I bought a Contrabass Clarinet on Ebay... but does it work? 

I just love the sound of dark instruments like the Contrabass series, absolutely fabulous and thanks for sharing

not only you own such a rare instrument, but you play it gorgeously!!!!!!! Bravo!!!!!!! huge respect and love from fellow clarinetist!!!

i am 4”11-5”0 and i dragged this case around behind me everytime we had a performance at another facility besides my hs. i miss contrabass but i do not miss my hands being left indented and red from carrying it in 1 hand and a stand in the other. super thankful for all my friends and band mates for helping me carry everything. it took me an unnecessary amount of time to set up bc of all the things i had to carry around. instrument, stand, chair (a stool we kinda just stole from the science lab). anyways, can y’all tell how attached i still am to her and how i still haven’t been able to move on despite graduating a year ago ?

Not only can he play multiple instruments, he can also look like a giga chad while playing them!

Congrats on getting the contrabass, not only for a great price, but also the fact that they said it was refurbished and it actually was

Takes me back to highschool when my teacher for fun got a contrabass to use and let me use it in concert band. The way it makes your head to goop was an amazing feeling

Man, if my experience with contrabasses is anything to go by, you are insanely lucky to find one that is in good working order, let alone one that cheap! Really nice to hear it used melodically here, I'm impressed by how expressive you make it sound!

Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU. I played contrabass clarinet from 2004-2006 during my last two years of high school and I loved it dearly. You did the instrument such a service with this piece, as you played I remembered how the vibrations of the notes felt & it moved me to tears. You feel the notes more than you hear them, and it takes an amazing amount of lung capacity to play. You feel like you're pouring everything you have into it, and every note reverberates through your entire body. It's like you're one entity, I've never experienced anything like it

Dude plays the guitar, harp and Contrabass Clarinet while looking like a body builder. If I have a son in the future that's how I would like him to be, artistic, sensitive and able to kick the shit out of people if necessary, well done my dude, well done!

I hope the person who sold you this instrument will watch your video. He will be delighted for sure!

I love how the lower end gives it a string sound and it would be really cool to add to arrangements for color and clarinet ensembles!

As a person that actually plays the contrabass, I am amazed at how well your tone quality is. Considering it's not an easy instrument to play good job.

Wow. The clarion register literally made me tear up when I first heard it. 😂 It's hard to describe, but like a really, really dense cello sound that almost acts like a cage to the little clarinet that still sits and lingers on the overtones. So freaking beautiful. I love it. ps. I hope your lungs are ok xD

I use to play contrabass clarinet and enjoyed it thoroughly. This is the first time I heard it from the front end. It is a beautiful instrument. I definitely enjoyed the arrangement.

Such a beautiful and rich solo for a underappreciated instrument. Bravo!

as a basso profundo, this thing absolutely terrifies me to my core

I absolutely love this piece. Unfortunately my contrabass clary fell down my apartment stairs and broke. I miss Alfred. Yes I’m that much of a band nerd that I named my instrument.

I played bass clarinet and then contrabass clarinet in college… I absolutely loved it… But about 30 years ago I gave winds up for brass and I now play euphonium which to me is about the same as the contrabass as far as being fun to play… What a great musician you are violin cello Harp etc

I enjoyed listening to "Dimensions" so much - what a beautiful piece it is and you play all the instruments on it so well. It's the first time I've heard a Comtrabass clarinet and I was awed at how well it tied all the other instruments together in the piece. Thank you for this treat Luke, it was lovely listening as probably the last thing before I go to bed tonight.

Very cool. I was thinking while you were playing, "Man, that's got to take some serious air!" Then you confirmed it. There is a point in contrabass where the low notes just get too poppy to really be pleasant to listen to, but you're right that the middle register is very pleasant.

That was so gorgeous, absolutely loved how melodic you played it ❤️ -a bass clarinet player :)

After 5 years of practice, I managed to pick out the opening bars of Three Blind Mice on a descant recorder. When I learned that the notes I knew as G, A, B etc weren't really G, A, B etc, I decided music was a black art for other people to understand and play, and for me to listen to. Still the same 50 years later.

This is extraordinary. Real quality musicianship and creativity. I also appreciate that you made something melodic like this. It really is a wasteland out there. Thank you.

Feeling my subwoofer work for a Clarinet is one of the coolest things on youtube.

That's some genuinely lovely music. I wasn't sure how the contabass clarinet would sound, but it is really solid. Sounds really amazing with the harp. Thank you.

