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Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 17:15:36 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: Re: [CB] Good Contra Instrument>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 CaseyHi Rick,
If you want to start out cheap, you probably get the most bang for
your buck with an old BBb sousaphone. Unless I'm mistaken, you can
generally find old beat-up sousaphones for under $1K. Not pretty,
but the cheapest way to get the farthest down the spectrum with a
wind instrument. If you don't mind stopping at E1, "starter" bass
guitars are pretty cheap - maybe $250-350 (although you'll need some
amplification with that...). The bass harp (harmonica) is fun, and
almost unique, but you probably won't get as many gigs ;-)Actually, the least expensive way to go is to check out the
instruments at your college (assuming it has a music program). They
may have a locker full of old horns that nobody is using, like
contrabass clarinet, bass sax, tuba... While you're there, look for
a sarrusophone ;-) Which college are you attending?Best of luck!
Grant
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Grant Green http://www.contrabass.com
Professional Fool -> http://www.mp3.com/ProFools
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---------------------------------------------------------From: Heliconman
Date: Tue, 5 Jun 2001 20:30:31 EDT
Subject: Re: [CB] Good Contra InstrumentIn a message dated 6/5/01 8:15:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time, gdgreen writes:
<< Actually, the least expensive way to go is to check out the
instruments at your college (assuming it has a music program). They
may have a locker full of old horns that nobody is using, like
contrabass clarinet, bass sax, tuba... While you're there, look for
a sarrusophone ;-) Which college are you attending? >>Very good suggestion!
I played in the Northeastern University Bands (marching, pep, concert and
jazz bands) and had the opportunity to bring home a Mirafone tuba and a Bach
Strad bass trombone and even cut my jazz solo chops on these horns!! I hardly
ever an given solos on these horns now unless I speak up! People just don't
consider them as instruments that one would take a solo on, but us bass-ers
have to push our way into the spotlight and MAKE our own breaks!
Go for it!
---------------------------------------------------------Date: Tue, 05 Jun 2001 22:15:06 -0700
From: bitwise
Subject: Re: [CB] Good Contra InstrumentHi Rick,
I like the locker idea and the bass harp, but I would suggest
frequent checks of e-bay. 5-string bass guitars (to B0, no
less) can be had in the $200 - 300 range, if not less. I have
seen acoustic bass guitars with 5 strings there.As far as low wind instruments go, I'm strongly partial to big
clarinets. Although it may take a while, it should be possible to
pick up a contra-alto clarinet under $1K. Monday night I saw
a rosewood contra-alto bidding at $750. There are also a number
of music stores selling used instruments on-line. That's how I
acquired my bass and contra-alto clarinets.Good hunting -
Craig
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 00:36:17 -0700 (PDT)
From: Andrew Phillips
Subject: Re: [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 CaseyI'd say contrabass clarinet is your best bet. A
college band would have a good deal of demand for one
so I'd recommend that, even though I don't play it
(I'm a contrabassoonist and a bass saxophone player)
Contrabass clarinets are slightly easier to get ahold
of than other contrabass reeds. Also and you could
probably pick one up for a relatively low cost if you
can't sign out your school's.
--Andrew Phillips
U. of Toledo
---------------------------------------------------------
From: "William Bennett"
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 10:57:02 -0700
Subject: [CB] Kolert bassoonI have been offered a Kolert (not sure about the spelling but I know it is
East German) bassoon for sale for £1100. I have not heard of this make
before and I was wondering if anyone on the list has had experience of them.
Are they any good? I would be greatful for any input.Laura Bennett
---------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 06 Jun 2001 08:48:27 -0700
From: "Chuck Guzis"
Subject: Re: [CB] Kolert bassoonI can't say much about the actual instrument, but I can volunteer that Kohlert was one of a large number of manufacturers started during the 19th century by German-speaking Bohemians in and around Graslitz (Kraslice), now part of the Czech republic. After the "repatriation" of the Sudeten by Czechoslovakia after WWII, the various manufacturers were nationalized under the AMATI umbrella.
Speaking solely from my experiece with low brass, pre-WWII instruments can be quite good (some old Cerveney tubas were quite exceptional). AMATI-manufactured brass ranges from execrable to decent. I don't know if the same holds for woodwinds, but my wife owns a 1920's vintage Kohlert piccolo and it's quite good.
Cheers,
Chuck
On 6/6/2001, William Bennett wrote:
>I have been offered a Kolert (not sure about the spelling but I know it is
>East German) bassoon for sale for =A31100. I have not heard of this make
>before and I was wondering if anyone on the list has had experience of them.
>Are they any good? I would be greatful for any input.
>
>Laura Bennett
---------------------------------------------------------
From: Opusnandy
Date: Wed, 6 Jun 2001 12:29:08 EDT
Subject: Re: [CB] Kolert bassoonMy first bassoon was a pre W.W.II Kohlert bassoon. It was what they call a
"flat-back" due to a flattened side to the bass joint (long joint). Many
professionals told me that these pre war Kohlerts were sought after due to
their distinctive tone. I since, however, upgraded to a Fox 201 when I
entered college as a music major. The Kohlert was good, but not really
professional grade. I don't know if the one you're looking at is pre or post
war, I don't know anything about the later models, but I guess it depends on
what you're going to do with it (for instance, my Kohlert was a very good
student or part time instrument, and was interesting to collectors, but was
not quite satisfactory for professional playing).
Jonathan Carreira
Check out Carreira Music Productions!
http://www.angelfire.com/music3/cmusicprod***End of Contrabass Digest***
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