 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Chris P
Date: 2010-02-12 19:27
I do.
Former oboe finisher
Howarth of London
1998 - 2010
The opinions I express are my own.
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Author: Ryan K
Date: 2010-02-12 19:32
I do, but I'm only a college student. Most of my playing issues are me-based, not equipment based. My time is better spent working on technique, then trying barrels and bells. A few years down the road, that will hopefully change. Aftermarket barrels and bells look pretty darn cool!
Ryan Karr
Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
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Author: clariknight
Date: 2010-02-12 19:37
I do, but like Ryan I am still a college student and would rather focus on technique and the music itself than equipment. Plus, I have a mouthpiece that I like, and I have no real issues with how I sound (as long as I have a good reed), so I really don't see the need to change.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2010-02-12 19:39
I do, too, on my Selmer 10G instruments (both A and B-flat). Actually, I came back to them after spending a few weeks with a couple of different aftermarket barrels. The truth is, I no longer know which in my collection was the original barrel that came with my R13, which I bought used somewhere around 1964. But I still use a Buffet Moennig-style barrel with that instrument, so I don't feel as though I've wandered very far.
Karl
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-02-12 19:50
Actually, I still use the original bell and barrels from my Lyrique. I do have a Muncy barrel that I use on the Evette I keep as a backup. Generally speaking, the gear that came with my clarinets works fairly well, so I don't need to swap much out. With the mouthpieces I use, my setups work vut spending more money on custom add-ons. Granted, I am by no means a pro, but if I felt that these things would give me a better sound, I would use them.
Jeff
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Author: William
Date: 2010-02-12 19:52
I used to use Springer barrels (6-7-67), but now have reverted back to the original Buffet R13 issue. I also have a Moennig barrel, but without the other custom work Hans did on clarinets, I find it of little use. Best plan, rely more on practice than on equipement--btw, it's far cheaper and more effective.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2010-02-12 19:55
<raises hand>
Who am I to enhance my Marigaux with a stylishly unsuitable bell or barrel?
Besides I think as long as I am the weakest link in the musical chain I'd profit very little from such enhancements.
--
Ben
Post Edited (2010-02-12 19:55)
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Author: cigleris
Date: 2010-02-12 20:20
I do at the moment, though when I meet Morrie last year I was being converted. I couldn't afford the two bells at the time but it is something I'm seriously thinking about. The problem I have with the barrels is I'll need them specifically made for the 1010 bore. This will mean parting with a barrel or two so it could be measured etc.
The bells did have a difference which I really quite liked.
Peter Cigleris
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2010-02-12 21:01
I use stock BELLS.
Sometimes I start off using custom barrels, and they tend to disappear by the end of the rehearsal. ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif)
disclaimer....oh yeah, I need one.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: srattle
Date: 2010-02-12 21:08
I use stock barrels and bells. I have tried aftermarket ones, but still can't seem to find the right projection, and heart of the sound that my stock pieces give.
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Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2010-02-12 21:18
I went into the cigar box, got out all the after-market barrels, tried them all on my new R13, and none played as well as the stock barrel.
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Author: GBK
Date: 2010-02-12 21:55
Don't forget - in the Buffet manufacturing process, the (stock) barrel and upper joint are bored at the same time, while together. No doubt that many clarinetists prefer the "match" of these two pieces.
See 2'35" through 3'07" of the Buffet production video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gKjDqm4Bqw
...GBK
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Author: Pilot
Date: 2010-02-12 22:40
I do, somewhat. I switched the bells between my Bb and A, so the Bb has the A bell and the A has the Bb bell. The Bb also has a Buffet Moennig barrel, other than that I haven't changed anything in 5 years.
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Author: BrianChau
Date: 2010-02-12 23:51
I do, but since I own a Leblanc Cadenza, I use the cocobolo ringless barrel. I am planning on getting a Backun cocobolo bell within the next 2 years.
Brian
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Author: Molloy
Date: 2010-02-13 00:44
I do. I have no interest in joining the Buffet parade, and aftermarket barrels and bells are not made for the rest of us.
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Author: mrn
Date: 2010-02-13 01:24
I use the stock barrels and bells exclusively.
