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Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 00:41:54 -0400 (EDT)
Today's Topics:
Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 12:35:18 -0700
From: Grant
Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To:
contrabass-list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re:
contrabass-list Digest V97 #41
At 02:08 PM 5/20/97 -0400, Michael Smith wrote:
>All this talk of tuba building has sparked my interest. Does anyone on
>the list make woodwinds? As with the unusual tubas, it seems that home
>construction is a much more economical (and fun) alternative to
>seeking out some sub-sonic squawks. I can imagine that even some PVC
>piping, a mouthpiece and alot of elbow grease would create a decent
>(at least for private consumption) honk.
I have, in my garage, a 10' length of PVC for just such a purpose. Right now, it's a subcontrabass flute in approximately Ab (so far, I've only bored an embouchure hole). I have dreams of making a rough instrument, just to get an idea of the possible timbres available (maybe I'll sample it someday) ((maybe first I'll get a sampler...)). Anyway, I have this vision of connecting ungainly lengths of pipe with U-joints, and making a subcontrabass flute in roughly the form of a folded/curved contrabass clarinet. Maybe with more loops.
Of course, I am far from an expert in making flute headjoints, PVC or otherwise, but I can get a really loooow note out of it ;-)
Scott's Stranger Creek Catalog has a number of books on instrument construction, including at least one on making horns out of PVC. I have a copy, and if I ever get enough time to make keys, etc., I'll be referring to it constantly.
Grant
Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 12:45:35 -0700
From: Grant
Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To:
contrabass-list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re:
contrabass-list Digest V97 #41
At 02:08 PM 5/20/97 -0400, Mark Trinko wrote:
>Yea! Grant is coming with instruments.
Well, not a sure thing yet, but I do plan to attend!
>I think I will coordinate the hotel for everyone myself putting all
>rooms in my name and putting 2 people in a room.
I'm not sure if we'll be 1 or 2 or 5 (kids, you know). Probably 5.
>Still looking for a "basement band" composer for the festival Grand
>Finale Concert.
I might be able to take a crack at this. I hesitate to commit, knowing how my time gets away from me (it runs screaming into the distance, hysterically and at high speed), but if you let me know what the arsenal looks like, I'll try and start sketching something out. Initial thoughts: a piece in the form of a suite of short movements, including a chorale, a humoresque (of course), possibly a march... Maybe I'll bring a sopranino sax just for contrast.
Grant
Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 23:32:12 +0200
From: Hans
Mons <Hans.Mons@IAEhv.nl>
To: ContraBass List
<contrabass-list@contrabass.com>
Cc: Grant Green
<gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Subject: Re: Carting
contras...
Grant,
>Do you have any advice about how to transport a contrabass clarinet to
>Europe?
Do you mean that you and your contrabass clarinet will take a flight to Europe? If that is the case, then perhaps my experiences can help you a little.
I have been carrying my bass curtal a few times on flights to the US and back, what should be about the same as a flight to Europe for you. :-)
>The horn I have has a good case (46" x ~9" x ~7"), and I've
>already ordered a case cover with straps to make sure it stays closed.
The case of my bass curtal is 105 x 15 x 11 cm (sorry, we are metric here). This is not as big as the case you will carry, but it is above the size that they allow for cabine luggage.
The response that I got from the airline on my question if I could carry it in the main cabin, was that I had to check it in, a few hours before departure, as "fragile" luggage, and that they would take care of it. My problem was that I didn't trust that, and therefore hand carry was the only acceptable option for me.
Therefore, I simply took the case with me in the cabin as hand luggage. The trick is not to say anything about it at the check-in counter. I simply did put the instrument case on the floor next to me while I kept them busy with my check-in luggage and my ticket.
After having done this, there is a good chance that you have to play your instrument at the security check. The security people are not interested in the size, they just like to make sure that it isn't a weapon, so be prepared to play if they ask for it.
Finally, when you enter the plane, ask one of the flight attendants to store it in a safe place, with the argument that it is an instrument and that it is to big for the overhead bins (what is not always true, depends on the plane). To let this work well, you better board as early as possible so that there is still plenty of storage available.
For me this way of doing worked out quite well a few times, I suppose that it will do for you.
Hans
Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 15:11:21 -0700
From: Grant
Green <gdgreen@contrabass.com>
To: Hans Mons
<Hans.Mons@IAEhv.nl>
Cc:
contrabass-list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: Carting
contras...
At 11:32 PM 5/20/97 +0200, Hans wrote:
>Grant,
>>Do you have any advice about how to transport a contrabass clarinet to
>>Europe?
>Do you mean that you and your contrabass clarinet will take a flight to
>Europe? If that is the case, then perhaps my experiences can help you a
>little.
