Klarinet Archive - Posting 001240.txt from 1998/12

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausman@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Semi-irrelevant comments, and tuning barrels
Date: Fri, 1 Jan 1999 01:31:31 -0500

At 08:46 PM 12/31/98 -0600, Vicki wrote:
>In response to the Mitch Miller quote (that the oboe is "The ill
>wind that nobody blows good.")--yes, but keep in mind that he's
>the oboist (is that how you say it???) on Charlie Parker's
>"Laura" (IIRC)... :-)
>
As the head of Columbia Records, he could do pretty much as he pleased!

>PS--does anybody know if he's still living, and does anybody
>else remember "Sing Along With Mitch"? (Oh dear, I am *old*!)
>
Yes, I remember. I now have a couple of my folks' old albums I recall from
my youth (They don't even have a turntable any more, but I still play 78's!).

>Question: What experience has anyone else had with tuning
>barrels? I ordered one from WW&BW (which they let me return for
>credit, bless their hearts!) that did terrible things to my tone
>(made it sound real dead and mushy, as best I can describe
>it--all I know is it didn't compare well with the barrel that
>came with my clarinet).
>
>I am in the process of looking up the one I *didn't* like in
>WW&BW.... Ah! Found it! Bradley "Perfect Pitch."
>
>Ones I haven't tried yet--"Click" tuning barrel, and several you
>can order in different lengths--Chadash for Buffet (which mine
>is), Pyne, Accubore, Eddie Daniels....
>
For me and my Selmer Series 10 (your mileage may vary), the Accubore sounds
a little brighter than the original barrel. The Click is remarkably
free-blowing and did not significantly color the sound. But since I
switched to a different mouthpiece, I no longer need the short barrel.

>Opinions? And (excuse amateur question), what is the deal with
>tuning rings? Are they just aesthetic, or do they affect tone?
>(When I was in HS, (yea, long, long ago...) it seemed to be
>taken for granted that clarinets were built sharp, and you
>pulled out as required....)
>
Technically, by filling in the gap in the bore caused by pulling out, the
rings will improve response, intonation, etc. In reality, most people
won't notice the difference. But they are cheap and easy to use and can't
hurt, and should help, even if only a little, so what the heck?

Bill Hausmann bhausman@-----.com
451 Old Orchard Drive http://www.concentric.net/~bhausman
Essexville, MI 48732 http://members.wbs.net/homepages/z/o/o/zoot14.html
ICQ UIN 4862265

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is too loud.

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