Bass Clarinet Review: Royal Global Firebird

Рет қаралды 23,117

2 жыл бұрын

Why is this instrument so popular? Lemme tell you. (And if you're interested in grabbing one, visit www.earspasm.com/instruments

Пікірлер: 82

@danprorok1534 2 жыл бұрын

This video is a KZfaq masterpiece. It’s got it all: Michael’s signature humor and informed opinion, skillfully edited to include Stravinsky with unexpected visual humor.

@michaelfavalagoldman 2 жыл бұрын

I got a Firebird about a year ago as a double to my clarinet in my jazz band. Very happy with the instrument! Everyone loves the sound. Deep and distinctive.

@johnasti5239 2 жыл бұрын

Excellent, always honest and to the point commentary. I love the honest information you give and you are one hellava player. My God, your sound and technique on the bass clarinet is incredible. Thanks again for posting

@williamsanborn9195 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this review! I’ve been looking for a low C bass clarinet ever since I graduated college, but I simply can’t afford the outrageous prices of the Buffet or Selmer instruments. I’ll definitely keep this brand in mind for those who want a low C bass clarinet for a good price!

@conradburns9474 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for doing this review! I have been wanting to get a new bass and I was looking at the Royal Global Polaris and Firebird, but I could not find a review for the Firebird. I am grateful for your professional opinion.

@ivy4leaf Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the excellent review. I'm going to try one of those.

@ivorwm2291 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for your evaluation of these fine instruments.

@touloserr 2 жыл бұрын

i love your videos! thank you so much for posting!!!

@saxofof 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for all your excellent videos ! Great advice ❤

@bonitayeung1906 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the review! Been considering to buy a bass clarinet with lower price but has decent sound quality, I’ll add this to one of my options.

@rachelkrueger5915 2 жыл бұрын

Awesome review! I'd love to see your take on the Espressivo bass clarinet too

@alexalestareon695 2 жыл бұрын

The till Eulenspiegel brought back some D A R K memories as a bassoonist!! That excerpt is from HELL

@Sonic_Time_Traveler 2 жыл бұрын

I have been waiting for this review since the Polaris. Sounds amazing that Royal is filling in the gap between 4000 to 12000 dollar range. I would be interested in what your ranking is between all the bass clarinets You have already reviewed for first level: student, college, semi-pro, and pro.

@danprorok1534 2 жыл бұрын

My impression is Michael sells what he believes in: Kesslers for the students (in midnight edition if they want), Royal Polaris for the step-up, then Royal Firebird. The pros should be experienced enough to choose for themselves and both Buffet and Selmer make fine instruments. Michael’s preference between the two is obvious. Everything else I’ve seen him review over the years has fallen somewhere between bad and “meh, there are better choices.”

@krane15 Жыл бұрын

Its about freaking time.

@samuelbrown434 2 жыл бұрын

The importance of good customer service cannot be overstated! I hope they’re still going strong in this regard by the time I’m in the market for a new bass clarinet. Even though I also prefer Selmers this might make a difference.

@krane15 Жыл бұрын

Customer service is paramount, and far too many times its taken for granted. Its the reason so many companies fail. Even old ones.

@BrianKrock 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the review! I basically take your opinions about these things as scripture, so. If there was one thing that would take these reviews over the top, it would be recording the excerpts with a nice microphone. To hear a player of your caliber with more clarity would make hearing the differences between the horns more obvious. But, regardless, these videos are always incredibly valuable- thanks for making them!

@earspasm 2 жыл бұрын

I do record the instruments for sale in my site with a $4,000 tube mic, so you can check those out on Earspasm.com

@karen3666 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this review, Mike! I am wondering about the right hand thumb placement of the Royal Firebird? Is it about the same as a Yamaha pro bass or like the Buffest Prestige? The Prestige right hand thumb rest sits slightly lower, making those with shorter arms than average have to twist to use the right hand under the thumb rest. I am also wondering if you have ever reviewed the Ridenour intermediate C foot bass? Thanks!

