Klarinet Archive - Posting 000833.txt from 2002/04

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Rossi clarinets & barrels
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 11:02:08 -0400

Neil says: <<'Anybody on the list own and play Rossi clarinets? Out of curiosity, I dropped Luis a note, asking about the barrels that come with his instruments and whether other makers' barrels would fit and work. He indicated in unambiguous terms that the results of other makers' bar-rels on his instruments would be very bad in terms of both tone and
intonation. This surprised me. If any of you own Rossi clarinets, can you comment on this? Have you tried a Chadash or Fobes or other barrel on your Rossi clarinet?>>

Neil, I examined some Rossi clarinets earlier this year. (In many ways I was impressed BTW, made me want to go buy a pair).

I believe this is correct, excuse me if it is not, but I believe that the way Rossis makes the his clarinets and barrels, no other standard barrel will work.

This is because on his clarinets, the barrel is quite a bit shorter and there is more length to the body of the clarinet. In other words, more length above the register key. So unless you have a barrel specifically made, nothing but a Rossi barrel would fit.

As far as I was concerned, the Rossis clarinet is a "different animal", true to itself, but not conforming to the Buffet (or any other) world. SO I don't see the problem.

Another point, which has become very obvious to me, and rather painfully so: there are so many different bore choices out there, that a "Chadash", or "Fobes" or "Grabner" barrel might work well on one clarinet, yet cause a whole raft of intonation and response problems on another.

The "Moennig" barrel, as a concept, worked well when 95% of the classical clarinet world played one model of Buffet clarinets. With so many different bore sizes and tapers out there now, by different makers, or within differing models by the same maker, how can any one barrel style be a standard? This doesn't work, as far as I can see.

For example, I no longer make barrels for clients unless I can hand fit it to the clarinet AND THE MOUTHPIECE with which it will be used. Anything less is a crap shoot.

I'd be very interested in commments with others who have worked in this area.

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com

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