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Author: Katrina
Date: 2010-02-13 01:27
I use the stock bells & barrels except when I'm playing with my accordionist (who's pitched at 442 & 444 on two different accordions). Then I use a Click cause it's shorter than my stock Buffet barrel.
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-02-13 01:35
Several makers make barrels and/or bells for those of us who are not members of the Buffet Mafia. Maybe it's just that the Buffets NEED them more??? ![[rotate]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smiley25.gif)
Jeff
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Author: TazJMT
Date: 2010-02-13 02:40
I do...but i apparently have been hiding under a rock for a while, I just started Grad school and see a few people with Backun barrells/bells. i havent tried them and would like to, but havent yet.
i dont doubt that they do somehting to the sound/feel, i just wonder how much. some people do buy them just so they have "the latest thing"
i would always bring someone with me when i try a new barrell/bell/mouthpiece. it sounds different to us then it does to them, like how your voice sounds different ot others than it does to you. also, i dont want to be biased toward something just because it feels better. i want to know it sounds better to. if easier=better, we'd all play on #2.5 reeds
Post Edited (2010-02-13 02:49)
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Author: David Niethamer
Date: 2010-02-13 03:17
On my new Yamaha CSG Bb, I use a "stock" barrel and bell. BUT, when I was trying out the clarinets, when I got close to deciding on an instrument, they let me try all the barrels and pick the one I liked best to keep with my new instrument. I also swapped out a bell that I liked better than the one that was in the case with that clarinet. Haven't tried my Backun bell with the CSG yet - haven't felt the need. It sure did make an improvement on my CS Bb, though, and my CX A clarinet.
David
niethamer@aol.com
http://members.aol.com/dbnclar1/index.html
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-02-13 03:58
Although I use the Backun barrels and bells on all my clarinets I would venture to guess that the majority of professional players use the stock bells but use after market barrels, at least in the USA. I can't say that I've seen what everyone uses but I've never met a professional orchestra player in the states that used a stock barrel, at least on a Buffet. As I said, I haven't seen them all, that's just an educated guess based on the dozens of players I know. I'm pretty sure too, that up until 10 -15 years ago, almost no one used after market bells, I think that's a fairly new quest. Speaking for myself, until I tried Backuns bells, I didn't think they made any difference unless you had a problem with intonation. I was amazed at the difference I found when I tried out a dozen different bells. Besides, they look neat. ESP http://eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Clarimeister
Date: 2010-02-13 07:01
Currently play a Buffet Festival and still use my stock barrel and bell. My A Buffet R13 I use a Moennig, but I'm looking for a new barrel eventually. and my Eb I use a Backun, but I have tried so many different barrels on my Buffet Festival Bb Greenline, nothing was good enough to persuade me to buy it over my stock barrel.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2010-02-13 13:52
Ben wrote,
>>Besides I think as long as I am the weakest link in the musical chain I'd profit very little from such enhancements.
>>
From things you've written here, Ben, you're probably a stronger link than most of us. But I've made the same calculation, and besides, my stock barrels and bells seem to me to suit the instruments well. One exception: the 1898 Albert system Buffet with the broken barrel that's made the instrument unplayable. One of these days, I should have a barrel made for that clarinet. I've stalled because I don't much like eefer, to tell the truth. Shadow Cat, r.i.p., had a point about "screech sticks" in the extreme treble....
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Bassie
Date: 2010-02-13 20:41
> Who STILL Uses Their Stock Barrels And Bells?
Me! I have enough trouble with mouthpieces and reeds without going down the barrel and bell road.
(Selmer Paris 'Prologue II' Bb & A, Vandoren B45 dot, Xilema Professional)
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-02-13 21:11
As an interesting side note, In his book "Clarinet" Jack Brymer says that he thinks the barrel is more an extension of the mouthpiece as opposed to the top of the clarinet. I totally agree with that feeling. It seems to me to be more important to match the barrel to the MP then the clarinet. ESP
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Author: grenadilla428
Date: 2010-02-13 21:43
Me.
The barrel for the reason GBK mentioned.
BTW, if you're disappointed in the way your Buffet stock barrel performs, you may not have it on correctly. The stamp is put on after the pieces are separated - try rotating your barrel until you find its "sweet spot." Should make a big difference.
