.

Amazingly enough, plastic reeds work wonders on bass clarinets. I now use a medium(2.5) Bari Reed. The brand is Bari, but it's a bass clarinet reed. I highly suggest testing with a plastic Bari reed before saying that the instruments are bad. My BD was surprised at how I played with one.

And btw, Unless you've been playing for 6 years, don't go out buying another instrument if you don't know what brands are best even. If you just got a clarinet, use the flippin' schools. Don't waste a freaking good instrument if you can't even produce a mezzo forte on a bass clarinet. Which many middle/high school players can't.
PostPosted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 2:11 pm


i definately love my bass clarinet i would say buy it and have fun with it , right now i wish i could get my hands back on Bb cause i haven't played one in 4 years. i'm also looking into buying a sax cause i would like another instrument to play.

ducky2_2003

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Woodwinds/Brass

 
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