I was so into the journey of you taking a punt on eBay for an instrument, then discovering it’s qualities on arrival and settling after transit. I simply wasn’t prepared for 4:40 onwards - I’ve never experienced anything like that (and I’m ABRSM 8+ long term pianist). Sheer beauty, I’m gladly speechless ❤️ (this is first YT of yours I’ve seen)

I've played the trumpet for years. Coming from a fellow musician this was very pleasant and enjoyable to listen to. Congrats on able to get one for a decent price. Well done. Thank you for sharing this with us.

That thing kept going lower and lower in pitch until my walls were rattling, then it went down a little more until my subwoofer just gave up. I've never played a clarinet or even a reed instrument in my life, but now I want to get one of those and learn.

Love this instrument. I played the Clarinet. This Contrabass makes mine look like a toy. We hear them in movie soundtracks and don't give this instrument their due. I think they are amazing.

I used to play a bass clarinet and an e flat alto clarinet when I was a lot younger and the feeling through my body when playing the bass was truly wonderful so I can only imagine how good that feels an octave lower.

Amazing. You are a very gifted musician. Watching this was food for the soul. Thank you for sharing your talent and skill with us.

It's been a long time since I've been this impressed by musical talent on RU-vid. Please don't stop playing and recording music. Never really heard a contrabass clarinet like this, and I have to say I like it.

It didn't just work, it's literally beautiful. For having such a rare instrument in custom-fresh-made condition is an honor

This is absolutely beautiful. I first watched this some time ago and loved it. I've been a jazz bass clarinetist for years. But you helped to inspire me to get my own contra-alto clarinet, and I absolutely love it! Yayyy to all the large clarinets!

Listening to this piece, the Contrabass definitely helps give it the minor tonality that it was needing with the mid to low ranges. I'm looking forward to seeing what it will be used in.

I'm happy for ya Luke that you won the auction and it came in one piece and packed securely. You make nice, soothing music.

It is great to hear lyrical playing on this rare, beautiful instrument. All I have heard before is the percussive playing featured in the music of Nik Bartsch.

I love contrabass instruments so much! They can always sound so grand and majestic in a way! Absolutely coming back and listening again!

I love the "farming equipment" comparison to the low end of the BC. I played one in college and it rattled my fillings on the low end!!

I think you pointed out something that many people don't really take into account. To get low notes on woodwinds and brass you are expending a lot of breath. As a french horn player, I learned that lesson well. Then again, we could play nearly full scales simply by changing the amount of air we put through the horn and how we stuffed our hand in the bell. But I can honestly say, I preferred the French/Double horn to the Wagner Tuba, which all horn players are expected to double on for 'reasons.'

Well done! This is the first time that I have listened to a contrabass clarinet. I love its upper and middle range. I really enjoyed the tune you played. Bravo!!! You are very talented!

As a trumpet player, I never knew how much a clarinet can sound so low and look so flipping long but other than that- that was just beautiful the sound was amazing and just wow…

Yeah baby! Let's goo! Gotta love contra clarinet! Also, Dimensions is beautiful!

Good job on hitting 100k! Hope you get your silver play button soon!

The last time I played contrabass clarinet was in 1986 (probably before you were born!). Dimensions was absolutely beautiful and I applaud your performance of it. You are an amazing musician to play all those instruments. I stick with the reeds and piano only.

I’m a tuba player and this just warmed my heart! It’s really nice and and those pedal tones! Wow!

It sounds like a violoncello or even double bass at times, incredible sound and you played it super well.

That Dimensions piece was absolutely beautiful.

That is beautiful!!! I am happy for you. Obviously you appreciate this instrument. What an awesome sound.

"get back to work, squidward"

I have an old vintage original leblanc i still play. Its still one of my favorite sounds to produce and play. Beautiful horn and performance dude.

Never heard one of those before, surprisingly deep bass sounds really good.

Congratulations Luke !!! My fun purchase in the last couple weeks was an Alto Flute, I'm mostly a Bass Clarinet player, I also love lower woodwinds

I played the contralto clarinet in high school (one of the only people in the state!), and, boy, did this bring back the memories! I could almost feel the reverb in my chest again when you were in the lower register.

This is the first one of your videos I've watched, and despite my day job literally being teaching instruments in schools meaning I play a crap ton of wind, orchestral string, and percussion instruments and I'm always trying to get better at the less common ones (oboe, french horn, etc) I STILL lost my mind when Dimensions started and you were playing the harp too... amazing, beautiful work!

