F A Uebel, Basset Horn
This is a rare Basset Horn by F A Uebel which is a commission sale for Clarinets Direct. This fine instrument was last owned by Tom Lessels who commissioned a modified crook, with a more "clarinet style" angle from the late Jon Steward. Jon also undertook a substantial revision and overhaul of the instrument. The initial owner, a member of the German Radio Symphony Orchestra, had experimented with multiple positions of the sling attachment to the upper joint, as he preferred using a double sling hook. Jon filled in the unused screw holes.
F A Uebel made Basset Horns predominantly of the small bore type, i.e. basically as extended clarinets. These featured clarinet size mouthpieces slightly bored out to suit the extended range and compass of an F Basset Horn. F A Uebel was acknowledged as one of the finest Basset horn makers in the world, and, in fact, supplied Basset Horns to the clarinettists of the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. The stamp reads " F A Uebel, Marknuekirchen".
This instrument is in very good condition: the stained rosewood has no cracks, or damage, apart from the aforementioned filled screw holes. The silver plating is in good condition with some tarnish but no wear.. The mechanism is enhanced Boehm, with an automatic register key, which features a dedicated Bb tone hole and overblowing vent. The instrument is also part plateau. The range is to low C, with the instrument pitched in F. The three lower pitches are fingered using the standard Uebel triangle formation underneath the thumb rest. The design is beautifully simple and ideally weighted. The Basset Horn features a grub screw into most pillars to stop lateral movement and poor regulation, the build quality and workmanship are much superior to contemporary mass manufacture. The Basset Horn has used white leather pads all are sealing well. The matching serial nos. are 900-7891, which dates to 1978. This instrument will play perfectly out of the box & tunes excellently at A=440 Hz. In addition to fine Zinner 7* m'piece, which has been relayed by Ramon Wodkowski, there are also to Pillinger copies of the m'piece preferred by Nick Bucknall, which are close and long. The instrument comes with a floor peg and sling. A comparable Selmer retails today new for £10795. The case is in good used condition.