Note: this is a B-stock prototype instrument. The design is mostly the same as the final version, however it will show some signs of use from testing as well as a few tone holes that were resized to correct intonation. As such I have priced it $250 lower than the final production version.
The JDWoodwinds Bb tarogato is designed to be a high quality yet affordable instrument for both students and professionals alike. The tarogato is an instrument that has always fascinated me. From its beautiful mellow tone to its fascinating history, the tarogato truly stands out in the world of reed instruments. Like many good contemporary instruments, the JDWoodwinds tarogato was designed based on an original Stowasser tarogato. Vintage Stowassers are the gold standard for tarogato, and my goal was to make an instrument that pays respect to these legendary instruments. The JDwoodwinds tarogato features four ring keys, two manual octave keys and a range to low Bb. One unique feature of this instrument is that the tone hole chimneys for the ring keys are flat on the top like a clarinet rather than curved. This makes is significantly easier to cover the tone holes, a common problem saxophone players have when playing tarogato. Another unique feature is an independent second octave key, this allows you to close the first octave key when playing high notes to improve intonation (see fingering chart below). The instrument comes complete with a hand finished mouthpiece, ligature, Vandoren 2.5 clarinet reed and a hard shell case. I also offer a no questions asked 10 day return policy, you can find more details here.
The JDWoodwinds tarogato is built with durability and repair-ability in mind. The body and keys are made from durable ABS plastic, the keys themselves are overengineered both to make the action feel solid and to reduce the risk of a key being damaged. The keys are held on with stainless steel rods which can be removed with a punch and a pair of pliers just like on most tarogato. The smaller pads are made from durable EPDM foam which can last for decades, when replacement is necessary the old pads can be peeled off and fresh ones can be installed with contact cement. The 3 largest pads are self leveling Music Medic Neo pads, which are also replaceable. The tenon corks can also be replaced like the tenon corks on any tarogato or clarinet. Replacement parts are also available, both as finished parts and as 3D printable files. The result is an instrument designed to last a lifetime with proper care.
The JDWoodwinds tarogato uses traditional tarogato fingerings:
Bb3: ●●● | B Bb ●●● C
B3: ●●● | B ●●● C
C4: ●●● | ●●● C
C#4: ●●● | C# ●●● C
D4: ●●● | ●●●
D#4: ●●● | ●●● D#
E4: ●●● | ●●○
F4: ●●● | ●● F ○ or ●●● | ●○●
F#4: ●●● | ●○○
G4: ●●● | ○○○
G#4: ●●● G# | ○○○
A4: ●●○ | ○○○
Bb4: ●●○ Bb | ○○○
B4: ●○○ | ○○○
C5: ●○○ C | ○○○ or ○●○ | ○○○
C#5: ○○○ | ○○○ or O1 ●●● | C# ●●● C
D5: ○●● | ●●●
D#5: O1 ●●● | ●●● D#
E5: O1 ●●● | ●●○
F5: O1 ●●● | ●● F ○ or ●●● | ●○● D# (worse intonation, use only when necessary)
F#5: O1 ●●● | ●○○
G5: O1 ●●● | ○○○
G#5: O1 ●●● G# | ○○○
A5: O2 O1 ●●○ | ○○○
Bb5: O2 O1 ●●○ Bb | ○○○
B5: O2 O1 ●○○ | ○○○ (Optional: remove finger from O1 for better intonation)
C6: O2 O1 ●○○ C | ○○○ (Optional: remove finger from O1 for better intonation)
C#6: O2 O1 ○●● | ●○○
D6: O2 O1 ○●● | ○○○
In addition to standard fingerings, the open tone holes make the tarogato very well suited for half holing and cross fingerings, allowing for a wide range of microtonal possibilities!
Note: this is a B-stock prototype instrument. The design is mostly the same as the final version, however it will show some signs of use from testing as well as a few tone holes that were resized to correct intonation. As such I have priced it $250 lower than the final production version.
The JDWoodwinds Bb tarogato is designed to be a high quality yet affordable instrument for both students and professionals alike. The tarogato is an instrument that has always fascinated me. From its beautiful mellow tone to its fascinating history, the tarogato truly stands out in the world of reed instruments. Like many good contemporary instruments, the JDWoodwinds tarogato was designed based on an original Stowasser tarogato. Vintage Stowassers are the gold standard for tarogato, and my goal was to make an instrument that pays respect to these legendary instruments. The JDwoodwinds tarogato features four ring keys, two manual octave keys and a range to low Bb. One unique feature of this instrument is that the tone hole chimneys for the ring keys are flat on the top like a clarinet rather than curved. This makes is significantly easier to cover the tone holes, a common problem saxophone players have when playing tarogato. Another unique feature is an independent second octave key, this allows you to close the first octave key when playing high notes to improve intonation (see fingering chart below). The instrument comes complete with a hand finished mouthpiece, ligature, Vandoren 2.5 clarinet reed and a hard shell case. I also offer a no questions asked 10 day return policy, you can find more details here.
The JDWoodwinds tarogato is built with durability and repair-ability in mind. The body and keys are made from durable ABS plastic, the keys themselves are overengineered both to make the action feel solid and to reduce the risk of a key being damaged. The keys are held on with stainless steel rods which can be removed with a punch and a pair of pliers just like on most tarogato. The smaller pads are made from durable EPDM foam which can last for decades, when replacement is necessary the old pads can be peeled off and fresh ones can be installed with contact cement. The 3 largest pads are self leveling Music Medic Neo pads, which are also replaceable. The tenon corks can also be replaced like the tenon corks on any tarogato or clarinet. Replacement parts are also available, both as finished parts and as 3D printable files. The result is an instrument designed to last a lifetime with proper care.
The JDWoodwinds tarogato uses traditional tarogato fingerings:
Bb3: ●●● | B Bb ●●● C
B3: ●●● | B ●●● C
C4: ●●● | ●●● C
C#4: ●●● | C# ●●● C
D4: ●●● | ●●●
D#4: ●●● | ●●● D#
E4: ●●● | ●●○
F4: ●●● | ●● F ○ or ●●● | ●○●
F#4: ●●● | ●○○
G4: ●●● | ○○○
G#4: ●●● G# | ○○○
A4: ●●○ | ○○○
Bb4: ●●○ Bb | ○○○
B4: ●○○ | ○○○
C5: ●○○ C | ○○○ or ○●○ | ○○○
C#5: ○○○ | ○○○ or O1 ●●● | C# ●●● C
D5: ○●● | ●●●
D#5: O1 ●●● | ●●● D#
E5: O1 ●●● | ●●○
F5: O1 ●●● | ●● F ○ or ●●● | ●○● D# (worse intonation, use only when necessary)
F#5: O1 ●●● | ●○○
G5: O1 ●●● | ○○○
G#5: O1 ●●● G# | ○○○
A5: O2 O1 ●●○ | ○○○
Bb5: O2 O1 ●●○ Bb | ○○○
B5: O2 O1 ●○○ | ○○○ (Optional: remove finger from O1 for better intonation)
C6: O2 O1 ●○○ C | ○○○ (Optional: remove finger from O1 for better intonation)
C#6: O2 O1 ○●● | ●○○
D6: O2 O1 ○●● | ○○○
In addition to standard fingerings, the open tone holes make the tarogato very well suited for half holing and cross fingerings, allowing for a wide range of microtonal possibilities!
