 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: gsurosey
Date: 2011-12-19 17:00
Are there barrels that are better suited to use on an A and Bb clarinet than others? I interchange a Chadash barrel between my R13s (originally 66mm, shortened to 64mm by previous owner). I've been told previously that it would effect intonation on each clarinet differently (or something like that). I've found that a mouthpiece change greatly improved the intonation issue I had with the switch (A clarinet was flat and Bb clarinet was noticeably sharp; I use a think tuning ring with the Bb now and the A is better). Since some barrels have straight bores and tapered bores and everything in between, do some work better on both versus some that work a lot better/worse on one or the other?
Same for bells. On my Bb bell, it says "R13 B" on it, but my A bell says nothing (other than the Buffet logo on the front). Is there a reason for the Bb bells being marked and A bells not marked? I didn't think swapping a Bb and an A bell would make any difference, but is there since some of them are marked?
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Rachel
Clarinet Stash:
Bb/A: Buffet R13
Eb: Bundy
Bass: Royal Global Max
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2011-12-19 17:16
For most instruments, the bore diameter of the barrel differs for Bb and A clarinets.
Newer Selmer models are one exception.
..........HOWEVER.....sometimes a Bb barrel will work well on an A-clarinet. It happens. I know of a major orchestral player who uses the same (non-stock) barrel on both instruments.
While some bells can be interchanged, I find the covered notes freer and stronger with the nominal bells.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2011-12-19 17:34
I use the Ridenour barrel on both my Bb and A clarinets, and it works really well for the quick changes in instruments, plus the barrel on my Bb cracked twice and the one for the A was wobbling around until I got this barrel about 3 years ago.
Meri
Please check out my website at: http://donmillsmusicstudio.weebly.com and my blog at: http://clariniano.wordpress.com
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2011-12-19 19:25
Putting my Ridenour Lyrique A clarinet bell on my Buffet RC Bb really clears up the pinched sound of the long B. In the slurs down to the long B in the exposition of the Mozart concerto, I have to open the throat G# or A key to clear up the sound.
The RC has that hard-to-see hollow just below the tenon socket, and the Lyrique does not.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Caroline Smale
Date: 2011-12-19 20:05
The Buffet bells are of different lengths, the A bell is approx 2mm longer than Bb.
Until recent years Buffet did not mark any of their bells or barrels so it could be that your Bb is of more recent vintage than A.
We worked very hard with B&H (when they owned Buffet) to eventually get them to mark their barrels and bells to help avoid the equipment getting mixed up in the retailers let alone by the users.
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Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2011-12-19 20:10
This is one of those try-it-and-see-what-happens issues. In theory B-flat and A clarinets have different throat bore diameters and should require different barrels. But there are many players who use the same barrel on both clarinets. Whatever the theory says, if you find the barrel you're using sounds good and tunes well on both, that's what's important.
My one caveat about moving the barrel is that you de-tune the clarinet each time you move the barrel. But in most practical situations, the instrument you pick up is colder than the one you were just using, and you tend to have tuning issues anyway until you've played enough notes to warm the instrument a little and find the current pitch level.
Karl
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2011-12-19 20:12
It really depends on the clarinet and mouthpiece you use. The famous English player of the past, Jack Brymer, says in his great book "The Clarinet" that he considers the barrel an extension of the mouthpiece rather than part of the clarinet. I agree. For several years I used a Backun barrel on both my Bb and A Buffet clarinets. One reason it worked so well was that I needed a 67mm on both, that makes a big difference. The other reason is that the bore tuned well on both instruments, sometimes that's not the case. They are actually interchangeable but I like a different one now a bit better on each. If it feels good, sounds good and tunes good, than it's good. You know, if it looks like a duck........... etc.
I use Backun bells too and they are interchangeable also. The one I use on my A clarinet I first bought for my Bb but when I found one I liked even better for my Bb I switched the original one to my A. It's all a matter of how it plays for you. ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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Author: Hurstfarm
Date: 2011-12-20 18:16
Most Buffet players I know use barrels interchangeably between Bb and A, but the basic setup should ideally incorporate 2 barrels of different lengths, to give greater flexibility in tuning. Whether to swap the barrel and mouthpiece, or just the mouthpiece, is of course personal preference. I'd opt for the former every time - the security of not accidentally ripping off the ligature and reed at the crucial moment, and the benefit of having at least a bit of the instrument "pre-warmed" on changeover! This points to the advantage of having interchangeable barrels.
A further thought prompted by your question is about what it means to have a "matched pair" - ideally two intruments selected and paired because they have near identical tuning characteristics, response etc. When used with the same mouthpiece and barrel; not just the same make, model and vintage. This certainly makes life easier. However, you can adjust for systematic tuning differences with a ring as you suggest, or just by eye, and then correct for any differences in the temperatures of the two instruments.
Manufacturers follow different paths on bells: some are identical, while others are not. For example, R13s and RCs have longer bells for the A instrument. Peter Eaton bells are interchangeable, but on their ancestors, the B&H 1010s, they were not...
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Author: William
Date: 2011-12-20 19:06
I use the same barrel on both A & Bb, 66mm in summer and 65m in winter. That allows my Bb to be in tune fully inserted and when switched to the A, in tune with a little gap left between barrel and upper joint. My two 1960's era Buffet R13s are fairly well matched for resistance and intonation so the same barrel--stock Buffet's--work well with each. My mpc is a Chicago Kaspar #14 and my reeds are Forestones.
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