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Royal Polaris Low C Bass Clarinet - Reviewed!
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- Опубліковано 14 сер 2024
- The Royal Polaris is the first (and only) professional-grade bass clarinet under $7,000. Similar to the Buffet 1193 Prestige, the Polaris is a very interesting entry into the market. Is it the ideal bass clarinet for doublers? A good step-up from student bass clarinets? Watch and see.
Available at New York Clarinet Workshop: www.nyclarinetw...
And, please know this: None of my reviews are sponsored. Ever. I don’t even allow the manufacturer to view (or comment) on the video before it is posted. I receive no compensation for doing them either, so if these are helpful and/or useful to you, please consider a donation at www.earspasm.co...
Thanks!
I don’t play a scrap of clarinet, why am I here? Hahaha I love your videos.
Lmao I haven't played since quarantine but still watch
It's because you have great music taste! Congratulations! 😜
🤣🤣
V true !
Get a clarinet. Its awesome
If you drill out the upper register vent with a 1/8" drill bit it should fix that resistance. Same problem with the 1193.
We've already corrected that issue in the register vent.
michaelnorsworthy that’s great to hear. It’s one of the only problems on an otherwise great instrument. I’m glad a lot of thought went into the Polaris.
This isn't any news, clarnibass on Clarinet Bboard has been doing it for over ten years...
Nick Sellars And? Buffet and many Chinese manufacturers still makes the vent too small so obviously not everybody browses the Bboard...
You should do the firebird next!
At first I thought you were talking about the Stravinsky piece lol
Its the same clarinet, just gussied up. OK, the wood bell does make a difference.
@@krane15 has better mechanisms and subtle upgrades. I’ve heard others compare the two and there is a difference. I think it is worth the extra $1,5k + if that’s what you need. But for $6800, this is a definite BARGAIN !!!!!!!! It’s on my to be purchase next list
Sounds like they are doing with bass clarinets what Cannonball does with their saxophones. It is a very viable path to quality instruments if done right.
I have a cannonball sax and I love it I think I got one of the good ones.
Looks like a good option for a low C bass for those of us who still play. I had a LeBlanc low C bass clarinet in college, but when I was out of college and wanted my own, I bought a Yamaha 621. My son is now playing bass as well and it would be great to add a low C to our collection. This one definitely fits the price range!
Yes I agree
I just got one in the shop if you’d like to arrange a trial.
My congratulations for U from Brazil! Off course U have the best clarinet chanel on UA-cam. You do the experiments every crazy clarinetist want to do but don't have the oportunity. I just can say ThankYou so much! :)
Wow, awesome. Thank you Michael for the video! I never noticed that resistance about my 1193. Finally a good and "affordable" bass clarinet, it seems. Through my crappy computer speakers I actually preferred the Royal's sound (no disrespect to your amazing Selmer) for its clarity and resonance. And I believe Brian Corbin also sells these clarinets from Hawaii.
The term "affordable" apparently covers a wide gamut.
@@krane15 it’s a wooden low c bass clarinet made of exotic wood. And it actually plays well and in tune unlike those $1000 bass clarinets from Amazon/ eBay without extensive amount of work. If you want a bass clarinet that makes a sound then a $400 used Bundy will do a decent job but you’ll probably have to spend about $150 to get it working perfectly. If you want a low c that makes a sound, probably a Kessler st $2500 will do the job. But if you want a bass clarinet to feel and sound professional, well I guess you’re sort of looking at it. You get what you pay for and it all depends on what you’re looking for. Maybe you only need to spend $400. Or maybe you want something professional. I was speaking strictly for professional grade instruments.
Bought One! It's an early "Firebird", a Polaris body and keys, with Firebird bell and neck. Loving it! Sounds great.
I saw this bass clarinet at a convention called TMEA a few years ago, and i was wondering if you would ever end up getting a hold of one of these horns. Such an interesting video! Thank you for your time!
Ah Texas Music Educators Association.... been auditioning to be one of its All State Band members for a while and still haven’t made it😂
@@Clarinet.dommy1 Never tried out for tmea, i just think it is a waste of my time💀
@@Jr-tr3bq honestly I thought the same at times but I had fun and met people at Region
@@Clarinet.dommy1 Which region are you from
@@Jr-tr3bq Region 2. Area C
It’s a pretty good line of Bass Clarinets: the Polaris and Firebird. I personally play a Buffet Tosca Bass Clarinet with the Coast Guard Band because it blends better with my section. I still have my Selmer Privilege I use for recitals and orchestral playing. Bass Clarinets are radically different by brand. I remember the earlier Royal’s being incredibly easy to play and that’s good enough when you’re a student.
