Contrabass Digest

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2001-06-05

 
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 05:46:58 -0700 (PDT)
From: Sybert1ger
Subject: [CB] Good Contra Instrument

Hi Folks,

  Well I haven't contributed anything since my I introduced myself a year or so ago but I thought I'd throw this question out now.  It's been a little quiet and I thought I'd stir up some discussion.
  I'm an aspiring contra enthusiast.  Unfortunately I've had limited access to contra instruments.  I regularly play bari sax in college and I've tried the contrabass clarinet they have several times.  What my question boils down to is what would you suggest as a decent moderately priced(struggling college student) bass or contrabass instrument.  As I said I'm a reed player but am more than willing to to give brass a try.  Thanks for any input you have.

Rick Casey

_____________________________________________________________
Modern Rock K-Rock...be part of the New Music Revolution and check out
www.krock.com!!
---------------------------------------------------------

From: Heliconman
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 11:43:07 EDT
Subject: [CB] Bass Banjo Sighting
 

I've been meaning to mention the bass banjo I saw at a flea market a short
while back! It looked like a one of a kind instrument. It was sort of a bass
drum with a string bass neck. It also had a really nicely made wooden stand,
upon which it could be played. It used a Remo bass drum or kettle drum head
about 28 to 30 inches in diameter and had a beautiful hardwood parquet "drum
shell". The neck looked like it came right off of a string bass. By the time
I got to it, it had been sold...to a well-known bass sax player (among MANY
other instruments) named Scott Robinson. I was fortunate enough to be
introduced to him by my marching band director and friend (who is also a bass
sax'er!). Keep your eyes and ears open, because I'm pretty certain he'll be
using it on an upcoming CD. Scott plays many different instruments and
generally plays and records in the jazz vein. What an amazing vision this
giant banjo was!!! I wish I'd had a camera that day!
 

---------------------------------------------------------

From: Heliconman
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 12:03:28 EDT
Subject: Re: [CB] Good Contra Instrument
 

In a message dated 6/5/01 8:51:39 AM Eastern Daylight Time, SyberT1ger writes:
 

> What my question boils down to is what would you suggest as a decent
> moderately priced(struggling college student) bass or contrabass
> instrument.

A fairly inexpensive instrument might be the bass harmonica which also
wouldn't take up a lot of space if your dorm room happens to be on the small
side. Let me strongly suggest you go for a Hohner bass harp, as the brand new
but cheaply made Chinese version I bought had buzzy reeds, right out of the
case. Once I get the reeds adjusted, it will probably end up costing me the
same as having bought a Hohner in the first place. The sound of the bass harp
is a really funky, grumbly, metallic reedy sound. There's been a little bit
of discussion of recordings that use bass harp recently. The song that got me
hooked on it was Paul Simon's "Papa Hobo" on (I believe) the "Paul Simon"
album. There is also the theme to "Sanford and Son" by Quincy Jones available
on the "Best of Quincy Jones" CD as well as the Beatles' recording of "Fool
On The Hill" where the bass harp takes the bass line behind the recorder or
ocarina solo in the middle. Lots of recordings by the Harmonicats too.
The price for a Hohner can run you from $250 to $500 (for a new one) and you
can find them fairly frequently on eBay, as well as their lesser quality
Chinese cousins that run around $120 to $150. It might take you a month or so
to find a good one on eBay and I think prices seem to be on the low side
right now in this "George W Bush economy". Of course there are more
mainstream contrabass instruments that have more music already written for
them, but the bass harp is a fun sound!
 

---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 10:24:17 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: [CB] Contrabass flute FS

...and the best part is that it is going for about US$2K.  See
http://www.gwr.org/flutes/articles/c-b-f-1.htm, or contact
hogenhuis-flutes@hetnet.nl directly.  The instrument is made from PVC
(plastic), and optimized for flute choir use (oversize bore, favoring
the lower two octaves).  A double contrabass is under development :-)

Enjoy!

Grant

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green                  http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool  ->  http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 05 Jun 2001 10:34:33 -0700
From: David Richoux
Subject: Re: [CB] Bass Banjo Sighting

bass banjos were mentioned on the TubaEuph list a few years ago (I think- I have
lost a lot of my archives) and some were actually NOT home built. Sorry I don't have
the full information, but I saw a similar one at a SF Bay Areal trad jazz function a
while back - I didn't make contact with the owner to find out the details...

Dave Richoux
 
 

Heliconman wrote:
> I've been meaning to mention the bass banjo I saw at a flea market a short
> while back! It looked like a one of a kind instrument. It was sort of a bass
> drum with a string bass neck. It also had a really nicely made wooden stand,
> upon which it could be played. It used a Remo bass drum or kettle drum head
> about 28 to 30 inches in diameter and had a beautiful hardwood parquet "drum
> shell". The neck looked like it came right off of a string bass. By the time
> I got to it, it had been sold...to a well-known bass sax player (among MANY
> other instruments) named Scott Robinson. I was fortunate enough to be
> introduced to him by my marching band director and friend (who is also a bass
> sax'er!). Keep your eyes and ears open, because I'm pretty certain he'll be
> using it on an upcoming CD. Scott plays many different instruments and
> generally plays and records in the jazz vein. What an amazing vision this
> giant banjo was!!! I wish I'd had a camera that day!
---------------------------------------------------------

Date: Tue, 05 Jun 2001 10:47:47 -0700
From: "Chuck Guzis"
Subject: Re: [CB] Contrabass flute FS

 On 6/5/2001,  Grant Green  wrote:
>..and the best part is that it is going for about US$2K.  See
>http://www.gwr.org/flutes/articles/c-b-f-1.htm, or contact
>hogenhuis-flutes@hetnet.nl directly.  The instrument is made from PVC ...

Has anyone hear this contra?  I've heard the bass version (about $1K) and while inexpensive, it sounded, well, like a piece of PVC pipe.  I don't know if this was a characteristic of the bore taper or lack thereof, or if this is just characteristic of PVC flutes.

Cheers,
Chuck
 

***End of Contrabass Digest***
 


 
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