My guy you make me want to own and know how to play so many instruments This contrabass is like the perfect blend of instrument types for me 1. Large instrument 2. Awesome range 3. Low notes 4. Sounds freaking gorgeous

Fantastic! Of all the instruments I played in high school, contrabass clarinet was always my favorite! :D😁 You played it beautifully; it's amazing to know that you apparently never played a contra before; even though the fingering is the same as the rest of the clarinet family, you surely had to adjust to a slightly new embouchure, etc, yet your playing sounds like you're a seasoned contra player! And how is your contra so in-tune with itself? Leblanc contras are notoriously flat in the low end and sharp in the throat tones. Did you have to use Autotune? I LOVED the instrumentation in this, especially the use of harp!

I am amazed at the number of different instruments you play ?!!! You are so talented and this is wonderful to listen to and watch - thank you.

Great buy! Congratulations! That instrument sounds fantastic. I get your passion for collecting musical instruments. I have a collection of keyboards myself. In my living room alone, I have two Hammond consoles (B3000 and B3) and a Roland KR4500 piano!

i have no words to describe how beautiful the upper register is, thank you so much for sharing

What wonderful music. The contrasts and dynamics involved... Love it. I wish there could be more music available

I loved playing bass clarinet. I just told my wife I needed one of these for when we start playing our instruments again. Very beautifully played.

I think I just fell in love with an instrument!! That sounded so beautiful!!!

That bass note was absolute hillarious. What a sound.

Lovely mellow sound. I love the tops and middle registers and the bottom is just so growly and superb! I did not know this instrument existed till I watched this, so thank you for introducing it to me. Loved seeing you play so many instruments too, and the music was great.

I went from soprano clarinet to the contrabass and underestimated the amount of air I needed. I could only play two measures before I was completely winded. I started playing it at the beginning of the school year and by our last band concert I was able to play full songs and not feel even really the slightest bit of energy drained. It’s a beast to be tamed but once it is, it’s beautiful.

First time ever seeing one of your videos and it made me feel something i havent felt in while, i played bass and contra alto clarinet in high school and always wanted to play contra. Ive started my first year of college, which yes i know its not that far apart, but its enough to make me realize how much i miss these instruments. Your performance was soul moving Keep it Up!!

OMG, what a great sound ! I've never heard one before ! Got to get you a job with a symphony with all the instruments you play ! Bravo !

Hi. I find you ridiculously talented. I just made a contribution through your Patreon account to help you with this purchase. Keep up the good work.

That was absolutely beautiful to hear. Love the middle register work, not to mention you playing all the other instruments.

wow dude! this is the first of your videos I watched, so i literally just discovered you minutes ago, and i am so grateful for what I found here. I didnt expect at all to hear such beautiful music today! Ashame thati will never be able to hear you playing all this at the same time live in concert… but maybe there will be some future inventions that will make this possible… anyway: This literally made my day! I am a person that plays 9 instruments and that loves every one of them, and everyone calls me just crazy, and seeing you brought back my confidence that you cannot just beeing good at only ONE instrument, but at many, and that there is no need to decide! Thank you foryour Arts man, keep on! Cant wait to explore your channel!

wow, it sounds almost like a cello/standup bass at points. such a cool tone. those low notes are CRUNCHY.

I've got one of these, myself, and it's a blast to play. I got a fantastic deal on mine, a number of years ago (they've really been going up in price in recent years). The one I got was returned by a young student from a store in Wisconsin. It had been traded in on a trombone. Really like using a synthetic reed on mine. I don't believe they're still using the same music package, but one place I used it was on the closing news theme for WBBM TV in Chicago. I let it ring out on a low E at the very end, so it was the last music lots of folks heard in Chicago before they clicked off the TV and went to sleep. ;)

I always liked the sound of a contrabass clarinet, especially in a symphonic concert band or a wind ensemble. It adds a nice texture to the low woodwinds.

