This is my first professional bass clarinet and after playing the Alpha I knew I wanted the Q. I’m so excited to break it in and get started making some amazing music!
Q Series Bass Clarinet
The Pinnacle of Bass Clarinet Design
Backun Q Series Bass Clarinets set the standard for what bass clarinet playing should be. Designed with an intense focus on exceptional intonation throughout the registers and a beautifully engineered mechanism, this series of professional bass clarinets has no equal. From the triple register mechanism to over- and under-cut tone holes, stunning nickel-silver metal neck and bell and a thoughtfully designed custom Compact Marcus Bonna Case with bass stand straps, the Q Series Bass Clarinet is a new low, even for Backun.
BACKUN Q Series Bass Clarinet
A Lifetime of Innovation
Detailed Specs
Approx. Weight
- 10kg
Features
- Premium, unstained exotic hardwood body (in grenadilla or cocobolo)
- Sculpted under-cut tone holes with over-cut vented “wings” for optimized airflow
- Elegant key work with triple-strike plating (in silver or silver keys with gold posts)
- Neck and bell crafted from nickel-silver base metal, yielding a deep resonant tone
Mechanics
- Triple register mechanism for unrivalled tuning
- Articulated G# mechanism
- Low C mechanism with ergonomic balanced action
- Advanced adjustment screws that allow players to fine-tune their optimal setup
- Adjustable ergonomic thumb rest and neck strap loop
Pads
- Custom black leather pads
Includes
- Q Series Bass Clarinet Neck in silver plating
- Q Series Bass Clarinet Bell in silver plating
- Backun Low C Bass Clarinet peg
- Custom Marcus Bonna Compact Low C Bass Clarinet Case with integrated bass clarinet stand straps (stand not included)
- Boveda 49% high absorbency humidity control pack
- Polishing cloth
- Large double-sided kite-style swab with dual pull tabs
- Cork grease
- Backun Warranty
- Mouthpiece kit not included
Case
Product Reviews
Customer Reviews
Overall rating: 4.9 / 5 from 25 reviews.
I finally decided to purchase a Bass clarinet. I prioritized having Bb and Eb clarinets while settling for a lesser Bass even though it is my primary, or at least my even between Bass and Eb. It didn’t help that other Basses seemed a tad value inflated and so I settled. I heard about the Alpha through Michael Lowenstern’s great review. This is how I heard about Backun—which is embarrassing as I’m Canadian but everyone pushes other brands so I was quite ignorant of Backun. Well it didn’t take long for me to get enraptured by my research. I love the Q because at the end of the day, while the Alpha is an unbelievable value for a Low C Bass, I knew I wanted the resonance of wood. This Bass clarinet is stunning. It plays itself really. The sound and ease of playing is phenomenal. I have played the other big names in the game and I was in love with my Backun after only one short break in session. Fast forward to more breaking in and I’m enjoying it more and more by the day. It’s a stunning instrument, comfortable to play, hold, I don’t find it heavy at all, the keys are all placed in a way that even if your hands get a little lazy you aren’t hitting other keys. The thumb rest that moves is a neat touch. It just feels like it was made custom for my hands. Try a masterpiece of design. Again the sound is phenomenal throughout all registers and plays so smoothly across the bridges to each register. The keys are barely audible as opposed to some very clicker clackey instruments out there. I couldn’t be happier. It’s a work of art and I wish I knew about Backun sooner.
This bass clarinet is simply sublime, exceptional... It is everything we expect from a bass clarinet and even beyond!! Thanks Morrie!!!! Thanks Backun !! And well done!!
In a word? WOW! It was a long wait, but worth every minute. Georgie here, is guarding my Q while it acclimates to its new home. This instrument just sings through its range with none of the stuffiness on certain notes. The keywork is beautifully executed and will even survive a player like me. It will be a beautiful addition to my Backun clarinets.
Gorgeous instrument, and amazingly designed. So many perfect touches (including incredible intonation, sturdy keyword, and an ergonomic “feel” second to none!) Blown away at the first playing with the tone and feel and exact intonation. Just wow.
My new Q series bass clarinet is all I expected from a professional instrument: price, fine construction, large sound, silent and smooth keywork, the neck angle is very comfortable and ergonomic to play, adjustable thumb rest. It comes with a very nice and light Marcus Bonna case. It's Canadian!
I just received the instrument and have only played it one time. But it appears to be playing very well.
