I have been playing Bass Clarinet for almost 5 years, and I use my schools instrument. It's a piece of crap and I am looking into buying my own since i plan on staying with it. Additionally I had 2 auditions this past week for which my school instrument wouldnt work properly. I was hoping to get some advice on what the best brand/model of Bass Clarinet is, but without being overly expensive.
I absolutely adore my buffet(an 1193), although it too is a school instrument, and occasionally has issues due to improper treatment. However, the selmers i have played (also school instruments) in the past aren't too shabby, unless they have been mistreated. I'd say make sure to get a wooden one- I used to play on a plastic bass clarinet in middle school, and it was NOT lovely.
The best ones ARE overly expensive if you buy new. Both the Buffet 1193 and Selmer Privilege Model 67 are OUTSTANDING horns that go to low-C. Selmer is a wider-bore horn than the Buffet, so which one is best all depends on your taste in sound. I find the buffets more focused/centered/balanced, especially in the upper register, but the Selmer is easier to play and has great, free-blowing notes, a wide range of tonal expression. Both sell for over $7000 new. That said, I own a Buffet short model but am looking for a good used Buffet 1193. Other than that, I like the Buffet 1183, but it doesn't have low-C.
umm...what i play now is a bundy, ill look at the model next time i use it, i never really paid that much attention. but it really is crap. it will work fine one day, but as soon as you take it apart something moves. there is one screw that i have to spend 20 minutes a day trying to find that sweet spot that makes it work. a great deal of nail polish and rubber cement has been used trying to get it to stay. i treat it with great care, but it wasnt well cared for before me. additionally it gets used for marching band, which isn't good for it considering we play in rain and freezing temperatures.
If, when you say you plan on staying with it, you mean through college, or beyond, i would definitely say that a vito would NOT be a good investment. while they are not expensive, as far as bass clarinets go, they don't sound very good (in my oppinon), and are more of a beginner level instrument. i started on a vito soprano clarinet, and played vito basses for my two years of middle school-my first years on bass clarinet. also, i've had experiences with vitos deciding not to play, or getting messed up easily, though that may have been a school-horn-issue. things i don't like about the vitos specifically:
-one piece body. though thats mostly personal preference, it makes it a lot harder to carry, as well as less tuning-opportunities.
-the neck fits in with a metal joint, not a cork. i had issues with teh neck not staying put and wiggling up and down as i played, because the screw bent itself weirdly and wouldn't tighten right. but then if it was being stupid and wouldnt go in(i played on i think 4 vito basses total so i had a wide range of experiences), there's no cork to grease.
-the neck is one piece. i never realized untill i got to highschool and played on a two-piece neck how nice it is for tuning- you don't take it appart every time, so your settings stay more. it gives you a good starting place for being somewhere near in tune, and then you can tweak for the circumstances.
-less alternate fingering keys... which are worth having. they save my life durring long sustained notes on fingerings that sound bad, as well as making scales a lot easier.
definitely not worth getting i think. might as well get something good that you won't need to upgrade from later.
Laeta is right, Vitos are half worthless. The upper register doesn't play correctly which makes high school region music pretty much unplayable (at least in Texas) Stay away from Vito, Bundy, and Selmer USA if you're looking to upgrade. Good, low cost horns would be Leblanc (wooden), Noblet, Buffet 1180. There's a Buffet 1180 on eBay right now. The 1180 is 95% a pro horn, it's just missing a couple pro features/mechanisms.
It depends what you want I guess....
I play on a Selmer 37 and most professional bass players do too...Accept it just has changed to the 67 (Only difference is right hand E flat thumb alternate key)It by far has the best finger placments and is better in-tune than the Buffet. If you also play the clarinet than you should get a Buffet, the keys are closer together.
Another choice is the Yamah. But be AWARE, they need a fair bit of repair...more than the previous models mentioned. But if you are not EXTREMELY serious...go with the Yamaha...its cheaper...and I say is third best.
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