Klarinet Archive - Posting 000339.txt from 2005/06

From: Fred Jacobowitz <fbjacobo@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] A voice from the past with a question for today
Date: Sun, 19 Jun 2005 22:38:03 -0400

Pat,
Fred here in Raleigh. I hope you have not paid money for this
"instrument". If you have, try to return it. That said, I wouldn't be
surprised if the wording is a poor translation done by a Chinese person
who speaks pretty good (but not superb) English. However, there is the
possibility that the two barrels are actually meant to sound different.
It is certainly possible to make barrels which will sound different.
Why that should be in such a cheap instrument I don't know - seems
illogical to me.
As for playing 'easier', these Chinese instruments actually feel
pretty good when you first try them out. The problem is that they are
so poorly made that they fall apart quickly and often will not stay in
adjustment as the metal is so soft.

Kol Haruach Klezmer Band
Ebony and Ivory Duo
On Jun 19, 2005, at 5:26 PM, Pat Flannery wrote:

> Hi there-
>
> I'm a long-time member who rarely posts but I've got a question about
> barrels. I just came across a Simba CL-200 Bb Soprano clarinet with
> two barrels. One is short and fat (wide bore) and the other is long
> and thin (narrow bore). They both fit the same mouthpiece (the
> connections are the same, the bores are different). The owner's
> manual says two barrels are included for a "choice of tone." This is
> the first time I've seen this and wonder what you guys think of it. I
> should say this is a Chinese clarinet. Try not to laugh, it blows
> easier than any I've tried and, with the short fat barrel, sounds kind
> of extra reedy; it looks like it's modeled after a Yamaha, judging by
> the key work and general appearance.
>
> What effect does shape of barrel have on tone, playability, and most
> importantly, tuning? This is a gross generalization I know, but most
> French (or faux French) clarinets I've seen have had the short fat
> barrel while German (or faux German) clarinets seem to have the long
> slim type barrel. Am I making any sense here?
>
> -Pat Flannery
> Duke Med Center (obviously an amature)
>
>
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