This was my absolute favorite instrument to play and I was lucky enough to play one for my last 5 years of grade school. I spent many years playing one and can only dream of having one of my own some day Edit: I started on a Paperclip Contrabass in Middle school moved to a traditional contra like you bought in high school, I liked the paperclip A LOT more

We had a couple of metallic contrabasses in our band hall. I always wanted to play one, but our director never let any of us. I was however, one of two bass clarinet players, and I still love that reedy mellow sound. I can pick it out in a piece every time. ❤

An amazing instrument, you got lucky even though the very bottom notes are probably not in tune, but does it matter? Your playing is superb and that piece you played, very well done

This was wonderful! What a fabulous deal you got on this instrument! I played the contra bass clarinet in school. I LOVED it! I still play the bass clarinet and I will continue playing for ever! There is no beating the suns of these low clarinet sounds. Looking forward to hearing more!

Dimensions is lovely to listen to 😍 I didn't even know this instrument existed, and like you said the middle range sounds amazing! I laughed at the bottom range how much the sound "vibrated" 🤣 but at the same time has that spooky haunting sensation to it! Glad you're happy with your purchase, looking forward to hearing more 😃

Wonderful playing on this rare instrument!

Tip for eBay: don't bid until the final 30 seconds. Running it up early can price up some would-be deals. Nice video :)

when you held the bass clarinet and then put the contrabass next to it, all I could think of is 'say hello to daddy'. that contra is absolutely gorgeous though, almost makes me wish I hadn't pursued brass.

I have five black cats and as soon as you started playing with all those instruments I had all of them surrounding me, they really like what you were playing it was very soothing and impression.❤

You just popped up on my feed. That's a HUGE instrument. I enjoyed your music and how you really sink into it.

Bro your amazing you can play so much instruments and the music was beautiful.

Thanks for playing. That was absolutely lovely. It is nice to hear someone else play for a change.

Wonderful sound. Wonderful tune. Good presentation, really placing the instrument in the front to showcase it. In future recordings I would expect it to be dialed back just a bit in the soundscape, though I fully understand your immediate excitement with your new acquisition. Imagine that it came all that way unscathed! Congratulations!

Congratulations on your find! I owned a Leblanc paperclip contrabass clarinet for awhile and I can tell you that when I played the lowest notes my eyeballs were vibrating so much that I couldn't read the music! And yes, lots and lots of air is required! I subsequently sold it to a band-mate and she is still honking away on it to this day!

Man, you have a great set of orchestral instruments, and you can actually play them! That's a dream for me!

I played on a Contrabass in high school, and I envy your purchase, I've been looking for one since graduating. There is simply nothing that plays like it. As an aside, from what I remember, if you alter your ambischure (or I was doing it all wrong) there is a way to remove a lot of the nasal qualities from the sound. All things aside though, I wish you the best of luck with it, you sound phenomenal on it!

Magnifique son, d'une grande profondeur et d'une bonne justesse, ainsi qu'un très beau timbre. Bravo à vous, c'est la première fois que j'entends quelque chose d'aussi beau à la clarinette contrebasse....

Amazing, impressive sound, that contrabass clarinet. A masterpiece your performance! The music, made me very emotional.

Really nice video. You are truly a multi instrumentalist. I have a LeBlanc paper clip contrabass and the 3 or 4 registers are like separate instruments. Love the low low register horns!! Just subscribed to you channel.

It’s so nice to see someone who uses the bottom three keys (or possibly four for contra) instead of the side pinky keys. It’s a habit I’m slowly breaking but it’s cool to see someone else sub out the side keys for the bottom keys

The Contrabass Clarinet just fell in love 😂

Thank you. It was lovely to hear one again. I played C, bass, and contrabass clarinets in high school and loved playing anything low. Unfortunately, not many composers wrote for it, so I'd have to play either the tuba part (pum, pum, pum) or the bassoon part (yikes!) instead. Getting stagehands to find an extra chair to stack was always a big problem. But once you fall, it is an everlasting love.

You have a great full tone. These real contras always sound better to me than the odd looking paperclip models. I think it’s because the bore is wider and doesn’t have so many loops which affect the sound negatively.

Your seller deserves kudos for his honesty and going to great lengths to pack the fragile instrument with a great deal of care and attention. Who has bubble wrap laying around their house?

I enjoyed this so much! You remind me of my brother, Gus, who likes buying very rare instruments from eBay, Too! The last one was a double-bell euphonium (sp.?) I think! Thank you for sharing this GREAT video, and I'm glad your contrabass clarinet seems to be in great shape! Peace and joy,, Charles

I know nothing about these instruments and it didn't look like you were struggling with it but when you were hitting those lower notes my brain kept going straight to the massive amount of air it must require to produce that sound. I'm glad you mentioned it at the end, also glad you were able to get it in good condition for a price that made you happy