I used to binge watch all your videos but then i stopped for a while for some reason, but I'm back
Haha, sounds like your talking about me! :-)
So nice seeing the body of the instrument in two pieces. It kinda sucked dragging home a huge case on the bus, way back in school.
One reason why nobody chooses to play the instrument in school. The clarinet is the most popular instrument among females and precious few of them are hearty enough to lug the equivalent to a tenor sax case around.
I would have been happy to play it, but school provided BC (which are available to all levels) weren't reliable and always under repair more than they worked.
After you showed initially the difference in tone at the low C, I guessed right when you played the comparison. The Selmer has a slightly warmer tone in the low register, the Royal is a bit sharper. Just for the record: I don't play clarinet at all. I played tenor sax for a while some 30 years ago. I tried clarinet, but couldn't get used to the duodecimal system. Ever since I listened to Eric Dolphy for the first time, I love the bass clarinet.
I feel you. I've played the clarinet for three years now after playing sax for 15. My brain is still constantly confused to the point that I now use clarinet fingerings on the sax every now and then.
I used to be a state level bass clarinetist in high school, but I was playing on a school instrument. I haven’t been able to play since I graduated, and I miss playing so so so bad!!
😔
I feel that, always a school instrument and rarely were they treated well. I hope to eventually get my own
This is so exciting. I’ve been struggling with my Kessler and am considering switching to this one.
Well, of course the US facility "tweaks" them after they come in from China. Somebody has to take those ubiquitous white gloves out of the package.
Interesting, I remember trying one of these and was really not a fan. Although I think that was on royals older bass that was of their own design. If they changed things up and made a copy of the buffet I bet it would be much improved
Neat I've been really curious about this bass
Review more bass clarinets!!!!
I bought my matching set of Bb and A clarinets from Yuan Gao, the designer and owner of the Royal Company. My mouthpiece and ligature are also made by Gao. Very high quality.
“Mouthpiece ?”
Bro that tuning is absolutely amazing hehe
I actually really like the sharp tone of that low C.
I've been dreaming of the 1193 for literal years (i played on the prestige that goes down to Eb in high school and my university instruments are very sad in comparison).
Owning my own bass is just a tiny bit more achievable now
Awesome review! Now you should do a review of the "Midnight" Kessler custom bass clarinet, and Uebel Bass Clarinet (Made in Germany) haha
The midnight looks so sharp.
My midnight model gets to my house Wednesday can't wait :)
He already did. This is a step above the Kessler.
Damn dude, you got some range!
I'll have to check this horn out. Thanks!
Pointed and informative as always. Thank you! So very nice to have an option in this price range that is viable.
Selmer all the way. Nice demo!
Great review!
Really, clarinet #2 sounded better, the tone is somehow mellow and sweet.... aaand it‘s the Selmer!
Well, the Polaris looks still like a great bass clarinet, but somehow I was hoping for a better result. Your reviews are fantastically objective - keep it up!
This is amazing - maybe that Prestige has some competition!
I hope you record a video for Bass Low C Clarinets on a budget, as those Chinese brands like Roffee or Yinfente, of course they are not in black wood, but it could be interesting to see you doing the tests, and of course those are more student oriented choices, and of course, more affordable.
I prefer the Buffet models, but I'd love to try one of these out to see how it plays for me, great video! It does sound good and a lot like the Buffet. Thank you for posting.
Hello ! I am currently trying a Polaris, and yes it is a very even instrument. However, I have an issue with the overall pitch - I can’t get above A 440… I play a nice Selmer HS** mouthpiece. Can you recommend another mouthpiece that could help raise the tuning ? Many thanks !
"(...) the first (and only) professional-grade bass clarinet under $7,000." Soo, what do you think about Thomann BCL-C Bass Clarinet (blackwood, silver plated mechanisms, low c) for less than $5000?
Hello there! Did you review the Firebird model also? Congrats for the channel! Best wishes!
