Backun Alpha Bass Clarinet Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2024
- Internet, you're welcome (I got hundreds of requests for this review since the instrument was announced 3 weeks ago!)
Here is the brand new Backun Alpha Low C Bass Clarinet (he's making an Eb, too), and my review of the instrument.
0:00 Intro
1:29 How is it similar to the Model Q?
2:00 First listen
2:31 Guided tour
2:36 Triple register mechanism
3:58 Articulated C#/G#
4:53 Accessory attachment
5:37 Low fingering system
6:54 Standing peg
7:10 Case
7:28 Blind listening tests
11:05 Kessler vs Max vs Alpha - my opinion
13:00 Summary - เพลง
It continues to utterly baffle and infuriate me that the articulated C#/G#, an engineering achievement that has existed since the 1930s on the saxophone, and has been standard on virtually all saxophones since the 1960s or 1970s, continues to be a luxury on clarinets.
If I remember correctly, full boehm clarinets have this. Tho for some reason they’re not as common anymore.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this, I believe the reason they don’t is because of altissimo fingerings like front F where the G# key being used as a register key. You see this on bass clarinets sometimes because those fingerings are less important on bass and the utility of articulated G# is more useful, and I have to guess the reason so many manufacturers just don’t include it is because clarinet players just aren’t used to it?
@@zanejensen7403 your reasoning may in fact prove to be true. The thing is that, to me, it's just lazy/bad research and development on the part of manufacturers. Not to keep using the saxophone, but there was a time, over 100 years ago, when saxophones had to separate buttons for the octave mechanism. At some point, a manufacturer/engineer found a way to operate both keys with one button, and the saxophone, the players, and I would argue composers, are better for it.
Articulated G# on saxophones was a few decades before.
In the 30s the innovation was the tab mechanism that allowed the other LH pinky keys to depress the G# key.
All oboes also have had articulated G# for well over 100 years.
And it is not only the articulated mechanism, it is putting the G# in a correct place, this also helps the standard. altissimo F fingering
You are wrong to blame manufacturers, that is ridiculous. It is the stodgy, conservative player base that balk at any innovation. Look how long it took for the obvious improvement of the LH Eb/Ab key to be accepted.
They didn’t discontinue full boehm instruments because they sold so well.
Consumer attitudes need to change first. Maybe that change is on the horizon. I don’t know.
In the meantime, I’ll keep playing my Buffet and Selmer full boehms ;)
I think the main reason is on saxophone it is an easier mechanism to achieve with the body of the saxophone staying in one piece but with the clarinet with the break in the joints putting that C#/G# placement where it tonally should be and where an articulated mechanism would work best it would create that tonehole right in the middle of the tenon which is hard for recorking and and manufacturing.
"or he was"🤣. Still love ya buddy. You and I agree that the Alpha is amazing. That's why I have 60+ on order as well!! Both have their place for sure
Dave is that you??? :)
@@earspasm in the digital flesh! 😎
😂
That’s over 180k in bass clarinets
@@Thebestbassclarinet yup
Im really glad that there are finally a bunch of solid bass clarinets that dont cost more than $10k. The kessler, the ridenour, the royal globals, and now this.
My experience with ridenour....stay away. QC issues
The bass Lego shirt is the best thing I’ve ever seen!! It was great being able to help you watch my friend
Dr. Isaac carry out that bass!!!
It's amazing to see this level of innovation happening for the Bass Clarinet! I'm really crossing my fingers on Backun making Alpha versions of the Alto/Contraalto/Contrabass clarinets as well - hell, if they made an Alto that was functionally identical to the Bass, that could very well be the breath of life the instrument needs!
Yes please! I love the alto clarinet's sound and would love to play it!
@@giganerd896 if you're considering alto, I'd suggest looking for a used student model and just getting it serviced. A Noblet in decent nick would be the best case scenario, but Vito and Bundy instruments (and their various stencils) are pretty good too - just make sure the instrument is keyed to Low Eb, get a decent mouthpiece, and make sure to use Alto Sax reeds
@@giganerd896 Oh yeah, and it's worth getting a floor peg installed on the instrument's bell. If you're buying from the USA and you don't live there, I'd suggest finding someone in the USA who can do it before it's sent to you
If Backun ever made a contrabass clarinet I would scream.
@@67Pgame For now, we'll just have to settle for the Clarinets by Copeland model 😅
I’m so glad Royal, Backun, and Uebel are giving Buffet and Selmer a run for their money on the bass market. This’ll allow way more clarinetists to double on bass and for those students who want a low C Bass Clarinet in high school.
