 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Annika
Date: 2006-09-16 15:18
Hi!
I've been enjoying reading this forum for some time, and have learnt quite a bit in the process and would like to give you all a collective thank you!
Over to my present question: I am playing and loving a Leblanc L200 which I bought used from my clarinet teacher in 1985, and which I recently had completely overhawled. I did not get the original barrel with the instrument at the purchase, however, but a Buffet Evette one, and that is the one I am still using. It is (according to my not so trust-worthy caliper) 65.3 millimeters long. The mouthpiece is a Vandoren 5RV. I find the intonation of the instrument fine over the whole range of notes, but when checking with the tuner I just bought, it shows to be playing relative a 446 Hz tuning (when warmed up), so it's very sharp. This makes me wondering if the barrel is maybe too short? On the other hand it's also very likely to be my technique, since I've just returned to playing after a 17 years long break and am currently struggling with getting my playing back in shape.
Does anyone on this resourceful board have information on the original L200 barrel and the length of it?
Thank you!
Annika
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-09-16 15:43
Hi Annika - I have an L7, a bit earlier in the L series. which has 2 barrels, a 64 and a 66 mm, per my caliper measurements. Playing it some time back, I'm now mostly on bass/alto, I was sharp and pulled with the 64, but a bit flat with the 66, dance band pianos are unpredictable ! Yes, you prob. need a longer barrel, and I'd suggest checking the 12th's [clarion] for intonations. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2006-09-16 15:50
Hi Annika,
Welcome to the BB. I am one of probably a very few players that frequent this site than has an L200, plays it regularly, and loves it. I have had mine a few years and the intonation is right on throughout the entire range. My Selmer 9* and R13 are now my backups.
So, you think the replacement barrel might be too short. Well, I pulled out the calipers and measured mine which I assume is the original barrel. The length is:
Drum-roll. My barrel measures 66.07mm so you are probably correct that at 65.3 your barrel is too short. I use a Portnoy BP02 and a Stowell Wells Schneider B2 as a MP but do not regularly use a VD. I'd see if you can come up with a 66mm barrel (I'm one of those that thinks that unless it is a Meonnig or Chadash, a barrel is a barrel) you may have cheaply solved the intonation problem.
BTW I do keep Buffet 67mm Moennig and 68mm Chadash barrels for very warm summer days. On those days, the pitch is out the window anyhow so...
Let me know what happens.
HRL
PS In this country, we think your Swedish golfers are sensational!
Post Edited (2006-09-16 15:52)
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Author: Annika
Date: 2006-09-16 17:46
Don (or Mark?) and Hank, thank you both very much!
Well, so it does seem like my barrel really is a bit shorter than the original one as I suspected. But still, the 0.8 mm difference between my and Hank's barrels still is quite a bit less than what I need to pull out at the barrel joint to get the pitch down to 442 or even 440, if I only pull that joint. That confirms my other suspicion: that my technique needs some serious work... Knowing that the L200 is usually considered very good when it comes to intonation, I was surprised that I was as sharp as I am but still have rather good relative pitches. Blaming it all on the replacement barrel and only pulling way out there to reach consert pitch drives the intonation to something that I don't consider music any more ... Now at least I know what barrel length the instrument was designed for, so I know where to aim when I work on my technique.
Right now I'm not playing with any ensemble but just on my own and for my personal enjoyment. (Though I hope to find a suitable band to join in a not so distant future.) Since I do not possess a perfect pitch the sharpness itself does not bother me as long as the relative intervals are reasonable. My immediate plan is thus to keep the barrel for now, pull out within reason, maybe get suitable tuning rings, and then practice, practice, and practice – regularly checking with my tuner – and see what happens to the pitch over time as I develop, before I run away to the music store to part with my money. Maybe it will be a 66 mm barrel then, maybe something a tad longer, but at least I will know what I'm doing, I hope ...
Well, once again, thanks very much for your input!
Annika
Post Edited (2006-09-16 17:52)
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Author: D Dow
Date: 2006-09-16 18:15
I am a huge Jesper Parnevik fan... as to the barrells make sure no matter you check the 12ths out with a tuner and the tolernaces are close.
David Dow
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