Selmer Contra-alto Clarinet Extension (Paris/USA/Bundy Compatible)

All extensions are made to order. Please contact us to place an order. Thanks!

A revolutionary extension for Selmer Contra-alto Clarinets! Works for Selmer USA/Bundy and Selmer Paris instruments.

A brand new redesign of the extension has improved ergonomics and response of the extension. The intonation has also been improved, now featuring a double vented low C as well as a redesigned bore for a powerful low E and Eb.

This is a completely removable extension that replaces the bell section of the Selmer Contra-alto Clarinets. It requires no permanent modification to the instrument and extends the range of the instrument down to written low C or B (sounding Eb1 and D1 respectively.) All notes are actuated with the RH thumb and are fully chromatic, with the thumb keys laid out in an ergonomic pattern allowing smooth transitions between notes. The extended range requires the RH pinky low Eb key to be held down. A thumb moveable adjustment screw is utilized on the low Eb key for easy adjustments.

While it is rare that you will run across extended range notes in a contra-alto clarinet part, many passages in the literature benefit greatly from the extra range lower. It is especially useful when covering contrabass clarinet parts, or can even be used in place of a string bass! Realistically, contra-alto clarinets (and alto clarinets) should be extended to low D standard but manufacturers seem to have little interest in doing so. And thus, our only solution is to do so ourselves.

*Removal of the stock thumbrest is required for this extension. An additional thumbrest is provided on the extension in a more comfortable location. Due to the ergonomics of the instrument, it is recommended to pair this extension with the altissimo neck, designed to extend further down than the stock neck and features a steeper mouthpiece angle. By having the neck at a lower position it allows the right hand to be brought up closer to stomach area which allows the right hand stack (including the extension thumb keys) to be in a more comfortable position.