Also vaulting those terrible low Eb bass clarinets every high school has..
Please... Yes please... The low Eb's I played on at my school until just a few years ago were terrible
Your channel kicks ass and has taught me a bunch, thank you!
omg im so happy u posted this, i almost got to come to tmea and see the backun stand but i couldnt make it. thanks for posting this i will be looming into buying this so i have a good bass clarinet for tmea all state my junior year
Great review! Super helpful and I can’t wait to try this one out myself! Loving the availability of reasonably inexpensive and excellent bass clarinets out there these days. ❤
Thank you, this was wonderful. Only thing I missed was your tuner run through like the others had. But it does sound wonderful!
Tuning is the same as the Q, since it's the same bore. But you're right, I should have included that.
You are always so thorough and sincere. May worth a brip to your shop in New York in 2024! Take care.
My wife plays the BC. Great reviews!!! Keep up all the fun stuff!!!!!
Game on! Right on! A GREAT time to be a bass clarinetist....not that I haven't always felt that way! James Danderfer and I are visiting Morrie in two weeks to try this baby out (while I await my Model Q in April.) This is in contention for your most fun video of all time, Michael....which is really going some!
wow! what a great time to be a bass clarinet player! I had a lot of trouble discerning differences in the blind test. The most I could make out was that 3 was slightly darker and 4 was slightly brighter than 1 and 2. They all sound great!
Very nice tone in the low register.
My man!! These videos are fabulous! I double on bass, and my problem is the amount of money it takes to get a great horn. I play Tosca A and B flat clarinets, and I think that the Alpha would be the perfect compliment for my playing. Can't wait to talk to you and look forward to playing them!! Thank you, Thank you, THANK YOU!!
I saw you at TMEA! Did not stop though - you were busy chatting with someone else. I am super proud of my picture with you last year though!
Thank you again! Good to notice the side-key-Bb (throat register) is often better than the register-key-Bb. Also worth checking in smaller clarinets. We players are often quite lazy to check the tuning, metering it is not enough as you can need sharper/warmer -changes in different chords. Also good to know own instruments possibilities there.
I knew i saw you at tmea while i was there for state 😂. I was thinking of buying a bacun alpha as a personal instrument since i was going to have to give back my buffet prestige to my school , but wasn't able to try it out as I wasn't told about it until the last day of the convention and it was sold (guess it was you😂) After this video , i might just have to do more research on it.
Woooooaaaaaahhhh! Great!😁 This will make a lot of difference to all the doublers and schools!
Love the bingo bubbes while listening to the mystery bass clarinets!
Michael - I'm curious about the low fingering systems. I have a Buffet 1183R and that key to the left of my thumb is Eb not D. Maybe the "R" model with the extension is just weird (or weirdly awesome because once you go R you can't go back).
I went 1, 3, 2 and 4. The Backun suffers a bit to be next to the Tosca, but it still sounds like a great option for a low budget low C. I'm so thinking about it that I feel it's going to be a very long spring season.
I was 1, 4, and about the same for 2 and 3.
I’m sold
My one question is how do the two Backun Bass Clarinets compare? I kind of wish you had thrown the upper model Backun into the playing comparison as well. It almost seems to me like the Alpha could be a great Bass Clarinet to have for any outdoor gigs one might not want to risk a wood clarinet. A clarinet playing friend of mine bought one of Backun's plastic Bb clarinets as a spare and for outdoor gigs. My question to you is in the event you needed to use the Alpha for a gig, would it match your expectations and be a suitable substitute for your own Bass Clarinets if needed? I like the ideas Backun has added to the Bass Clarinet. They all make sense and are long overdue. Great video and it sounds like a great model of Bass Clarinet. One I may need to save up to buy.
The Model Q definitely has more depth and density/resonance to the sound. No question. The sound is just more "substantial" and in a few important ways, it's easier to play. But this definitely approaches the sound IMO - it's just not wood :)
Hi Michael great video. My main hesitation with the Backuns are their longevity. I know tons of soprano players who completely switched to Backun, were Backun artists on the website and everything, and then months later switched back to something else and stopped. I'm intrigued, but would really like to see how these backun bass clarinets stack up once the hype has passed
Hey there -I wanted to take this comment on because I know what you’re taking about, and I know people who were unhappy with their Backun instrument years back. Issues with cracking especially were concerning. I can confidently say that this instrument, and the Q (and Backun’s Bb and A clarinets) are now made to a standard that is impressive. I have visited the factory (though, admittedly, not the factory where the Alpha is made) and I’ve seen the kilns and the computers and the craftspeople and I was sold.
