 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Mike W
Date: 2005-05-04 10:47
Is it possible to devise and build an open 'box' which will act as an amplifying resonator for a bass clarinet?
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Author: ron b
Date: 2005-05-04 17:44
I'm assuming the kind of "resonator" box you have in mind, Mike, would be like the megaphone (cheer leader type) use in the 20s - 30s. The large conical tube with a clarinet inside had hand holes in the sides to insert hands to hold and finger the [soprano] clarinet. The mouthpiece, of course, protruded from the small end while the bell was about even with, or maybe a little short of, and centered at the large opening. I believe it was considered more of a novelty than a serious attempt to improve anything. I also assume that ectronic amplitication relieved the "need" of the cumbersom things and made life much easier for dance band clarinetists around the world. It might be fun to ty something like that with a bass though. The materials shouldn't cost much and the time investment is nothing to get nervous about... 
- r![[cool]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/cool.gif) n b -
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Author: David Spiegelthal ★2017
Date: 2005-05-04 18:15
The problem (as with miking) a clarinet or, worse, a bass clarinet, is that so little of the sound comes out from any one location. Depending on what note is played, the majority of the sound can come out of any one or cluster of toneholes, and only the low-Eb (or low-C if you're blessed with such an instrument) comes exclusively out of the bell opening. So to amplify a bass clarinet by any means (acoustic or electronic) one would have to essentially enclose the entire instrument in a huge box (including the player? thus creating a recording studio or auditorium?) or use multiple mikes/multiple megaphones. Very awkward.
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2005-05-04 18:47
Purchase for yourself one of the older British Phone Booths. The Red ones are considered superior. Whilst playing within it leave the door slightly ajar so your audience will become privy to your enhanced tonal projection.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2005-05-04 19:31
VUNDERBAHR, BOB A, would a large cardboard box suffice? I somewhat recall a patent [in Jest?] re: an amplifier! Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: John Morton
Date: 2005-05-04 21:49
Attachment: lapamp.JPG (32k)
I don't see how such a box could amplify, if no energy is added to the signal. But the sound could be focused or redirected, as for example if you sat at the focus of a parabola or an ellipse. I will attach a photo of a hawaiian guitarist's effort in this area.
I saw a physics demonstration consisting of 2 benches 40 ft. apart with an 8 ft. diameter balloon between them. You could speak in low tones from one bench, and be heard at the other bench as if you were right next to the listener. I don't suppose the listening public would find it distracting to separated from the performer by a giant balloon ...
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-05-04 23:11
Attachment: booth.jpg (57k)
Bob A wrote:
> Purchase for yourself one of the older British Phone Booths.
> The Red ones are considered superior. Whilst playing within it
> leave the door slightly ajar so your audience will become privy
> to your enhanced tonal projection.
How about a new one, or is there a particularly good phone number range?
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2005-05-05 00:09
My Goodness, thank you Mark. The newer (Green ones) seem to have absorbed the sound--or so I have been told.
Bob A
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-05-05 00:12
Bob A wrote:
> My Goodness, thank you Mark. The newer (Green ones) seem to
> have absorbed the sound--or so I have been told.
> Bob A
Hmmm ... that red one is fresh from London a couple of months ago. Don't remember seeing any green ones.
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Author: Bob A
Date: 2005-05-05 03:41
Mark, sorry 'bout that. It must have been when I was experimenting with my Bourbon soaking reed period for my Bass,
Bob A
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2005-05-05 10:47
The designer of the red phonebox was also responsible for one of the most hideous buildings in England:
http://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/sitemap.htm
I doubt you'd get permission to use it as a bass clarinet amplifier, though. I lived next door for three years, and never heard of any such proposal.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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