I have tried a Royal Global Polaris Bass Clarinet for several days now. As you mentioned, the upper register E and F are slightly more resistant than the neighbouring notes, however, the Eb is seriously stuffy. It would appear that its opening is limited by the overlying key work of the LH D. I can feel that the key work has a small cut out but it does let the RH Eb key open wide enough. Have you experienced this?
Royal instruments need to be set up before they’re sold (which is why I spend about $500-600 on each horn before I sell it) for just these reasons. Good news is that you can fix it. Contact me thru Earspasm.com and I’ll connect you with a good bass clarinet tech.
@@earspasm Thank you very much for replying. I live in England where Royal Global are starting to appear on the scene. I really enjoy your UA-cam channel and have learnt a lot from it. Best wishes from John Elder (communicating via my wife's log in).
whens the firebird review coming out? :)
Hey! Do you think you'd be able to get your hands on an Uebel Emperior Bass for a review?
I’m a flute player. Why am I binge watching bass clarinet videos?
Because you realize you chose the wrong instrument?
Love you videos! Would love to see a review on the Buffet Crampon 1180 or even the Leblanc L60, both wood student model instruments.
I do not play clarinet, but I like the Royal's sound better than the covered tone of the Selmer.
Yes. They ninja Selmer looks cool but I don’t like what those dark keys do to the tone
Im a cheapskate so if i do get my hands on a Low C i'm thinking about the Kessler 2nd Gen because your review sold me on it and its a 3rd of the price of the Polaris. Ik you prefer the polaris but idk how i feel about spending that much. What would you say about this comparison?
I have a Kessler and am very pleased with it overall. I don't play it a ton so I can't speak to its long-term wear, but it has a nice fat sound. Quite resistant. If you go to my channel and look up my recent videos Green Blossom or Serene, I am playing my Kessler on those recordings.
@@michaelmullmusic thanks!
You can also just order the Chinese model that Kessler use for 1-1.5k on ebay and do some local fixes. Kesslers are about twice as expensive and not for much.
You should do a clarinet or bass clarinet giveaway for Christmas or something
Hi! I was in a masterclass with you almost 3 years ago at troy university and I’m really hoping you see this comment. I’m trying to get my own professional model bass clarinet, and I was just wondering if you could make a video or even just a comment about all of the professional bass clarinets you have owned or still own. How do they stack up against each other? What are all of their pros and cons?
Also I watched your other video about professional cases and I have decided I’ll be getting the BAM Trekking case for it, whenever that day comes. Your videos are the best- I picked up a bass clarinet for the first time in the summer of 2014 and with your videos, you gave me what I needed to go from rock bottom to where I am today, a senior in my undergrad. Thank you.
Hey Jesse, so my preference is (and has always been) Selmer instruments. Clarinet and Bass Clarinet. I believe I have a post on my blog about why, so perhaps you can check that out?
@@earspasm thanks I just bought some sheet music from you haha I’ll go check it out!
I play a selmer bass clarinet but it needs some fixing (throat Bb is stuffy even with tuning)
What are the advantages of having a low c bass clarinet besides being able to play lower obviously? Are there any disadvantages? Is it possible to play the lowest notes with the register key and get the throat tones that way? If so, is the response and intonation any better?
What a great alternative! 💥
What app is that?? Reminds me of the old tuners I remember from high school!
iStroboSoft
Can you review the royal global max? I'm shopping around for the perfect low c.
Hi! Could u review the royal max bass as well one day?
Why have you not reviewed the YCL-622ii yet? I believe it to be a Selmer clone and would be curious to hear your opinion. It's pricing is slightly higher than the Royal, however, certainly not as expensive as the Selmer or Buffet.
It is a horrible instrument compared to what Yamaha can do on Bb clarinets - which is really terrific. If I can get my hands on one, I can review it, but I’m not actively looking to do that at the moment.
5:10 I can hear more overtones in the Polaris than in the Selmer
Some other “bells”and whistles....
It does look like there is a different bell😂
Is it a different bell on the Firebird or an additional bell?
How would you say it compares to the Kessler Custom Low C?
The Kessler is one of those "typical" Chinese models (not wood) that Kessler stamps their names on (0:30 in the vid). He also did a whole vid on the Kessler.
