Klarinet Archive - Posting 000699.txt from 1996/01

From: John Jarvie <j.jarvie@-----.NZ>
Subj: Re: Acoustic properties of old horn (was: Buffet's "Green Li
Date: Wed, 31 Jan 1996 16:00:43 -0500

Bill,

On acoustic differences between B&H 1010 and my current clarinets
(Yamaha German Boehms)

First - the similarities. Both designs are relatively thin-walled
(sorry I don't have exact measurements to hand - I'm at work) and are
straight bored relative to cambered French instruments like Buffet.

The prewar 1010s have thinner walls than later ones. Someone at B&H
told me they had lots of problems drilling post holes, if so their
techniques must have been crude.

The main acoustic difference, in my opinion, comes from the bore width
(15.24mm on 1010 compared to approx 14.8 on the Yamahas which are
similar to many French Boehms in that respect). The larger bore seems
to give a brighter and lighter sound.

Also the Yamaha tone holes are significantly smaller than 1010 (and
French Boehm) instruments.

Overall, the Yamahas are subjectively very resonant.

The 1010s and other English clarinets have their own mouthpiece
characteristics. The 1010 bore is entirely parallel up to the tone
chamber, i.e. there is NO taper. The 1010 tone chamber is very deep
and large compared to Vandoren, etc. French/American and German
mouthpieces can be bored out to play in tune on a 1010 although they
are often longer. My experience has been that the tonal qualities do
vary as a mouthpiece bore is increased.

If anyone knows John MacCaw's Nielsen/Mozart recording, that was done
using a B&H 926 mouthpiece which has the same tone chamber as the 1010
but a tapered bore, John played on a Buffet instrument. The overall
sound is very beautiful.

I hope that answers some of the questions!

This is all my own subjective opinion, I am not a physicist. I'd be
interested to get a more learned opinion on the tonal aspects of a
wide bore.

John Jarvie
j.jarvie@-----.nz

   
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