 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Dutch Clarinettist
Date: 2009-10-07 06:24
Hello,
I bought a Chadash Bb barrel (65mm) for my Festival Bb clarinet. I'm very happy with it. I was wondering if I can use this barrel too on my Festival A clarinet. Or should I buy an A barrel? I know there is a difference in profile, but what is your experience in using the same barrel on Bb and A clarinet? Wat do you think, is there a big difference between Bb and A Barrel, or can I keep the money in my pocket?
Thank you for answering.
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Author: Clari
Date: 2009-10-07 06:58
Curious how did barrel maker such as Backun make the same barrel works for both A and Bb on Buffet if A and Bb have different bores??
It seems like most barrel makers make different barrels for A and Bb and I wonder what is Backun's magic formula there??
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Author: J. J.
Date: 2009-10-07 12:06
"It seems like most barrel makers make different barrels for A and Bb and I wonder what is Backun's magic formula there??"
Yes, it's magic. Or, it's really not optimized to work on both. In the end, some people can overcome the differences of using the same barrel on both clarinets to the degree that it is worth it. The fact that some people choose to use the same barrel for both, however, is not any kind of evidence that Backun has any magic formula.
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 2009-10-07 14:26
Bb barrels usually don't tune properly on A, but I did have a Bb Chadash once that served as my short Bb barrel, and my regular A barrel.
Try the barrel on your A usuing a tuner, and if it's in tune and has a good sound, you're in business!
Chris
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2009-10-07 14:29
It is a magic formula known only to a gifted few barrel makers.![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
The Nobel prizes in physics were already given out this year....guess I will have to wait til next year.
Seriously, once again...The bores of some A and Bb clarinets (Buffet for one) are different, and barrels for those brands are of different dimensions... BUT sometimes the barrels can be interchanged and they DO function well. If they work, then great.
Other brands (eg Selmer Recital) use the same bore and vary only the lengths.
disclaimer...I make and sell barrels, and once I had lunch with a Nobel winner. Does that count?
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Liquorice
Date: 2009-10-07 15:39
"I was wondering if I can use this barrel too on my Festival A clarinet"
The only way to find this out is to try it. If it works- it works! My Chadash barrels (B-flat and A) don't work on my Festival A clarinet because they make the upper clarion notes too flat. But that doesn't mean your barrel won't work on your instrument. Only you can answer your own question by trying it out.
It is my understanding that Jochen Seggelke also makes one barrel for both A and B-flat, and many clarinet players seem to be happy with that set-up.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2009-10-07 15:44
If you find a barrel that's great on both instruments, more power to you. Kal Opperman, who made my barrels, says that it's nearly impossible to make a barrel that brings out the best in both the Bb and A clarinets. He makes them with different lengths and tapers. Certainly my Bb and A play better with separate barrels.
However, the difference is probably more noticeable to the player than to listeners. For example, in the Brahms Second finale, where many players use the Bb to avoid the nasty Ab arpeggio in both parts, you need to switch back to the A in a blink, and there's a great danger of twisting off the ligature or disturbing the reed position if you just switch the mouthpiece. Short of using a second mouthpiece, it's safer to switch the mouthpiece and barrel.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Grabnerwg
Date: 2009-10-07 16:28
Ken says:
<< Kal Opperman, who made my barrels, says that it's nearly impossible to make a barrel that brings out the best in both the Bb and A clarinets. He makes them with different lengths and tapers. Certainly my Bb and A play better with separate barrels.>>
My experience in making and adjusting barrels makes me agree with this statement. If you have the time and make the effort, you can optimize your barrel(s) on both Bb and A to bring out the best in each instrument.
However, the difference can be very slight, and the advantage of using one barrel on both clarinets in fast switching situations, as Ken observes, can outweigh this advantage.
The way I have always seen it to work best, was to use an A barrel on both Bb and A. I am sure there are many exceptions.
Walter Grabner
www.clarinetxpress.com
Buffet 1193 Bass Clarinets
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Author: William
Date: 2009-10-07 16:36
For my vintage Buffet R13's, I use my A barrel on my Bb and it works (plays) just fine. Just need to leave a little extra space with the Bb to avoid playing sharp. The gap is of no accousitcal consequence other than general pitch. For you, the only way to find out is to try it--no one here can make that "call" for you.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2009-10-07 17:56
Chris Hill gave you the best advise, try it and if it sounds good and plays well in tune than it's good to go. One of our BSO members uses his Chadash on both clarinets. Don't listen to anyone that says it can't be done, it either works well for you or it doesn't, period. But it has to work well! Since every barrel plays differently anyway, you can try a dozen and not find one for your A clarinet that works any better than the one you bought for your Bb clarinet. Then again, you might. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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