 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Musikat
Date: 2021-05-13 01:16
I may be looking for a unicorn, but I thought I would ask here in case anyone has any suggestions on what I should try. I have an older R13 (1977) and pair it with a Gregory Smith 1+ and Aria or Pilgerstorfer 3.5 or 4 reeds. Like many of these Buffets it has some tuning quirks in the 12ths, and it has also always felt a little resistant going across the altissimo break. Now, a few times at clarinet symposium type events I have had the chance to try to Uebel clarinets and one of the things I loved was how seamless they felt. There was no change in resistance at all (that I could perceive in a quick trial) from register to register. I also liked the tone.
I am not in a position to buy a new clarinet, sadly. But I do think that barrels can really change the "feel" of the clarinet and to some extent the tone, and of course tuning. I have tried (in order): the original, Robert Scott, Wesley Rice, Walter Grabner, Chadash and MoBa. My favorite for tuning and feel so far has been the Chadash, especially tuning! I wanted to love the MoBa, but the resistance and tuning aren't working for me (as predicted. Darn!) and will probably be sending it back.
Here is my question: those of you who maybe have a similar setup to mine, should I just get another Chadash (I am looking for a different length), or is there another brand or model I should try that might get me closer to the evenness I loved in the Uebel clarinets, AND the tuning help the Chadash provides? I have not tried Fobes or Behn. Would either of those possibly be better? And which models if so? A different Backun model?
It's my birthday month and I have Gear Acquisition Syndrome! LOL
Thanks in advance!
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Author: kdk
Date: 2021-05-13 01:50
Musikat wrote:
> I have tried
> (in order): the original, Robert Scott, Wesley Rice, Walter
> Grabner, Chadash and MoBa. My favorite for tuning and feel so
> far has been the Chadash, especially tuning!nding it back.
>
> Here is my question: those of you who maybe have a similar
> setup to mine, should I just get another Chadash (I am looking
> for a different length), or is there another brand or model I
> should try that might get me closer to the evenness I loved in
> the Uebel clarinets, AND the tuning help the Chadash provides?
My advice, since you like the Chadash barrel you have, is to get another of the length you want and just play on whichever Chadash answers your day-to-day tuning needs. Then when you go to a clarinet symposium, try other barrels and, if one really strikes you as a real improvement, buy it and use that one for awhile. The more things you try in close time proximity, the more confused your ear can tend to get. It's really hard to compare 6 or 7 different barrels (or mouthpieces, instruments, bells, etc.) one after the other, unless some of them eliminate themselves because of glaring shortcomings.
In the end your choice now isn't a lifetime marriage. Apart from reeds, barrels are about the least expensive replacement you can make if down the road you find something you prefer. And who knows what might come on the market next year or next month?
Karl
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Author: ACCA
Date: 2021-05-13 11:28
I'm using a Selmer 10G- apparently based on a modified R13- with a Chadash barrel that improved the "feel", dymanic range, and reduced the resistance which I needed. I'd definitely recommend finding another of the right length for you.
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Author: MarkS
Date: 2021-05-13 21:50
I play a Buffet Festival B-flat from 2018 and R13 A-clarinet from 2004. Until this past year, I was using stock barrels on both. No problems with intonation, but not completely happy with responsiveness of the R13. I use Silverstein ambipoly synthetic reeds. Until a few months ago, I was using a Grabner Virtuoso mouthpiece, but have now switched to Playnick Nommos B2.
To address the R13 responsiveness issue, I decided to try different barrels. I chose Weiner Music because they had a large selection and liberal (30-day) return policy. I ordered Chadash, Moennig, Fobes Blackwood, and Fobes Cocobolo with hard rubber lining. All provided satisfactory intonation, and responsiveness, so my decision was guided by tone quality (judged subjectively). Chadash and Moennig were similar, but between them I preferred Chadash. The two Fobes were fairly similar, but I preferred the warmer sound of the Cocobolo. Then between the Chadash and Fobes Cocobolo, I chose the Fobes based on the warmer sound.
More recently I decided to try adjustable barrels for the Festival. I wanted to try out Behn's new adjustable barrel. I would have liked to compare it to another design, such as Polaris. However, both had only 7-day trials, so it did not seem to be practical. Partly based on Eric Black's excellent video review of the Behn adjustables, I decided to start by trying a Behn. Based on lighter weight, warmer sound, and significantly lower price, I went with the hard rubber ring option, rather than the stainless steel. I am extremely happy with the result; this plays and sounds great not only on the Festival, but on the R13 as well. Looking to the future, I will need to decide whether I will use the Fobes or the Behn for the R13, but I am set on the Behn for the Festival. Given that the Behn eliminates the need to carry up to 4 barrels (2 for each clarinet), the $325 introductory price is not bad at all. Also, with hard rubber, unless I step on it, it might last as long as I do.
