Claudet/Lowe, Basset Clarinet in A
A unique Basset Clarinet in A. This instrument started life as a Full Boehm A Clarinet by Constant Claudet of Lausanne. The celebrated clarinettist Ian Mitchell then commissioned Jeremy Lowe to convert it into a Basset Clarinet in A. Jeremy Lowe was the owner of Dulwich Music Shop, and also ran a renowned repair and musical instrument making course in South London. He had a well deserved reputation for excellent work, as this conversion demonstrates. In the late 1970's when clarinettists first became interested in playing the Mozart Concerto and Quintet on a basset clarinet, the only course was to have an existing A adapted.
The lowest 3 pitches, D, C# and C, are played by rear thumb plate keys, a sling is essential for support, and the low Eb key has to be held down in order for them to sound. The German Silver keywork [Maillechort] demonstrates a natural patina due to age. This instrument has been through our workshop for a full overhaul, in tan leather pads, and is sold with our 1 year warranty. It responds excellently across the range. The wood shows no cracks or damage. The barrel is a Buffet 67mm A vintage model, which plays it comfortably at A = 440 Hz. The bell has a low vent hole to improve the response of low C, and the m'piece is a used Selmer C85 120. The case is a brand new gig bag example with velcro retaining strap for the main body and pouches for the bell, barrel and m'piece.