[Rojarosguitar]

Hello,
are there alto clarinets (boehm system) going down to low C (like with bass clarinets?)

 

[Lambros]

No such animal exists, however, there is the basset horn in F; modern instruments are basically like miniature low C bass clarinets...I really want one of these things...

 

[clarnut]

Yes, I am unaware of any altos, but a bassethorn would have that range, although in a different key. They are fun to play

 

[Rojarosguitar]

That sounds great ... are there bassethorns down to low C on the market? Who are the makers today? Can' find much on the internet

 

[Lambros]

Selmer and Buffet make limited runs of them each year and they're pretty scarce. There is one that shows up on eBay from time to time with a 6K asking price; it looks to be a Z serial #, 10 series-late '77 with modern key work. Foag is a manufacturer that does custom clarinet builds of the entire range, including alto and basset horn; hope this helps.

That sounds great ... are there bassethorns down to low C on the market? Who are the makers today? Can' find much on the internet

 

[clarnibass]

There are a couple of custom made altos to low C (I only know of one) or had an extension made (also one that I know of). Assuming there are a few more than those, still very unlikely to find and I've never seen any of these for sale.

Current basset horns are roughly the cost of new bass clarinets, just worth mentioning. You might be able to (eventually) find old low C basset horns from Buffet, Selmer or Leblanc for much less if cost is a consideration.

Keep in mind that because of the different transposition, a low C basset horn is only the same in range as a low C alto would be if you play without transposing, or the music is transposed for it (i.e. any other parts), etc. For actual (sounding) range it is the same as a low D alto, which is just one note lower than a regular low Eb alto.

 

[Rojarosguitar]

Keep in mind that because of the different transposition, a low C basset horn is only the same in range as a low C alto would be if you play without transposing, or the music is transposed for it (i.e. any other parts), etc. For actual (sounding) range it is the same as a low D alto, which is just one note lower than a regular low Eb alto.

Right, thanks for the reminder... probably it's not worth the money if one is not profesionally playing the music that requires such an instrument (like these basset guys above playing Mozart)...

I found this: https://wurlitzerklarinetten.de/klarinetten/ (scroll down to Model #180/181) for over 22,000 Euro

 

[jdbassplayer]

If you are patient you can sometimes find cheap basset horns mislabeled as alto or bass clarinets. I got my 1967 Buffet basset horn for $1300, but I did need to put a few hundred more into it for parts and accessories in addition to making a replacement and overhauling it. It is one of my favorite instruments to play, the small bore gives it a much smoother sound than my alto clarinet.

http://instagr.am/p/Bx-u5kUgPHL/

 

[Guest]

No such animal exists, however, there is the basset horn in F; modern instruments are basically like miniature low C bass clarinets...I really want one of these things...

A Divertimento: when a joke-playing musician writes a sign into your music diverting you to the coda way too early..........

 

[elee886]

There are a couple of custom made altos to low C (I only know of one) or had an extension made (also one that I know of). Assuming there are a few more than those, still very unlikely to find and I've never seen any of these for sale.

Current basset horns are roughly the cost of new bass clarinets, just worth mentioning. You might be able to (eventually) find old low C basset horns from Buffet, Selmer or Leblanc for much less if cost is a consideration.

Keep in mind that because of the different transposition, a low C basset horn is only the same in range as a low C alto would be if you play without transposing, or the music is transposed for it (i.e. any other parts), etc. For actual (sounding) range it is the same as a low D alto, which is just one note lower than a regular low Eb alto.

I know that this is an old thread, but I wanted to mention that Stephen Fox made a low D extension for my Buffet alto clarinet. Now I can play Eb alto clarinet parts, but I can also play basset horn parts down to low C if I'm willing and able to transpose up a tone.