Contrabass Digest

To subscribe or unsubscribe, email gdgreen@contrabass.com

 
 

2001-10-03

 
Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 11:49:02 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: Re: [CB] Contrabass ad anche
 

>SOmeone was talking about the Reed Contrabass recently.  Orsi in Milano was
>making contrabasses ad anchia new in 1994 for 31,000,000
>lira.  Case and finish extra.  This came to about $20k.  They made me a new
>leadpipe that year for mine, but I fear it was badly made, as the reed end
>is too big for anything I can find or make.

It seems odd that the reed end is too large: reed contras seem to
have a characteristically *small* diameter bocal.  The bocal on mine
is so narrow that I had it corked so that I could use my contra
sarrusophone reeds for both horns.  What have you tried that doesn't
fit?

Grant

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

Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 11:52:48 -0700
From: Grant Green
Subject: Re: [CB] ] new microphone solutions for bass-/contrabassclarinet
 

>I am a big fan of AKG, having used C414 mic for orchestra and C401
>pickup for string bass; but even the 1" condenser did not capture
>full bass because of the phantom circuit.  I use the EV RE-20 for
>bass drums, voices and winds because of the smoothness - but it is
>only good to B0.

Of course, B0 is low enough to cover all woodwinds except for the
lowest half-step on the contrabassoon and low C contrabass clarinet
(unless you're recording the BBb contrabass sarrusophone - then you
need to get Ab0).  How attenuated is the signal at that frequency?

Grant

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

Date: Wed, 3 Oct 2001 14:17:58 -0600 (MDT)
From: The Guy on the Couch
Subject: [CB] Selmer C-Alto Series 9...value?

A party who needs money for medication (or so the story goes) offered to
sell to our university what they described as a bass clarinet worth $8k.
They were willing to let it go for a thousand, which raised the interest
of our Director of Bands, who I had been pestering (for the past four
years) to purchase a bass clarinet to low C.  No one, we thought, in their
right mind, would spend eight grand on a bass unless it went to low C, so
we had the instrument picked up for us to examine.

As it turns out, it's a Selmer Series 9 Contra Alto to low Eb...the
rosewood body's in great shape, but it needs new pads, some key swedging,
and a new case (it's seriously shot). The bottom of the bow on the bell
is flattened as well (a common ailment in contras). We are not going to
purchase it (as we have two contraltos of our own, one of which is a
similar instrument), but if this person is really willing to sell it, I
may offer to place it on Ebay for them for a very small commission.

Personally, if I had the use for the instrument (other than fun time,
which...would be nice, if I could toss my money to that), I would buy it
and put the $300-500 into it to get the keywork and bell taken care of,
but I simply cannot invest that right now.  As is, how much do you think
this instrument would sell for?  How much would you be willing to pay for
it, or even...would you like to make an offer? *grin*
 

J. Shouryu Nohe
Grad Assistant, New Mexico State University
"I think we have a ghost in our house." - Kaycee Nicole
"I should probably be playing Buffet." - Steve Moore

***End of Contrabass Digest***


 
Next Digest ->
Previous Digest <-
Index
Top