@nickbowd 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much.

@idk-ki8mn Жыл бұрын

My band directory bought one of these and he let me use it for a bit and it feels amazing to play compared to my Yamaha and antigua

@YAZAKA29 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for this new video, and for the translation in french !!! if I hadn't found a used prestige, I could have taken a polaris

@luna9200 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Mike, Is there any reason that the Tosca isn't mentioned too much on the channel? Usually Buffett is associated with the Prestige, but where does the Tosca fall in this Selmer vs. Prestige vs. Firebird lineup? Thanks :)

@earspasm 2 жыл бұрын

I'll do a Tosca review next :) I've got one here

@Violins_ 2 жыл бұрын

do you ever think youll review the wiseman carbon fiber bass clarinet bell ? I know a few years ago you compaired metal and wood bass bells.

@josephsachleben6081 2 жыл бұрын

Seems like I should look at the Firebird and the Polaris as possible upgrades to my 50+ year old wood LeBlanc.

@djonesey5 2 жыл бұрын

Hi Mike, question... Is there a video where you tried inexpensive Soprano.clarinets, I think with Mike Notsworthy? I.ask because I seem to recall that video,and that some of these instruments were better than others, and because I'm in the market for a cheap instrument that I can stck in a suitcase and take with me on vacation to keep my chops in good shape.

@krommer66 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!!! I have a question about Patricola instruments. I'm dying to get my hands on a full boehm clarinet. Patricola makes one that is reasonably priced. What's your opinion on Patricola clarinets?

@macomputersuck 2 жыл бұрын

Does Royal Global have any plans to make a synthetic bass clarinet? The polaris is outside of my price range

@MaurycyHartman 2 жыл бұрын

Very useful video! Thank you. May I ask what mouthpiece you played in the comparison? Is this your usual?

@earspasm 2 жыл бұрын

Yep, a Vandoren B50

@emmanuelmaxey1347 2 жыл бұрын

You should review the Yamaha 622 bass clarinet

@bobbidewell3105 Жыл бұрын

Does this company have a plan to manufacture E-flat and B-flat Contrabass Clarinets? I would definitely be interested! Thanks for this review. Selmer fan here, also!

@FragRaptor 2 жыл бұрын

I need this so bad 😭

@pukalo 2 жыл бұрын

In the sound comparison the third one sounded different than the other two imo

@elsonmillanir6349 2 жыл бұрын

Wich is name of the music you played? Could you share? Thank u

@smweil1 Жыл бұрын

I love the sound of the bass clarinet in Jazz music. Can you tell me what groups or players I can listen to in the jazz idiom? Thanks

@charlienyc1 Жыл бұрын

Eric Dolphy is one...

@krane15 Жыл бұрын

I'm happy to see that the bells are easily interchangeable. I was wondering if Royal was forward thinking enough to included that provision. This unique customization gives you the best of both worlds. Now all I need to do is decide whether to get the new car this summer, or the clarinet?

@canisdirus2378 Жыл бұрын

As long as either one is a Firebird ;) lol

@krane15 Жыл бұрын

@@canisdirus2378 Hmm, if I could find a used Firebird I could probably afford both. Not sure how reliable it would last though.

@rhythmharmony2923 2 жыл бұрын

My order of preference: 1) Sound-colour-wise the second one, I love the dark low notes, but scratchy 2) The third one, little bit brighter, ligther and cleaner than 1) 3) The first one, to bright and scratchy, not my taste Perspective of a German style clarinet player

@AIKiarika 9 ай бұрын

What is that song you used for the mystery play test

@jonasstre974 2 жыл бұрын

what is the name of the piece you played for the blind test? :) great review btw

@charlienyc1 Жыл бұрын

Sounded like Bach. I bet someone more familiar with clarinet repertoire knows exactly which piece & movement, though. I'm just a 🎷 player who likes to think he's proficient on clarinet & bass clarinet 😆

@preciousjimenez4000 2 жыл бұрын

Can you please do the pros and cons for the firebird and the Kessler midnight model pleaseeee I’m going to get either one but I don’t have the 8000 but I don’t really want to have to waste much more later one in life. Please do a video on this soon I need it 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

@emjay2045 2 жыл бұрын

He did do a review. You’ll have to search on the Tube

@krane15 Жыл бұрын

The Firebird is near pro. A step above the Kessler.

