From: "Bruce Abbott"
Subject: [CB] A Field Guide to Paperclip Contras
Date: Wed, 4 May 2005 13:47:47 -0500
Howdy, folks,
I'm beginning to nose around for a used Leblanc 350 EEb
contra-alto clarinet to low C. (A delicious descent from my
current Bb bass clarinet to low Eb.) The ergonomics of the
paperclip design really appeal to me. Also, several references
allude to the fact that the 350 has a bass-clarinet-like timbre, with
maybe a sax-like timbre on the lowest notes. Then there's the
full complement of side keys. Add to that the fact that the horns
are made of metal, not wood, so they're less prone to humidity-
or temperature-related breakage, key adjustment, and tuning
problems. And they look so cool! I'm sold...
But I want to do a careful search for a good instrument.
First off, I want to be able to tell a paperclip from a straight
contra. OK, I think I got that.
Second, how do you visually distinguish a contra-alto from a BBb
contrabass, when you're only looking at one at a time?
Third (now it's getting trickier), can you tell me the visual
cues to distinguish a 350 to Eb from one to D from one to C? Is
it that the low Eb horn has no right-hand thumb keys, the low D has
one, and the low C has three?
How about if you're just looking at pictures and can't really
see the thumb keys? Can you count the number of tone holes on the
last straight section of the body (the one to which the bell is
attached)?
Thanks in advance for your horn-watching tips. I have
pored over the archives of the Clarinet Bulletin Board, and the Yahoo
Bass Clarinet list, and this list as well. I have learned much
about these contra horns, thanks to all your helpful entries. But
you've put the monkey on my back! I must have one!
-- Bruce, aka Low_Reed
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Date: Wed, 4 May 2005 14:37:41 -0700
From: "Grant Green"
Subject: Re: [CB] A Field Guide to Paperclip Contras
Hi Bruce,
The hardest part is distinguishing the Bb from the Eb based on
pictures alone. The one pictured in the auction mentioned above is an Eb contra. The bow sections
(the top and bottom curves) are the same on Eb and Bb contras - only
the difference between them changes. Thus, the Bb will look "stretched"
compared to the Eb, and the Eb may look "compressed" or stunted
compared to the Bb.
The number of RH palm keys is definitive: the Bb contra has only
one RH side key (for Eb/Ab), while the 350 has 3 or 4 (e.g., Eb, F#, B
- I don't think it has the
top C). Usually, however, the problem is that the seller will have no
concept of which keys you're asking about. If you manage to wind up
with a Bb 340 that has 3 or 4 RH palm keys, you probably have a one-off
or rare horn that's worth more than you paid ;-)
The paperclip model (350) is always extended lower than Eb: if
the horn is low Eb, it will be a straight 352. I've never seen a low D
model 350, but the difference between low D (if they exist) and low C
is probably the same as on the Bb (340) contra. On a low C horn, the
bell extends all the way to the top bow (as in the horn pictured in
this auction), whereas on a low D horn the bell will reach only
half-way between the mpc and the top bow. This is definitive for the
340: I suspect it will be the
same for the 350. The other keywork is more variable: typically, the
horn will have an L4 low D key, with RT keys for C# and C. On older
(340) horns, I've seen an L4 low D on some horns, and a RT low D on
others.
Enjoy!
Grant
--
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Grant Green Contrabass.com
Sarrusophones & contrabass winds
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