Yes, I'll be going to Switzerland and Austria with the San Jose Wind Symphony this summer.
***
>Therefore, I simply took the case with me in the cabin as hand luggage.
>The trick is not to say anything about it at the check-in counter. I simply
>did put the instrument case on the floor next to me while I kept them busy
>with my check-in luggage and my ticket.
This should be interesting, as the entire band will be on the same flight! I have this vision of this crowd of 50-60 band members, plus a number of spouses, etc., clustering around the counter saying "Tuba? What tuba?" "Oh no, this fits under the seat..." ;-) Maybe if I get there early enough, they won't be wise to the ploy yet....
In metric, the case measures about 117 cm x 19 cm x 24 cm, not counting the cover (which hasn't arrived yet).
>After having done this, there is a good chance that you have to play your
>instrument at the security check. The security people are not interested in
>the size, they just like to make sure that it isn't a weapon, so be
>prepared to play if they ask for it.
I've had to do that with my flute before. On reflection, is there anything that looks more like a pipe bomb than a flute under X-ray? Of course, with a contrabass clarinet, you can explain the horn, play it, and people still don't know what it is.
>Finally, when you enter the plane, ask one of the flight attendants to
>store it in a safe place, with the argument that it is an instrument and
>that it is to big for the overhead bins (what is not always true, depends
>on the plane). To let this work well, you better board as early as
>possible so that there is still plenty of storage available.
Thanks, I hope it will work!
Grant
Date: Wed, 21 May 1997 00:40:28 +0200
From: Hans
Mons <Hans.Mons@IAEhv.nl>
To: Grant Green
<gdgreen@contrabass.com>
Cc: Hans Mons
<Hans.Mons@IAEhv.nl>,
contrabass-list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re: Carting
contras...
At 15:11 5/20/97 -0700, Grant Green wrote:
>This should be interesting, as the entire band will be on the same flight!
>I have this vision of this crowd of 50-60 band members, plus a number of
>spouses, etc., clustering around the counter saying "Tuba? What tuba?" "Oh
>no, this fits under the seat..." ;-)
Yes, and then 10 people asking the flight attendants to store their tubas. :-)
Sounds like you will need a very special arrangement with the airline. The opportunity for you could be that if the airline takes care of all the tubas, they will be quite busy and probably not see you carrying this "tiny" contrabass clarinet.
Hans
Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 18:21:10 -0500
From: Chip
Owen <cowen@centralnet.net>
To:
contrabass-list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re:
contrabass-list Digest V97 #41
I'm responding to Mikey Smith's inquiry about woodwind makers among contrabass list subscribers.
Yes there certainly are some. I make contrabassoons for a living. If you've ever seen a Fox Contrabassoon, I made it.
Don't loose track of the idea of using PVC pipe. You wouldn't be the first person to try it. I've seen it done and it can work. Keep in mind that PVC pipe is relatively cheap and easy to work with. Don't hesitate to make experiments.
Making the keywork will be more of a problem. If you're not handy with metal crafts and silver soldering you will need to be creative in finding a low-tech method of fabricating simple keys. Don't forget, though, that normally you need to heat a pad cup in order to float a pad into position--you may need to figure out how you are going to level a pad without using heat if the materials you use won't tolerate heat.
Drilling and facing tone holes might be a problem. Your advantage is that the PVC pipe is thin walled. In order to make the holes with a reasonable length you will need to put them on the outside of the tube, somewhat like the tone holes on a saxophone or flute. Cut a piece of smaller diameter PVC to fit the diameter of the main tube and glue it in place. Here's a question for you to answer: Does the inside diameter of the tube you just glued in place and the diameter of the hole you drilled through the main tube have to be the same size, or can the hole in the main tube be smaller? Would a difference in size have any effect on the acoustics? It would certainly be easier to make the instrument if you can simply use existing sizes of PVC for the raised pad seats even while the actual tone holes are sized for the tuning of the instrument.
Be sure to report your progress so that we can all enjoy your efforts.
--
Chip Owen
Columbia City,
IN
cowen@centralnet.net
Date: Tue, 20 May 1997 20:52:10 -0500
From: ROBERT
HOWE <arehow@vgernet.net>
To:
contrabass-list@contrabass.com
Subject: Re:
contrabass-list Digest V97 #41
Transport safety for a large instrument: Close each open key manually. Insert a cork or balsa shim under the adjiustment foot of that key. For keys that rest closed, diito, behind the key. Do not use rubber or rubber bands which will eat the silver finish (by creating permanent black silver sulfate).
Have fun!
Robert Howe