Anyone who has Alpha Bb clarinets in their band program can hopefully chime in with their experience on the student models. It’s hard to predict the future but if the (recent) past is a guide, I think good things are in store for Backun and this instrument. That said, the Max and the Kessler and other makers are stepping up, too. Like I mentioned in the video: it’s a great time to be a bass clarinetist!
Thank you Michael for the video, can you tell which mouth piece you are using?
Many thanks!
A Vandoren B50 I believe
Hi Michael, who do you think should buy this clarinet? As a college performance student, I’d like to purchase my own. Do you think the alpha would do it?
Doublers, people who play a lot outdoors, and perhaps those without the means to purchase a wood one?
I wonder how these to Eb compare to something like a good used Selmer Series 9?
MUCH better in tune, and improved ergonomics. Sound...well that's in the eye (ear) of the beholder!
If they were available for the same price, would you choose one of these over a 30 year old Buffet Prestige with a Low C? Do you feel like intonation and ergonomic improvements are enough to tonal advantages of a wood instrument?
Does it have a "plastic " sound to you or can you tell the difference between a wood or plastic bass clarinet?
Wood definitely has more density to the sound. It's a significant difference, and worth the extra cost if you can swing the funds.
From the blind listen, my preferences from “most liked the sound of” to least liked: 1, 4, (2 & 3) tie. 2 and 3 stood out as too bright to me, but definitely entirely within the realm of personal preference.
That was you talking to Morie on Thursday night?
So how was it compared to Tosca? Ya’ just kinda commented on the other synthetic ones. 😉
Nuanced answer: it's a different instrument entirely. Different bore, different design, different feel. So it's not a "this is better or that's better" answer....it's just different.
I *just* picked up a Kessler at the beginning of February, and this definitely has me second-guessing a bit. Luckily I got my Kessler used (like new) for under $1900 with a BD5 included, and it plays great. It's tough to justify paying double that ($3800) for a Backun Alpha, but maybe someday...
This might be the one I go with when it comes out. Time to activate Ultra-Money-Saving mode.
I'm doing the same exact thing! It's almost as if we're the same person.
I have an issue with my bass clarinet where if I play a low A, then move up to a low Bb, the key for A stays pressed down until I let go of the Bb Key. Anybody have any tips on how to fix this? I tried cleaning the pads, so I don't think that they are sticking.
what mouthpiece does it come with?
Hmm. My preference was 3,2,1,4. Economical taste!
N I C E
Alguna forma de traducir el video?
No se puede ):
He probado con el traductor de google y no esta mal, reproduces el video con el pc y el movil te transcribe el audio.
@@E_Bagels
11:25 someone can they please explain this?
Finally, the unstuffy Bb
Nice! Now can someone help me find a decently priced bassoon? I am used to playing on a Buffet Festival clarinet and was last seen with a professional Fox bassoon during my year long love affair with the bassoon in college 20 years ago. Halp!
Hello dear Michael, My Montreal woodwind instruments store told me that the Backun Alph Bass Clarinet was made by Royal Global and that's even the same model as the MAX made of a blend of ebonite and grenadilla dust. Can you advise? Many thanks again for your generous and informative videos.
Hey there! Weird that your dealer (Twigg?) said that, because it's totally untrue (it may be because they don't carry the Alpha and are trying to sell you a Max?). So, they're not the same at all. I know both manufacturers personally, and they would both tell you that they're not the same. The Alpha is totally synthetic, the Max is a composite. And the design, inside (bore) and out (keys) are totally different, too. Bummer that you got that info, but I wanted to make sure to set the record straight!
So you are always wonderful,.indeed my gratitude for corrrecting the info receive at Twigg (you are so powerful!). Therefire the Backun remains #1 on my wish list. All the best, my deepest regards. Claire
I finally received an answer from Backun. Their Alpha Low C Bass clarinets will be soldats at 2 dealers near my place: Long & McQuade Longueuil and Twigg Musique in Montréal. To be followed up in 2025 for a purchase :-)
I have always wondered why Buffets have THREE low D keys...in what world would you need that lol
Alpha bass vs Royal global max bass?
nice but i think that the kessler low c system is better to understand
Woodwind players are all made of money. Always ask them to pay for dinner.
can I live on YOUR planet? 🤣
🙀🤣😂
They have no money. The spent it all on instruments...especially the low reed players.