Klarinet Archive - Posting 000841.txt from 2002/04

From: MBack@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Rossi clarinets & barrels
Date: Tue, 30 Apr 2002 12:57:10 -0400

Hello Neil,

Not all Rossi clarinets have short barrels. In fact I just made a pair for
Lorne Buick and his B flat was 69 millimetres! Tuning issues are influenced
by many factors including where the A is placed (A440, A442 , etc....) the
ambient temperature, the mouthpiece and the player, to name only a few. That
is part of the reason that no one barrel, mouthpiece or instrument is "right
for all"

I spend a great deal of time working with players on tonal, tuning and
voicing issues to arrive at the right solution for them. Having made dozens
of different tapers on hundreds of barrels what may work very well on one
make for a certain player can often be almost unplayable for another.

As a simple experiment, play a two octave C major scale with your existing
equipment and then turn the barrel 1/8 turn doing the same scale again.
Repeat this until you have tried eight different positions all the way around
to the original place. Most players will find a very significant difference
in evenness and tonality with one or two spots really jumping out as
favorites. (and that is only on one familiar barrel)

The "gap" between joints is very often excessive causing a host of problems.
Many players with this situation may benefit from precisely made tuning rings
which should be easy to get from any good clarinet repair person. Most of the
pre-packaged tuning rings do not fit properly.

Morrie Backun
www.backunmusical.com

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