Mark
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Author: Musikat
Date: 2021-05-13 22:08
Mark, It is interesting you mention the adjustable barrel. I was just looking at those! I actually emailed Behn to ask if the design will have similar characteristics to the Chadash in terms of fixing specific R13 issues. My understanding is the Moenning and Chadash barrels were specifically designed with the R13 issues in mind, and the Chadash is the only one I have ever tried where I felt those tuning issues went mostly away. I will also likely be doing more orchestral playing in the fall, so one barrel is appealing!
I have a couple questions for you on the haptic barrel, since you have one.
1. How is the response/resistance on it? I like Behn's general concept of making products and reeds that allow you do to less work. I didn't like the feel of the Prescott mouthpiece so much (I found it a little too resistant for my comfort, I guess), but I love his Aria reeds. Does it help smooth out the register breaks?
2. If you were to need to do a quick change from a Bb to an A, how easy is it to quickly dial down to a 65 (or back up to a 66 or 67mm)? And is there an issue with accidentally twisting the dial when you take the barrel on and off?
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Author: MarkS
Date: 2021-05-18 20:53
Musikat, Compared to the stock barrels, the response is significantly better and the resistance slightly less. On my B-flat-clarinet, I notice more improvement with the Behn adjustable than I have noticed on my A-clarinet. I think that is because on the A-clarinet, I had already switched to the Fobes cocobolo from the stock barrel. I would say there is some smoothing crossing the breaks, but that was not a primary reason why I was looking at new barrels.
I have not needed quick changes of barrel length in the few weeks since I bought the Behn, but it seems very well designed to do just that. Behn has a video on his website showing how to disassemble and reassemble the barrel. Watching that video might help understand how easy it is to adjust. (I disassembled it by accident before I fully understood how it worked. Having to put it back together really made me understand how simple and clever the design is.)
After using the barrel for a short period of time, I do not think there would be much chance of accidentally twisting the dial when taking it on and off.
--Mark
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Author: Musikat
Date: 2021-05-19 23:40
Mark, I did go ahead an order the Behn adjustable and it came yesterday. I did the exact same thing (immediately opening it too far and accidentally disassembling it). Thank goodness for that video! I played it at an outdoor rehearsal last night and it seems to be good for tuning and so far I like the response and tone as well. I am going to play it for the next few days (including an indoor concert recording session) so I should get a good idea of how it will do. It does seem to move a bit when I twist it to take it on and off, but I guess once I know better how to judge which length I typically use on sight I will be able to eyeball it and get it back where it belongs if it moves.
Leonard I really wanted to love the Backun MoBa barrel. I tried it for several days, including in an outside rehearsal, but the tuning and response just don't do it for me. Maybe someday I will be somewhere with several to try at once and I can find one that works better, but for now I think I am sending it back. The Behn is just a lot easier to play and tune with, and very practical for orchestra as well.
Slightly off topic but I was a little put off by Backun's response when I ordered a MoBa bell from their annual sale recently (all sales final). It doesn't fit my Buffet correctly. It is tight and the socket is too short, leaving a gap between the bottom joint and the top of the bell. I thought maybe they sent me the wrong fit, but I was told that I should take it to a tech, who "for a nominal fee" will ream it so it will fit and that "sometimes that is necessary." Really? If it is designed to fit Buffet instruments why do I have to get it fixed before I can even give it a good try? I guess that does go to show there are big variances in the production of some of these things so perhaps another barrel will work someday.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2021-05-20 03:46
I thought I used to make them....but really there is no such thing. Everything is a compromise. Sorry. Live with it. Adapt.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Ed Palanker
Date: 2021-05-21 16:42
When I settled on the Backun barrels on my Buffets many years ago I tried over a dozen to find the ones that played the way I wanted for each clarinet, I was using a Chadash before that. I haven't tried many of the "newer" ones since then since I was so happy with what I was using and now I'm retired but my point is they all played a little different. I found the same thing when I tired other brands, never played two exactly alike. I do use an Alan Segal on my Selmer, years ago he sent me three to try and one was "perfect". I found the same thing with the Backun bells, never thought they made a difference until I tried a half dozen or more, now I have them on all my clarinets. It's like picking out a new clarinet, you try 5, 10, 20 until you find the right one for you. Every piece of wood has a difference. You just have to try as many as you can until one says, wow, this is it.
ESP eddiesclarinet.com
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