Klarinet Archive - Posting 000346.txt from 2004/10

From: GrabnerWG@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Custom made barrels
Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2004 15:55:24 -0400

In a message dated 10/11/2004 11:41:32 AM Central Daylight Time,
ajablons@-----.org writes:
I'm just curious, what kinds of issues can be addressed with a custom made
barrel? If one has their clarinet 'fitted' with one, what can one hope for?

In my view, there are two things that a barrel can do to improve a
clarinet's performance. The taper in the bore can help address "too-wide 12ths" in the
upper joint -- that familiar "my throat F is too flat and my high C is too
sharp" syndrome.

The other thing is that a barrel can enhance tone quality.

The degree of improvement depends on the barrel(s) that you are already
using. If you have a fine barrel, well matched to your horn, the improvement can
be minimal or negligible. If the replacement barrel is "fitted" incorrectly,
these two factors can be affected negatively.

I see a lot of older clarinets where the barrel, presumably through wear, no
longer conforms to any decent set of specs. Here a replacement barrel can
really bring a clarinet back to life.

I have also seen some brand new horns, where the barrel is grotesquely
oversized. (I won't name the maker.) On this one clarinet I examined, the bore
gauge just dropped right on through, the bore was so "oversized." The poor kid
playing it was doing all kinds of embouchure and throat acrobatics to make the
thing speak well and play in tune. It was actually a relief seeing him play
on a decent setup. I encouraged him to go back to whoever sold him the
clarinet, to get the barrel replaced, but I never heard the end of the story.

Let's NOT get into the materials debate again, OK?

Walter Grabner
www.clarinetXpress.com
World-class clarinet mouthpieces

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