Klarinet Archive - Posting 000896.txt from 2003/03

From: b1rite@-----. Rite)
Subj: Re: [kl] Cylinders vs. Cones (was: Introduction)
Date: Sat, 22 Mar 2003 20:41:55 -0500

<><> Tony Pay wrote:
the sort of thing that a 'much too large' barrel does

Tony, I **do** recognize that this is the major 'defect' in a ping pong
ball experiment. It would simultaneously alter both the instrument's
length and its volume, which would change the tone hole relationships
and so forth.

I **have** learned, first hand, how much difference it made when I
changed the 'exit hole' diameter in my spherical bell by only 0.2 mm.
(I did this since you played it.) So something as gross as
substituting a ping pong ball for the barrel would be disastrous, I'm
sure.

What I'm after is some sort of curve that replaces a straight-line taper
along the instrument's axis. I'm misusing the term "spherical". For
example, my "spherical bell" isn't truly a sphere either, although it's
close. Perhaps I should be saying "an very oblate ellipsoid with the
ends sliced off" ?

The bell and barrel have different purposes, of course. I've been told
that, mathematically, the bell replaces an infinitely long cylinder,
whereas the barrel is not a substitute for an impractically long
physical object.

I've also read (as best I can) the section of Benade that discuss the
value of restrictions in overcoming various problems (especially
flutes). It may be that in order to maintain the correct volume &
length relationships, a restriction of some sort would be necessary in
the "very oblate ellipsoid" barrel.

I'm really sorry, Tony, that this topic angers you so much.

I'm not trying to be confrontational or 'sacrilegious' (in the same
sense that punk rockers sometimes go overboard and destroy their music
just in order to portray their defiance). If there were a simple way
for me to crank out experimental barrels myself, I would do so.

In fact, I **did** make the 0.2 mm adjustment to my bulbous bell with
the American equivalent of blutak first, and then Curtis Ferree machined
the final part for me out of Delrin. (It goes without saying that all
my tool purchases, which unfortunately aren't many, come from Feree's
now. He's really a first class source of tools. Shameless plug.)

So my apologies for offending you (or anyone else). But I'm not
willing to give up on the idea until after I've tried it under
conditions that aren't obviously self-defeating.

When all is said and done, I **enjoy** the sound of my bulbous bell and
I seldom play with a flared bell any longer. A symphony orchestra
would never hire me (regardless of which bell I put on my instrument,
actually), but I play music for the pleasure of the sounds, not as a
career.

Peace, and I'll shut up about it?

Best regards,
Bill

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