As someone who has the "typical" Chinese model directly from the factory without any US company stamping their name on, I'd say that it's amazing quality for its price. It's very well tuned and will not shame professionals for playing it. You can get it on ebay for about 1k USD (Kessler are 2-3k I think) and it plays about as well as you'd see in the Kessler vid. You will need some fixes from your local repair guy, but nothing expensive.
Since this one is made of wood and has better metal for the keys, it will play better, but also cost several times more.
wooooooooooooooooo new video
I liked the gameplay 😁
I'm unfamiliar with clarinets and their tuning. Is Bb1 referred to as low C? You hit a contra Bb at 4:54
Clarinets are what are known as "transposing instruments" (along with sax, trumpet and bunch of others). It is in Bb. This means that when we play a "C" on piano it would be a Bb. Saxes, when they play a C, you hear an Eb...so that means they're (you guessed it!) in the key of Eb. Now one for you: English Horns are in the key of F. So when they play a C...what would you play on a piano to match that pitch?
@@earspasm G#/Ab?
@@earspasm Fb by my experience.
What is a better option? The royal global firebird and the polaris??????????
Contact me thru Earspasm.com and I’d be happy to help!
If you only want to pay a leg ahahaha
What ap are you using for your tuner?
It's iStroboSoft -- available for both Android and Apple, but if you have a really recently released Android phone, it doesn't work as well on Android 10. It's still usable, but a little glitchy.
I love the bass clarinet but I can’t seem to find one in my price range. If anyone knows of a a bass around 200-400 dollars that’s decent please let me know!
I would check eBay.
@@sethh1943 Toy department.
Hey, will you ever review the Rosedale Bass Clarinet by Gear4music?
While waiting for Michael’s review I can give my amateur one. I bought the Rosedale 6 years ago for its price and convenience (easy shipping to Sweden where I live). The first instrument they sent was playable, but had a heavily corroded bell as well as some other metal parts. The replacement they sent had some bent keys (including the left hand low c# I believe since I’ve never gotten it to work) but I was so frustrated that I agreed to keep it after they gave me a further discount on the price. I brought it to the leading woodwind repair shop in Stockholm where they after an inspection refused to work on it. “We’ll end up spending days on this and it will still end up not sounding great so we’d rather not waste our time” was their reply. They described it as a “instrument-like object”... A bit harsh in my opinion, so I’ve tried to fine tune it myself and play it quite regularly at home. It is a poor instrument (I guess you get what you pay for) which suffers from the soft metal issues of many Chinese made basses and is slow in the mechanics across the break and needs a lot of air and embouchure in the clarion register. Good enough for me to practice on, but I’m planning on replacing it as soon as I feel I can spare the money this will take. This reviewed Royal model seems like an interesting option and I hope more medium-price-range low-c basses start showing up soon!
@@Sandbeans Thanks for the reply! I'm probably going to get the less expensive bass from gear4music to test the quality, and send it back if it's too low. Currently I own a alto and tenor saxophone and a Bb clarinet from gear4music, and for the low price I'm impressed by the quality. From what I've found online the saxophone line at least was updated/improved in 2017, so I hope the quality of the clarinets has also been improved from the one you got.
If you need a low C budget BC just go on ebay and buy one of the Chinese models for 1-1.5k. Excellent quality for the price (they are like the Kessler ones, but you will need local adjustments when you get it).
Where can I buy the toner?
Can I get a review on the Firebird Bass clarinet?
Second. A compare and contrast of the mid vs the flagship using the wooden bell would be great to hear. Also, is that additional flexibility, along with the bling (are the adjustment screws still metal?), worth the extra two grand?
No, thank you, for this great review.
Do you still rate the Kessler?
What was the tuning app used in this video?
Search for his Kessler vid, he talks about it a lot there.
What is the name of that app????
I don't want to spend an arm and a leg, or just a leg, I want to spend a pinky toe.
😳 💪🏼 🦵🏼 🦶
🤣😂
Are you familiar with SeriO bass clarinets? They’re another really good contender (wood, low C) in that intermediate price range (5K). I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I had to play the second bass clarinet again because I was focusing on the Centipede gameplay lol
Chinese made. Patents?
*Me sitting here with my school Yamaha bass clarinet that's missing about 5 springs*
😳🙏🏼😔
First!
Why though
First don’t mean best, my friend