The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: jez
Date: 2004-01-01 12:38
After trying the 'interchange-a-bore' barrel I realised that I thought it made a good sound, but I didn't care which way round the taper was so I've had a regular barrel made in brass.
Of course it feels monstrously heavy but I do think it adds weight to the sound and projects well.
It looks fantastic (specially with the yellow mouthpiece)
Are any other materials being used for barrels? Glass would be nice. I don't think I've come across one though I have seen clear plastic.
Other metals may also give different results.
Happy New Year to all
jez
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: LeWhite
Date: 2004-01-01 12:47
Hey Jez
So how come your mouthpiece is yellow anyway?
Oh, and I'll stick to wood *for now*!
Happy New Year!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Burt
Date: 2004-01-01 14:06
DEG Accubore is aluminum, anodized to match the wood. It's much lighter than brass.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: john gibson
Date: 2004-01-01 20:00
Jez...
Can you attach a pic of that brass barrel? I'd love to see it....Are you using it on a metal or wood clarinet? A glass or crystal barrel....hmmm that would be interesting to say the least.....maybe Pomarico could come up with one....
but like the MPCs....man would you have to be "careful".....
JG
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2004-01-01 20:26
i was at a San Francisco Symphony concert in 1991 and it looked (from a distance) as though one of the players was using a class/crystal/clear plastic barrel. i never checked this out and have since never seen such a barrel, but i have a clear recolection (pardon the pun) of watching this player for the whole of the first half with what i could swear was a "see-through" barrel.
i have since been to another SF symph concert with no sightings of the mystery barrel.
can anyone shed any light on this mystery?
donald
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Mark Pinner
Date: 2004-01-02 05:39
There are definitely see through barrels available. I think they may actually be plexi-glass. Crystal would weigh a fair bit.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BobD
Date: 2004-01-02 10:20
jez, I'm wondering why you didn't have it made from aluminum rather than brass
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-02 15:12
They have entirely clear clarinets out there! Lucite is what I believe them to be made of. So you could have a clear everything (with a legere reed and luyben lig and you'd be the talk of the town!)
Perhaps it was a barrel from one of these clarinets.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2004-01-02 19:19
i have seen the clear clarinets, but only as museum exhibits (one in Scotland and one in Germany). Did Vito do one as part of their multi-coulored series they were trying to sell a few years ago?
As for the clear barrels- i have no doubt that someone makes them, but i have never seen one being presented as equiptment for professional use at any of the Symposiums/conferences etc that i have been at. And never seen ANYONE (student or professional) play on one (except for that time in SF).
I have no great desire to buy one, but am just interested to know who makes them. Maybe in Oz there is someone knocking them off for student use- i suspect the one used in SF was a "one off" made by Pyne or Scott etc.
Meanwhile, congratulations to Jez on her Brass barrel.
donald
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-02 19:28
Would a metal barrel naturally project with more volume? I believe the metal clarinets were known for being louder than grenadilla so I think it'd almost be natural for a metal barrel to project more. Might be a good solution for someone who's clarinet just is too quiet.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Wes
Date: 2004-01-03 04:34
Yes, I made a brass barrel many years ago when I was taking a machine shop class in college. The instructor was usually intoxicated when he returned from lunch to teach the class and we had time on our hands, so I made a barrel to fill the time. It sounds fine but is very heavy. The outside is partially knurled to afford a good grip.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jim lande
Date: 2004-01-04 03:47
Jez -- where did you get it made and how much did it cost?
I don't think material makes much difference. Walter Grabner made a wooden barrel for a metal clarinet. It works great, but I think it is because there is some reverse taper in the barrel, which I don't think was used way back when.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: donald
Date: 2004-01-04 04:34
good call Jim Lande
the material may make some difference in tone.
the bore design (cylinder/cone/ventura etc) and integrity (if it's inadvertantly bored slightly off centre etc) will make a HUGE difference to the tone, tuning and response.
And that ain't opinion.
donald
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: jez
Date: 2004-01-05 15:40
LeWhite,
The mp is yellow because I asked the maker (Ackerman) for "the brightest you can" It can be viewed at
http://www.woodwindco.com
then click on 'customer comments'.
John Gibson,
I'll try to send a picture direct to you. I don't know how to post one here.
BobD,
I presumed that, if there is an advantage in weight in the barrel, it might as well be a heavier metal. (can't afford gold)
sfalexi,
the more I use it, the more I am convinced it adds 'weight' to the sound.
jim lande,
a good friend made it for me, so I don't have a figure for the cost. You must know someone with a lathe and some engineering expertise.
donald,
I think the difference I'm noticing here is much more pronounced than any I've detected with barrels with different tapers/whatever and that is opinion.
jez
Post Edited (2004-01-05 15:54)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: diz
Date: 2004-01-06 22:29
jez ... what excitment has the BBC Phil got in store for you this year?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
|