Intonation is superb, sound is excellent, playability is outstanding! The Q in cocobolo exceeds my expectations!
The Qs (both Bb and bass) are wonderful. They’re designed with working musicians in mind: the intonation is excellent, they blend beautifully with other instruments in the section (which is especially important when working in musical theatre), and the ergonomics are outstanding. Not to mention thoughtful details such as the adjustment screws being positioned exactly where they should be, helping to keep the keywork in excellent condition, even while on tour, where access to technicians is often limited.
It's been so cold consistently in Ottawa this year that I didn't want to take my Buffet Prestige Bass out for fears that it would crack. A student of mine had purchased the Alpha, and I tried it in a lesson. I rented an Alpha and I've been so impressed with it on both classical and jazz concerts, that I started to consider selling my Buffet, I was lucky enough to have a Q brought in to test, and I was blown away with the tone, the ease of response, the tuning, and keywork. I've started the break in process, and can't wait for the cold to let up so I can perform on it in public!
The Backun Q Bass Clarinet is an exceptional instrument. Its beautiful tone is a product of skilled craftsmanship and ease of playing. What a joy to play this beauty!
The Backun Q series bass clarinet (to low C) is fantastic! Easy playing, beautiful sound, and impeccable set-up, sealing and playing great when it got to me brand-new. The quality and precision, fit, finish, etc. in the wood and the keywork are amazing!
The only thing I don’t like about this horn is how hard it is to find! Everything feels effortless on this horn and the projection of the sound is absolutely fantastic. I would choose this horn over most if not all $15,000+ horns. Wonderful instrument that is absolutely stunning!
This is a very, very, VERY nice instrument.
Couldn't be happier! This instrument plays like a dream.
It is beautifully made and simply the best bass clarinet I have ever played!
I received my Backun Series Q Cocobolo Bass Clarinet seventeen months after I was the first to try the prototype…dreaming about it every night of those 512 days. I’ve been playing Morrie’s Cocobolo clarinets for twenty years now, along with talking about a Backun bass clarinet. My dreams have come true! My superb previous bass was instantly “dead to me” upon trying the “BIG Q” prototype. As fabulous as that prototype was, the production model is even better. The seventeen months was well used, with three more prototypes and fine tuning after fine tuning. Morrie called the Big Q a “bel canto” bass clarinet in his announcement of its development, and it is that completely accurate statement that makes this instrument revolutionary. The instrument just sings at any volume level and through any interval leap, with seamless tonal character and flawless intonation. It’s chock full of chocolate-coated caramel colour at any dynamic. Warm, glowing, powerful, accurate and unbelievably responsive, it dances for Mozart and Debussy, as well as demonstrating absolute authority for Mahler and Wagner. It's a whole new world for we lucky bass clarinetists!
Everything was, as I was expected but I had to f..... around the figure why Bb and A was almost mute
I'm still in the break-in period for this bass, and it keeps getting better by the day. It is truly the best bass clarinet I have EVER played. Its evenness and intonation is absolutely incredible, and the tone is beautiful. It was definitely a change in resistance from being used to a Prestige, but nothing some harder reeds couldn't take care of. The case is fantastic as well- the stand straps are brilliant. There were a few adjustments I needed to make, but the quality of the instrument made it easy. Bravo to all those who worked on bringing this horn to life! This bass has made it so much easier to make music!
I knew I needed to have this horn from the first open G. There are no trade-offs with this instrument. Perfect intonation, incredibly beefy and robust sound, intuitive keywork. I feel more comfortable on the bass clarinet than I ever have and am excited to discover the instrument's possibilities (which are endless).
Very happy with my purchase
I first heard Morrie Backun discuss bringing a Backun bass clarinet to market at a clarinet symposium at UAB in 2015, so I have been waiting for this for a long time. This instrument has truly been worth waiting for. Effortless projection, wonderful keywork, outstanding tone and intonation. I am proud to add this bass to my collection of Backun instruments.
After months of waiting, I finally received my Q Series bass clarinet. The tone is lovely and warm. The dynamic range is huge. The response and articulation are incredible. I haven't tested the intonation yet, but first impressions are good, and from what I've seen it should be stellar. It lives up to its reputation!
This instrument is everything that a bass clarinet should be! The response in all registers is unreal and the pitch is fantastic. I am able to focus more on playing and less on making the instrument work.
Best bass ever! My initial assessment is an instrument that plays easy throughout all registers with a beautiful tone, and excellent intonation.