 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Mike Blinn
Date: 2003-03-05 17:39
I play a Leblanc LX which is less than a year old, but that I have played in concert many times with my community band. I feel this clarinet is wonderful in many ways, and is far better than I deserve. The ergonomically correct key work, the accurate intonation, and the ability to emote make it a joy to play. But I always felt this ‘artist’ Leblanc did not sound as good as my forty-year old Selmer CL-200, especially in the chalumeau register.
Just for the fun of it, I took the barrel from my old Selmer, and put it on the Leblanc. What a difference! It seems the best quality of the Selmer sound has been transferred to the Leblanc. The sound is more guttural, more focused in the lowest notes. The horn growls when I want it to. I kept switching back and forth between barrels, but I kept noticing a difference. I hope it’s not all in my head, but for now, the Leblanc barrel sits with my old Selmer, and this old barrel with the Leblanc.
So, do barrels matter so much? I switch between mouthpieces and notice less difference. Is the timbre of a horn determined more by the barrel, and less by the mouthpiece/reed/ligature combination?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mike_M
Date: 2003-03-05 19:19
"So, do barrels matter so much?" Believe your ears.
You better sit down with a tuner though and make sure that Selmer barrel is not playing some mischief with your pitch. Different manufacturers use different dimensions for tonen length, bore diameter, barrel length, etc.
I've seen after-market barrels do wonders for tone and response, but otherwise make a decent clarinet rather "ill-tempered".
If your pitch is still good, I'd say your in hog-heaven.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-03-08 12:33
It's like tuning the inlet manifold of an automobile engine for a few more horsepower... it can be the difference between winning and losing.
I think the proper barrel acts as the last interface between your internal air volume and the active air column in your horn.
Get it right, and you'll feel a 'sweet spot' during play.
That is not to say that it will eliminate effort, just that getting the match properly will give you the best compromise between back pressure, air volume and dynamic control.
As Mike_M mentioned, trust your ears to evaluate tone color, but use a tuner for verification.
If pitch deviates in a uniform manner (all sharp, or all flat) you've got some 'wiggle room' for tuning. If the pitch deviates unevenly - find another barrel.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2003-03-08 14:25
The simple answer is "yes". My experience has been that barrels can make significant differences in the sound. But after you try different barrels and decide on one then you find that different mouthpieces alter that situation. I'm still searching.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2003-03-08 16:59
All I have to do to test whether or not a barrel will improve my sound or intonation is to change it out and play. Then, I decide whether or not I want to return to the "stock" barrel. After many, many years of playing I have not had one single experience of prefering the stock barrel over the Moennig or Chadash, or even the Deg Eddie Daniels (in the case of my LL).
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2003-03-09 19:13
I go with S B's, Bob D's and Brenda's thots that a well-chosen barrel at least plays more comfortably, likely with better tuning/tonality [as well]. I've always thot that close bores-matchings should give best results, but some "stepped" bores have been the best for me!! Research?? Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
