About the model Black Privilege with Silent Pads, Resonance treatment and BallbearingsKey of Bb, Range to Low C (Build to the specifications of Michel Loewenstern by Lohff & Pfeiffer): Aged grenadilla wooden body, black chrome plaited keys and brass bell.
Bore: Upper 23.5mm, lower 23.4 mm stainless steel needle springs.
Tone-holes and bore optimized to increase dynamic range.
High quality LP Silent padding system with resonators to get a perfect seal and very reduced pad noise.
History of the black Bass
After Michael Loewenstern had triad several of our bass clarinets, which all had special setups, he asked us, if we could build him an instrument with very specific properties. He wanted a bass with the Silent Padding system, the ball bearings system, a very quiet mechanism, reliable, long lasting, great response and a big colorful rich tone. On top of that, he dreamed about an instrument completely in black.
We asked Selmer if they would supply us with the body and key-parts to be able to full fill Michaels dream and they agreed immediately. 8 month later the project was ready and Michael loved it right from the beginning and called it his “Black Ninja” .
The change of sound, that the L&P Silent Padding System . has on large instruments is amazing. The extra seal makes it much more powerful and responsive. Listen to a great sample Michael Loewenstein has arranged and performs as a tribute to Prince. It is written for 6 basses and shows the enormous dynamic range from the very button to the top.
Prince How come U don't call me anymore (for 6 bass clarinets)
The black Selmer is available in 4 versions:
1. with standard leather pads like they come from the factory
2. As a LP Pro model with double impregnated leather pads, which makes the sound very lyrical
3. As “Black Ninja Studio” with the Silent padding system, which boosts the dynamic range and volume dramatically, eases response, increases the resonance and reduces the pad noise to a minimum.
4. As “Black Ninja Soloist” which also includes our LP-Ball-bearing system.
I like to point out that the enormous sound and response has very little to do with the black chrome plated keys. Silver plated instruments will sound the same as long as they have the same L&P Silent Padding System , L&P Ball bearing System and resonance treatment and it can be applied to existing older instruments as well as to different brands and models. We try to keep always a variety of instruments in stock.
The creation of this instrument is a nice example, how a musical idea can be planed and executed. It is not a question how many instruments you triad but that it is build with the specifications you are looking for. Good instruments are not found but build.