SUBCONTR-, CONTRA-, GREAT-, & BASS SQUARE RECORDERS
JBLazar
The range of these instruments is the same as that for standard baroque
recorders—more than two octaves (A-440). Four sizes are now available—a
basset (bass, new) in F, a great bass in C (an octave below a tenor), a
contrabass in FF (one octave below a regular bass), and a monster (6' 4")
subcontrabass (new) in CC (two octaves below a tenor). I am not aware of
any other maker that offers a subcontrabass. One major attraction of these
instruments, in addition to their lovely tone, in tune notes and unusual
appearance, is that their sound, even on the lowest bottom notes, is very
strong, in contrast to many other makers' low instruments. In my opinion,
the Paetzold recorders also have a much sweeter and richer sound than any
other makers' low instruments that I have heard or played. They blend
wonderfully with other recorders as well as with viols. They all have
double keys for the bottom two notes. Key design and placement on all
instruments allows easy playing of all notes, even for people with small
hands or those with limited range of use or facility (repetitive stress
injury, stroke victims). The new basset (bass) is slightly longer than a
tenor and has the quick and light response of an alto recorder.
The impetus for the design of these instruments came from a desire to
lower the cost and simplify the construction of large recorders, making
them available to a wider range of players. They are modeled after an
organ pipe, and are square in cross-section, with a tapered bore. Since
they are made of high quality beech-veneered plywood, neither expensive
solid blocks of wood nor labor-intensive lathe work is required. The
resulting recorders, although not cheap, are considerably less expensive
than other makes of comparably sized recorders. For instance,
mass-produced Moeck recorders cost considerably more: list price is over
$6000 for the contrabass, without double keys, and $3000 for the great
bass. Both of these are Renaissance instruments with a more limited range
than the Paetzold instruments. The basset is priced comparably to the
Moeck Rottenburgh or Renaissance models with double keys. However, I
sincerely believe that the quality and sound of the Paetzold instruments is
far superior to Moeck or other mass-produced instruments.
My wife and I and three of our friends friends play our sets in a group
(the Monterey Bay Recorder Society) with approximately 25 to 35 other
recorders. We can easily be heard in the group, without being
overpowering. The only disadvantage is that when we make a mistake,
everyone knows it! Their unusual design and lovely sound always attract
attention and curious questions. They are great fun to play. We play them
doubling the bass and/or tenor lines an octave down on a lot of music.
Since we have both the great bass and contrabass, we play a lot of SATB
consort music an octave down, using T B GtB CtB. I also play them in place
of or in addition to the viola da gamba on the basso continuo line on
Baroque trio sonatas. We also play great bass/contrabass bass viol duets.
Two friends purchased a set (GtB/CtB) last year and we often get together
to play all four square basses at once—it is quite a kick.
Pete Rose has been commissioned by the Amsterdam Loeki Stardust Quartet to
write a special work for the group's new consort of Paetzold's 8'-pitch
recorders. To be premiered during the 1997-98 season, the work will be for
bass, great bass, contrabass and subcontrabass Paetzold recorders. The
Festival Consort played a demonstration concert at the June Berkeley
Festival & Exhibition using these instruments, to great standing-room-only
audience acclaim. At a second Berkeley Festival concert, ARS board members
performed on the square basses, to cheers and yells from the audience. I
usually have the instruments available at workshops such as the Boston
Early Music Festival, Amherst Early Music Workshops, Kelischek Workshops,
Richie Henzler's recorder orchestra workshops,.and the San Rafael, CA,
Dominican College SFEMS workshops. I also was at the Port Towsend workshop
last July and had a great time playing in a quintet of square basses.
Gene Murrow, ARS President, bought a great bass from von Huene last June.
Martha Bixler, former ARS President, bought a great bass from me last Fall.
I am now the exclusive North American distributor of these instruments.
In addition to my selling these instruments directly, I now have Courtly
Music, the Kelischek Workshop and the von Huene Workshop as dealers.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me. Thank
you for your interest in these unique instruments.
February 15, 1997 prices for Paetzold Square Bass Recorders and Accessories **
All prices include a high quality Gewa fitted hard case.
Basset (Bass) in f
Beech-veneered plywood $1430
Solid Cherry $1755
Stand inquire
Great Bass in c
Beech-veneered plywood $1960
Solid Cherry $2715
Stand $165
Contrabass in F
Beech-veneered plywood $2990
Solid Cherry $3975
Stand $180
Subcontrabass in C
Beech-veneered plywood $3700
Solid Cherry $4910
Stand inquire
All notes on each of the recorders are played with keys, and include
double keys for the two bottom notes (i.e. C, C#, D, D# on C instruments;
and F, F#, G, G# on F instruments).
There is a discount for orders of more than one recorder. There is a 20%
discount on the stand, when ordered at the same time as the instrument. It
is an ingenious, compact design that very stably holds the instrument in an
upright position, preventing people from tripping over or stepping on your
prone instrument. The stand quickly breaks down into three pieces that fit
into the hard case.
Shipping charges from California will be added to the total. California
state tax is added to in-state sales.
Recorders not in stock can be ordered by paying a 20% down payment. The
balance is due when the recorder is ready for shipment to you.
Alternatively, a 2% discount is granted for payment in full in advance for
recorders not in stock. Other payment options can be arranged.
I currently try to stock basset, great bass and contrabass beech-veneered
instruments. Waiting times for models in solid cherry are approximately
6-9 months. Samples are available for all three wood options.
All instruments come with a money-back guarantee. If you are disatisfied
with the instrument for any reason, I will refund the total purchase price
if returned within 2 weeks in new condition, less shipping and insurance
costs. There is a two year warrantee covering defective instruments, as
well as tuning and revoicing.
** I will beat any competitor's price on these instruments.
Bill Lazar
Paetzold Square Bass Recorders
1377 Bluebird Ct.
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
(408)737-8228 (phone & Fax)
E-mail: jbl...@aol.com