Klarinet Archive - Posting 000607.txt from 1998/05

From: "JW <VZ2@-----.COM>
Subj: [kl] Mixing Bb & A clarinet barrels, and 'matching' sets of clarinets
Date: Tue, 12 May 1998 12:35:18 -0400

hi all - in regards to the above, in the past, I've played sets of both Buffet
R13 & Selmer 10G horns, and noticed on both sets that the Bb & A barrels are
NOT the same, which means different tuning & sound/response depending upon
which you use...it used to really bug me that they wouldn't make barrels which
were the same for a given brand of Bb & A...

However, last year I special ordered a set of Selmer Recital model horns with
left Eb/Ab lever & an extra resonance key for low F(Selmer USA doesn't push
the low F resonance key much here in the states, but it's listed in the French
brochures & is available if you request it)...I naturally wanted as close to
a 'matched set' as i could get...well, 2 surprises when these babies arrived
(since was special order, i got it under the 'you ordered, you paid, you
keep it' plan):

* One, the vintage of the 2 horns was nowhere close, the Bb looked like was
recently made, the A appeared to have sat on the shelf for years(many)...
serial numbers way far apart, bridge mechanism different(more updated on
the Bb)...naturally, i wondered if i'd bought the farm on this one, but
once i got used to the horns, I found that both played great, in particular,
the A is by far the best A clarinet I've ever played - very consistent/smooth
response & tone all over the horn...plus, resistances are pretty well matched
with the Bb, so I don't suffer much from the "either my reed's too soft on
the Bb or too hard on the A" problem...lessons here ? 1) matched set doesn't
mean squat, and 2) a good ax is a good ax

* The barrels for Recital models are the same for Bb & A, 2 lengths available -
62.5 & 64.5 lengths(!)...if i remember correctly, the bores of the Bb & A
horns are the same also...i ordered 4 barrels of each length(total 8) so i'd
have a good selection, and have been very pleased with the whole setup.
Could be that using same bore on both horns & same barrel helped match the
sound & feel of horns...plus is easier to switch horns by pulling barrel &
mthpce off than just the mthpce alone...

Comments, anyone ??

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