Klarinet Archive - Posting 000581.txt from 2001/10

From: "Robert Moody" <LetsReason@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Real Questions Here
Date: Thu, 18 Oct 2001 08:03:06 -0400

I'm sorry to show my insecurity, but I feel like, on the whole, I have been
put on "filter" in many mailboxes. I would be sad to find this to be true.
:-(

With all this talk about mouthpieces and barrels, I have some questions from
ignorance. Thanks for you patience.

I play on a Borbeck (13) that I bought in 1988 (medium facing). I have a
Robert Scott, 66mm/a4, barrel. Generally, my intonation is good, but I
sometimes find that I need to pull almost to cork in the winter when playing
with strings or flutes. I am comfortable with the resistance (I play on V12
4s).

My questions are these:

1. What measurements should I be concerned with in matching a barrel to a
mouthpiece. I like what I have, but who knows what I'm missing. It's
amazing how we sometimes get comfortable with things and don't even realize
that they are only mediocre at best. What I'm saying is that I'm open to
checking things out.

2. Can you describe the tendencies that develop when measurements are off
one way or another. For example, if the bore of the mouthpiece is smaller
than that of the barrel, is there a specific effect I will hear or feel?
What if the bore of the mouthpiece and barrel match but are smaller than the
upper joint? Anything specific there? Things like that.

3. If I wanted to keep my Borbeck from 1988 and have a synthetic material
barrel made for it [spec to spec], would it be best to send my mouthpiece to
the barrel-maker or would merely telling the facing or giving measurements
suffice? Would they need my upper-joint as well?

I'm interesting in learning about these things so that I will not be so "try
a softer/harder reed" on everything that deals with clarinet. ;-) I mean,
if I am going to add the letters D - M - A next to my name one day,
shouldn't I know a little about everything related to my instrument?

Thanks in advance.

Robert

P.S. I'm expecting Mr. Smarty Pants to post a single website address that
will answer all these questions and make me an expert in 10 mins a day or
less. ;-) Teaching me two lessons at once. LOL.

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