Klarinet Archive - Posting 000592.txt from 2002/01

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Brand New Barrel Design From Vancouver
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2002 13:38:35 -0500

Morrie says:

<<I really appreciate the kind comments from Audrey (and Kevin) regarding the barrels and my Clarinet work. It is almost embarrassing! As a clarinettist
myself I am always trying to make every instrument that I work on one that I would want to play. Since I have had so many e-mail inquiries, I will post some information here for those who are interested. Hopefully, I will not to sound too "commercial.">>

Morrie, you're post was very eloquent and not commercial at all. What we all really benefit from on this forum is real people's REAL experiences. So often, we repeat the same old stuff taught 40 or 50 years ago, some of it golden, some of it totally off-base, but repeated as "gospel" because some legendary player said it in 1940!

In regard to your barrels, I'd like to ask three questions:

1. Do you make the metal rings yourself, or do you contract with a machinist?

2. What oils have you used to season and stabilize the wood, and which have been most effective?

3. Have you found a bore configuration that works for both Bb and A, or do you make separate barrels for each?

And yes, we'd love to see some pics.

Walter Grabner
clarinetXpress.com

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