 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: LaurieBell
Date: 2017-01-07 18:26
I'm trialing a new Buffet Moennig (wood) barrel and wondered about the break-in process. Should I only play for a few minutes each day?
Does anyone use this barrel and like it? So far I'm enjoying it very much, and I was surprised that I could actually hear a difference in the sound.
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Author: Cory
Date: 2017-01-07 18:49
Hi Laurie: I have a Buffet Moennig clarinet barrel but I also have a Muncy Winds Buffet clarinet barrel 67 mm which I like much better. Give it a try also.
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2017-01-07 19:13
When you're done playing, it's very important to shake and blot the water out of the tenon sockets. Otherwise it gets into the wood through the end-grain.
It's normal for barrel to change over the first few weeks. Watch out particularly for any "bite" when you remove the barrel, which means that wood is binding against wood at the bottom. This can easily crack the upper joint tenon.
Any barrel maker will accept the return of a barrel for minor tweaking.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Shaun L
Date: 2017-01-07 20:59
Hey, Laurie. As others have said, it's normal for the wood to slowly change over the first few weeks. Do be sure to get any excess moisture out of the sockets. I wouldn't worry too much about length of play over the first few weeks. Maybe not more than an hour a day. If your playing has a significant effect on how the barrel fits on your upper joint, that would be a sign that the wood could likely be too unstable over time.
I'll also suggest some different barrel makers. I personally don't like Buffet's barrels. I play a Backun MoBa and it was the barrel I liked the most followed by the Fatboy. The Muncy winds barrels are a solid choice, as are Clarke Forbes. Particularly the Forbe's Eb clarinet accessories. Try to trial as many different makes and lengths as you can. Even some of the same model and length. Barrels are very much like mouthpieces in that each one can play very slightly differently. I tried upwards of 20-30 barrels before making my choice.
Backun Protege Coco/Gold
Selmer S10A
D'Addario X0
MoBa barrel
Buffet 1193 C
Vandoren B44
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