The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: WhitePlainsDave
Date: 2016-05-28 19:10
You have enough $ to buy just one--albeit a bit hypothetical. Both pieces of gear could, in the opinion of the masses, stand to be upgraded.
Which do YOU buy and why?
No wrong informed answers.
Post Edited (2016-05-28 19:10)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ClaV
Date: 2016-05-28 19:18
Barrel.
It can improve tuning, intonation, resistance and is a key integral piece connecting a mouthpiece to a clarinet.
Ligatures have a more subtle effect.
Bells would be even more subtle, in my opinion.
In my limited experience, everyone, including novice players, can benefit from a new barrel. Ligatures require more serious playing to appreciate and even more so bells.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: kdk
Date: 2016-05-28 19:54
Given the choice, and accepting your condition that a change is needed, I would certainly opt for the barrel.
But I'm pre-supposing that the more important influences have been brought up to a high standard first - mouthpiece and reeds have much more effect on nearly everything about the result. I'm also pre-supposing that either the instrument itself is of good quality or (since you've limited the dollar resource in the question) upgrading the whole clarinet is unaffordable.
Karl
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: TomS
Date: 2016-05-28 21:14
Only change one item at a time ... don't buy both.
A barrel is like a MP and you need to live with it, in front of a tuner and in an ensemble, to pass judgement. Give it time. Tuning is probably the most important consideration.
Remember, a barrel is really an interface between MP and upper joint and the internal length is only slightly over 1 inch ... so it cannot work miracles, but can really make significant differences.
The variables are bore size, bore taper and material. There are a million variations. Softer materials like Rosewood and Hard Rubber are usually warmer, diffused sounding ... harder materials like African Blackwood and metal are more focused and brighter.
Ligatures make a more subtle difference ...
Tom
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2016-05-29 15:42
I normally have no "issues" with intonation. They come up when I change mouthpieces around (or somtin'). I also don't find a HUGE difference in sound with just the barrel.
So the practical side of my mind says that ligatures all secure in different ways (inverted, non inverted, two screws, one screw, leather, metal etc, etc, etc). There may be a practical reason that I would prefer a different ligature first.
So for me it would be ligature.
................Paul Aviles
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
|