@Stevessphoto 2 жыл бұрын

i guessed correctly the buffet, probably because i own one!

@super20dan 2 жыл бұрын

please tell me how to find your bass store on the internet

@earspasm 2 жыл бұрын

Earspasm.com

@UnknownUnknown-nb2bk 2 жыл бұрын

I got it right

@RichardMigneron 2 жыл бұрын

How would you compare it with a Ridenour low-C ?

@earspasm 2 жыл бұрын

The Ridenour is not in the same league as this. TBH, the Ridenour isn’t in the same league as the Kessler.

@coloraturaElise 2 жыл бұрын

@@earspasm Are you talking about the brand new Ridenour bass? The one that just came out and has been improved?

@earspasm 2 жыл бұрын

Haven’t tried a ridenour for a few years, so I can’t compare this to that.

@deannaglenn1588 2 жыл бұрын

Is there a way you could just buy specific parts?

@earspasm 2 жыл бұрын

Like a key or two? ;)

@Omega3131 2 жыл бұрын

@@earspasm Well, it does make me wonder if you can make hybrid bass clarinets by mixing their parts. Could be a fun experiment.

@krane15 Жыл бұрын

@@Omega3131 Ugg, that sound like a disaster in the making. A Frankenstein bass clarinet.

@aidanknox2430 2 жыл бұрын

what wins: the kessler low c or the firebird?

@earspasm 2 жыл бұрын

There are no winners or losers. Only choices. :)

@JasonAlder 2 жыл бұрын

Firebird without a doubt

@Omega3131 2 жыл бұрын

Kessler is not made of wood, it's a Chinese brand that Kessler overhauls. The Firebird is made of wood, so obviously not the best comparison. The prices are ~9k for the Firebird, ~2-3K for the Kessler, or you can just order the Chinese instrument directly for ~1k and have your repairman work on it a bit if it needs that.

@matthewsnyder6127 2 жыл бұрын

I correctly guessed the Selmer was number 2, but I was shocked to find I had switched the other two. The Buffet sounded significantly worse than the Royal, to me. Do all Buffets sound that stuffy?

@laurentvenet2758 2 жыл бұрын

I guessed the same as you and prefered the Royal over the Buffet :)

@emjay2045 2 жыл бұрын

A lot do. But , of course, not all do. However , those D,E,F on the staff notes are STUFFY! Don’t know why Buffet does not fix them!!! 😣 Selmers don’t have that low growl like Buffets but they are even, smooth and supple.

@matthewsnyder3433 2 жыл бұрын

@@emjay2045 Oh, I can make my Selmer growl! 😁

@mambojazz1 2 жыл бұрын

No its about the setup. The Buffet bass clarinets can produce the absolute purest bass clarinet sound you can possible get from any other bass clarinet. BUT you cannot achieve this with the exact same setup you use for a Selmer bass clarinet.

@francoisvillon1300 2 жыл бұрын

Is it wood or plastic?

@michaelfavalagoldman 2 жыл бұрын

Wood, with silver plated keys

@krane15 Жыл бұрын

Plastic?

@fabianvanderknaap2102 2 жыл бұрын

Holy crap this video has a title and description transaltion?!?!!?!? i kinda despise that but thats just me lol xD

@northernbohemianrealist1412 2 жыл бұрын

I agree that the Selmer produced the most even sound. That on my computer speakers from a violist, cornettist, and (gasp!) accordionist. Yes, I'm going to hell.

@victoriacox989 2 жыл бұрын

“A gentleman is a man who can play the accordion, but doesn’t.” Quote from my Dad who had to take lessons as a kid. (I hope you don’t mind a good natured poke in the ribs over your multi instrument talent.)