Royal Global MAX Low C Bass Clarinet
Royal Global MAX Low C Bass Clarinet
The MAX?
What's a MAX?
The Royal Global MAX Bass Clarinet was released in September 2022, and is the newest in Royal's line of excellent, yet affordable, bass clarinets.
The MAX is a fantastic bass clarinet — it resonates like a wood instrument (because it is 95% wood. See more below). Along with the new Backun Alpha, it is a tremendous value.
Punching WAY above its weight class, it rivals instruments (including those from Royal, by the way) costing two to three times as much. Is it better than the Backun Alpha? That's a matter of taste, to be honest. It's a little more resistant (like the Buffet Prestige basses) so if you're looking for something that isn't as free-blowing as the Alpha, this is the ticket.
As I mentioned, unlike others in its class, the MAX is not plastic, but rather Royal's proprietary composite—Grenadilla powder mixed with a polymer resin. This provides a resonant sound very similar to the Royal Polaris bass clarinet. Not surprising, since the MAX is modeled on the Polaris and shares the same keys, neck, and internal geometry.
Does it sound different from the Polaris? Yes, it does—a little bit. The Polaris provides a richer sound, with more overtones in the high-mid range (around 5,000-8,000Hz, if you're curious), which gives the Polaris a bit more presence in an ensemble setting. This is, of course, because the Polaris is a wood body rather than a composite resin body—even if the resin is full of Grenadilla dust.
Included in the price is a full "earspasm pro setup" from my technician buddy in upstate new york who's one of the best in the business. I fly these instruments up to him, and when he gets them he sends me pictures of things like chipped tone holes that he has to fix right off the bat. And I roll my eyes. And then I pay him to fix them.
Yes, I pay out of pocket for the setup. Even for a sub-$4,000 instrument like this. Why? Because $4,000 is STILL A CRAP-TON OF MONEY for you to spend. Yes, it reduces my profit. Yes, people have told me I should charge a premium for doing it. But like I said above, you're worth it.
All earspasm instruments come with a 7-day trial. Please read my trial policy before pulling out that credit card.
The instrument comes with:
- Standard Royal case with hideaway backpack straps
- One sitting peg (a note for the eagle-eyed shopper: the Polaris and Firebird come with two pegs, the MAX includes only one.)
Notice, the instrument does not come with a mouthpiece. Fortunately for you, I sell those too.
Hit me up with any questions by sending me an email!
FAQ:
Q: What if I'm in New York and want to try it in person?
A: Contact me to set up an appointment, and let's do it!
Q: Does the instrument come with a warranty?
A: Yes, it comes with the standard Royal Global warranty. If you ever have any problem with the instrument, I'm your quarterback. I'll take care of the whole process, just let me know you need help, and I'll take it from there.
Q: What happens if it's damaged during shipping?
A: Inspect the package before you sign off at delivery! If there are any issues resulting from shipping, we have taken out an insurance policy to cover damage (and loss). But we need you to document this damage or we can't do anything to help.
Q: If I decide to return it, do also I have to pay return shipping costs?
A: Yes. And you will also want to insure it!
Q: Do you ship internationally?
A: Yes. You can add your shipping address when checking out to see what the shipping costs will be before taking the plunge. Note that VAT and Customs Duties are not included in this cost.
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I have had my Royal Global MAX bass clarinet for about 4 months now. The instrument plays like a dream (especially compared to the student-grade horn I was using before). The low C is particularly resonant, but the instrument sounds great throughout all 4 octaves. Is it a Buffet Tosca? No, but it's 90% of the horn, but at 30% of the price. Easily the best deal you can find, unless you absolutely NEED a $10K instrument.
I have to give special kudos to the "Earspasm Pro set up" that Michael has for this horn. The action of the keys is MUCH lighter than any other bass clarinet I have played; it's almost as light as my B-flat clarinet and considerably lighter than my brand-new soprano saxophone (to say nothing about my larger saxophones). His technician friend does a great job of setting up the instrument, and also preparing the instrument for shipping. There were even small wooden wedges placed in the instrument to prevent certain keys from wiggling during shipping. I highly recommend both this particular instrument and ordering it here!
Michael made this purchase very easy for me by answering all my questions on which instrument to get for my daughter. It took her a little time to get used to some of the keys (the school's student horn she was using wasn't a low C), but with a couple of months of practice on it she is now playing beautifully. I showed her your video with the tape trick and that seems to have helped her. She also loves her Marcus Bonna case so that she can carry both her instruments back and forth to school with ease. Thanks again Michael!
Amazing instrument! It came very nicely packaged and played beautifully out of the box. Having the instrument be pre set up is a game changer. The purchasing experience was easy and straightforward, and all of my questions were answered by Michael! Absolutely fantastic to work with! The instrument itself is a huge upgrade from my previous bass clarinet and the price point can't be challenged. I've had mine for about a month now and there have been no issues at all. Definitely recommend the MAX for anyone in the middle range of the market.
Working with Michael been fantastic and this horn has been so much fun to play! Having just graduated from college but pursuing a career outside of music, I didn't want to shell out 15K for a bass clarinet (I had been borrowing my school's 1193 or a friend's Selmer privilege throughout undergrad and wanted to find a way to continue to play bass). I couldn't be happier with my decision to get the Max. The instrument arrived in excellent condition, feels mechanically comfortable and plays great. Looking forward to the coming years playing on this wonderful horn!
The Max has played great from the day it arrived. All four octaves speak easily at any dynamic level. Intonation is good throughout the range, though not perfect. And the sound is rich and big, which is what I'm generally going for.
The pinky key positioning is pretty good, though it's taken some getting used to where everything is placed for the left hand.
The thumb key positioning is good, intuitive, and easy to get around on. Waaay better than the Kessler, which was terrible in this regard. I might make a few small adjustments to raise the area where my right thumb rests, but that's a small quibble.
As Mike mentions in his video, the case is basic, but good enough. It's somewhat lightweight and compact, and the backpack straps work fine.
If you've been wanting to get a really good bass clarinet that but can't justify $14k, this is the instrument for you.
I tried out some mouthpieces and went with a Chedeville F1 and Legere European Cut 2.75.
About me: I play woodwinds semi-professionally, and bass clarinet mostly in musicals and a few random orchestra gigs. My previous bass clarinet was an old Bundy, but it played well. I also borrowed a Kessler low-C once for a gig and really disliked it. I've never played an expensive bass clarinet, so I can't compare it.