Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 2002-02-11 20:30
The general word is that the best bass clarinets were the ancient Selmers with manual register keys. Stephen Freeman in the New York Philharmonic plays one that he inherited from his predecessor, and everyone I know who's played it says it's in a class by itself. It goes only to Eb, but so what? (Obviously, he has a low C instrument, too, for when the music calls for it.) Charlie Ponte had one, and I've always kicked myself for not buying it.
Josef Horak plays a low C Selmer from the 1960s, which he says he prefers to any other.
I have played the current Selmers and Buffets, and I agree that it's a tossup between them.
The Selmer is physically lighter and has a light action and an easy response. For me, the sound doesn't have enough substance.
The newest model Buffet is a considerable improvement over earlier models. The sound is good and the response and key action are almost as good as the Selmer. The way to tell the new ones is that the upper register key on the neck has two levers that press on it, one on each side of the little plate on the bottom.
I play a Buffet (to low Eb) from the 1970s, which I prefer to any current instrument. I'm told that Ron Reuben in the Philadelphia Orchestra has one of these that he plays by preference when he doesn't need a low C. The key mechanism is not great, but the sound is.
The Yamaha is also worth a try. I believe Ed Palanker in Baltimore plays one.
I've never played a Leblanc I liked the sound of.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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The Clarinet BBoard
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