Besides, I'm a teacher... I don't have extra cash to spend on accessories!
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Author: JJAlbrecht
Date: 2010-02-13 23:06
Ed, I think Gregory Smith agrees with you. When I was trying out his mouthpieces, along with the mouthpeices, he sent me some Chadash barrels he had personally selected to go with them.
Jeff
“Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010
"A drummer is a musician's best friend."
Post Edited (2010-02-13 23:07)
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Author: donald
Date: 2010-02-14 08:19
I use stock barrels on my Festival pair. These clarinets were hand picked by Frank Celata for his colleague Chris Tingay (SSO), and i got them after about 4 years of use. The barrels were selected/matched at the time the instruments were selected in Paris.
I do find that the intonation can be improved by use of various aftermarket barrels in my collection, but at the loss of a vibrancy and resonance that i greatly value. Also- i feel with these clarinets, and my current mouthpiece/reed set up, that the resistance is very evenly spread throughout the instrument. When i use a moennig barrel (or one of my Zinner barrels) it feels like i lose this- and that the feeling of resistance is concentrated too much in one part of the setup. This is of course very esoteric of me, but i have had more compliments on my tone in the year i've been using this setup than i had in the previous decade so this approach seems to work for me at the moment.
dn
ps previously i've played Yamaha and R13 clarinets with many and varied aftermarket barrels...
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Author: merlin
Date: 2010-02-14 10:17
I use all stock bells, but I don't use a single stock barrel on any of my instruments. I play Alberts and use barrel mics and barrels made by Bass Poullath. He makes the barrels from delrin (teflon) and because I use very open mouthpiecees and very soft reeds, the custom barrels he makes are all a lot shorter than the stock ones. Also, you need to drill and tap the barrel to use the barrel mics, so you wouldn't want to do that with the stock barrels.
His barrels are fantastic because they have a better projection and response than any of the wooden ones I've had.
Check out his stuff here,
http://www.gtc-music1.com/forum/
and click on GTC Store on the right of the page
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2010-02-14 15:12
I do also to a large extent, but lately I've been doing some "dark-search" in my small group of barrels. believing that a bore matching of some mps [often lrger bore] has some effect on tonality and clarity that I can recognise. I'm going to read this long threead, too. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-02-14 17:47
Phil Rovner, of ligature fame, told me that when you change a barrel for the purpose of improving certain notes chances are it will adversely something else. An example is if your throat tones are sharp but everything else is as perfect as it can be once you find a barrel that makes your throat tones better in tune chances are something else will become adversely effected. The reason he says is because the change of the barrel dimensions that made the throat tones better has to effect something that your other barrels dimensions worked well for. I think you get the idea. It's the same with mouthpieces, some will play certain registers better or worse than some others. A barrel can compensate for the variations in the bore of a MP but can only do little to change a problem with a clarinet. That's why players have their clarinets tuned as well. ESP
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Author: mrn
Date: 2010-02-14 18:09
Ed Palanker wrote:
> An example is if your throat
> tones are sharp but everything else is as perfect as it can be
> once you find a barrel that makes your throat tones better in
> tune chances are something else will become adversely effected.
If your throat tones (well, the G# and A anyway) are sharp, but everything else is fine, a better solution (assuming there's not something else you want to change by using a different barrel) is to put some material (electric tape or blue-tack or whatever) in those holes to bring the pitch down. Adjusting those tone holes won't affect the rest of the instrument like a new barrel can. (and it's a lot cheaper and more precise, too [since you can adjust the holes until you get the pitch you want])
Post Edited (2010-02-14 18:25)
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Author: larryb
Date: 2010-02-14 19:24
Not only do I STILL use the stock barrels and bells that came with my clarinets, I also STILL use the stock upper and lower joints.
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Author: redwine
Date: 2010-02-14 23:43
I do. Appropriate response for Valentine's Day, no?
