Author: graham
Date: 2008-01-21 09:22
clarnibass's impression of the low E flat Amati bass certainly does not accord with my view of a low C Amati which I bought in 2004. First, the bell alignment is not a problem on that instrument. It just appears to be, but if the bell is pointed straight out, it does work fine. Also, the keys are not soft on the low C model. It is true that the screwing in is not really tight enough and the instrument rattles. However, that does not translate into poor or difficult closure when set up properly. I have played mine quite a bit since I got it and have not had it overhauled. Every so often, one has to get out a screw driver and do some tightening but not too much of that. It is not going out of adjustment.
The sound is very different to the modern French instruments. It is tighter and buzzier. You either like it or you don't. If you want a fat sound then it is worth paying out for Buffet or Selmer. Note for low C people, the lower notes are not fully automated but require the E key to be depressed for D and below.
The instrument is tuned to A = 444, which of course is sharp for most people. It recognises the fact that their core market is Eastern European. It will play down to pitch when pulled out, and mostly seems not to suffer tuning iregularities as a result. However, the bell B over the break undoubtedly is very sharp.
It probably does not compare in many ways with the leading more expensive models but it has a particular way about it which is very persuasive.
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The Clarinet BBoard
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