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Yesterday I took delivery of a bucket list item for me. A bass clarinet. I haven’t played one since my college days (VERY long ago), and I have always loved the sound of this instrument.
The instrument is the new Backun Alpha Low C bass clarinet. (It also comes in a low Eb model.) It was on sale, at a significant discount, so I went for it. (Those of you not in the USA may not have to pay so much…) It’s made of ABS, but is otherwise the same as their Grenadilla wood model, the series Q.
Oh man what a horn! Plays like a dream on the included “beginner” mouthpiece. I initially played the Legere reed that came with it, but today tried some “classical” tenor reeds I have in my stash, with a significant improvement in tone and response. I have ordered a Fobes NOVA mouthpiece, which I hope will be even better, though I am impressed with the Backun “entry-level” mouthpiece. Today I was easily able to play from low C all the way up to altissimo G. Very even and full tone throughout.
Build is excellent, very solid. Lots of adjustment screws to help when the various linkages get out of sync. The long rods are supported at various points to prevent bending and twisting. Putting the two main joints together was a little fussy, as there is a positive stop that positions the joints so the linkage bridge between the joints functions properly. Of course both the stop and the bridges (there are 2) have adjustment screws. All of the adjustments were spot on out of the box. The case is good, though if I end up performing a lot with it I might look for a better case.
I look forward to using this in some recording ideas I have planned. It’s a complete joy to play. I am so, well… jazzed !!
The instrument is the new Backun Alpha Low C bass clarinet. (It also comes in a low Eb model.) It was on sale, at a significant discount, so I went for it. (Those of you not in the USA may not have to pay so much…) It’s made of ABS, but is otherwise the same as their Grenadilla wood model, the series Q.
Oh man what a horn! Plays like a dream on the included “beginner” mouthpiece. I initially played the Legere reed that came with it, but today tried some “classical” tenor reeds I have in my stash, with a significant improvement in tone and response. I have ordered a Fobes NOVA mouthpiece, which I hope will be even better, though I am impressed with the Backun “entry-level” mouthpiece. Today I was easily able to play from low C all the way up to altissimo G. Very even and full tone throughout.
Build is excellent, very solid. Lots of adjustment screws to help when the various linkages get out of sync. The long rods are supported at various points to prevent bending and twisting. Putting the two main joints together was a little fussy, as there is a positive stop that positions the joints so the linkage bridge between the joints functions properly. Of course both the stop and the bridges (there are 2) have adjustment screws. All of the adjustments were spot on out of the box. The case is good, though if I end up performing a lot with it I might look for a better case.
I look forward to using this in some recording ideas I have planned. It’s a complete joy to play. I am so, well… jazzed !!