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-02-15 04:22
MRN, that was just an example of what a barrel can do not a recommendation of how to adjust your throat tones. I could have easily said your break notes or lowest notes or highest notes. The point I was trying to make was that if a barrel helps a certain register of your clarinet it might be at the expense of another register. I've personally never chosen a barrel to correct the intonation on my clarinets unless it was to use a longer or shorter barre. I would do as you suggested, using tape or undercutting. When I chose my after market barrels I chose them first for tone and response and then checked to make sure that they played as well. or better, in tune than what I was already using. I was simply giving an example to illustrate what Rovner told me. ESP
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Author: mrn
Date: 2010-02-15 05:04
Ed Palanker wrote:
> MRN, that was just an example of what a barrel can do not a
> recommendation of how to adjust your throat tones.
I know, Ed. I wasn't trying to argue or disagree with you or even directing my comments at you, for that matter. I was just throwing out a little bit of information for anyone who might be looking for a solution to that problem that avoids the side effects Phil Rovner was referring to.
I thought you raised a good point, namely that replacing your barrel just because your throat tones are sharp is overkill (and may cause more problems than it solves). So I thought it was worth mentioning (for anyone who wasn't already aware of it) that there is another way to solve the problem. I didn't mean to imply that you weren't aware of it.
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Author: jacoblikesmusic
Date: 2010-02-15 06:13
I still use my stock bell, but I have a backun barrel. The bells just seem too extravagent and I can use my time testing bells to improve my own skills.
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Author: fruitbat
Date: 2010-02-15 06:21
I do. But I changed the metal rings for carbon fiber. That reduced blow resistance and had no effect on intonation (reform boehm clarinet).
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Author: donald
Date: 2010-02-15 09:58
hey Fruitbat- i was just talking about doing this the other day (with a repair guy who has experience making wooden flutes/bassoons)... I was thinking of taking the metal rings off one of my barrels and replacing them with wooden rings to see if it made a difference... one day... one day
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Author: fruitbat
Date: 2010-02-15 10:46
If you want to reduce blow resistance and / or have resonance problems on some tones you should try. Maybe remove the upper ring only and try first. I really love my instrument since I changed the barrel rings.
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Author: Lelia Loban ★2017
Date: 2010-02-15 12:28
Whether or not people choose to use custom-made barrels and bells, I'm glad high-quality replacements are available from the reputable people mentioned in this thread and elsewhere. In my shamefully vast experience with flea markets, yard sales and "junktiques" stores, I've observed far more cracks in barrels than in any other places. The barrel cracks are also much more likely than other cracks to look as if repairing them would be impractical, because the wood has sprung open so wide that the whole shape of the barrel has changed.
The bell is often damaged, too, in ways that suggest the clarinet probably got accidentally dropped straight down (from playing position). Those cracks often look less serious, but sometimes a curved chunk has broken out of a bell along the grain lines of the wood, and someone has glued the chunk back in, messily, with chips missing.
Those clarinets looked useless without replacement parts. That's probably why those instruments ended up in the cheap markets. Too bad if the owners didn't know they could have replaced the parts for less than the cost of replacing the clarinet.
Lelia
http://www.scoreexchange.com/profiles/Lelia_Loban
To hear the audio, click on the "Scorch Plug-In" box above the score.
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2010-02-15 14:59
MRN, . I understand and your correct about what you said. You made a good point. Not a problem. ESP
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Author: salzo
Date: 2010-02-15 15:23
Interesting that many experience "Sharp" throat tones. I used to experience this, but it seems to me that newer R13s are the opposite. They seem flatter to me. Does anyone else experience this? I bought a 2002 R13, and have picked a half dozen R13s for students, ranging from 2001 to 2009, and they all seem to have low throat tones. Also, the throat E and F is flat, but B and C 12th above are much lower than I am used to-generally in tune, I am used to having to make a slight embochure adjustment to get those notes in tune. I think I prefer it the old way. Always found it easier to come down on those notes, as opposed to coming up for the E and F below.
My 66mm moennig, 10G, and stock barrels all blow flat on those notes. The 10g is my favorite is 66 barrel on my two other R13s (also have a 67moennig that is wonderful), but it is the flattest barrel on the newer horn.
I have found that Moennig 65mm barrel is the best for my newer instruments. Some of the notes are a little sharp yet manageable, but the throat tones are much higher than with the 66 barrel. I still prefer the 66mm for all of the other notes besides the throat tones, and I will probably have the throat tones, and E, and F sharpened in the future (want to play on the horns for a year before I make the adjustments).
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