Is the J & D Hite alto clarinet mouthpiece appropriate for all kinds of basset horns as well as alto clarinets?
There are basically two types of basset horns available in the United States. Those instruments made by Buffet and Selmer are designed to be used with a mouthpiece of the same general dimensions as the Bb (A) clarinet mouthpiece. (Due to the lower pitch of the instrument, however, a slightly more open facing is generally, but not always, preferred. ) This design basset horn can be somewhat difficult to manage but is preferred by many players because they feel that the sound is, perhaps, more authentic. The other type basset is made by Leblanc. The design of this instrument is related to the larger bored Eb alto clarinet. (The basset horn is pitched in F, a tone higher than the alto clarinet. The basset horn traditionally has a range extending down to low C, whereas the alto clarinet extends down only to low Eb.) For the Leblanc instrument, the mouthpiece is larger. Although it does not have the same tonal voicing as the smaller bore instrument, it is, nevertheless, very resonant, flexi
