 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Alan
Date: 2004-01-22 23:00
Obviously a shorter barrel will play sharper than a longer barrel, but will different tapers of barrels of the same length play at a different pitch?
I am currently using a Richard Hawkins mouthpiece with a Chadash 66 mm barrel on a Buffet R13 and am consistently sharp, even on a cold horn. I find I am even a little sharp on my R13 A clarinet with the same mouthpiece/barrel combination.
However, in my lesson today, I played on my teacher's Moenig barrel (66 mm) with the same mouthpiece/horn combo and was about 5 cents lower in pitch. I'm thinking Moenig barrels might be a better match for my setup. I know these are different variations of the Buffet barrel, but not sure what the exact characteristics of each are.
I realize I've sort of answered my own question here, but just wondering if anyone else has any specific experience with this?
Thanks,
Alan
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-01-23 01:58
I think that taper and bore have a GREAT deal to do with pitch. A girl in my chamber ensemble class plays on a german style instrument. When placed next to mine, her clarinet is about one to two inches shorter, however plays consistantly flatter than mine.
Don't forget that it might be slightly advantageous to play slightly sharp. On the grounds that if you play in a cold place, or need to assemble and play right away without warming up, you can be in tune instead of flat.
US Army Japan Band
Post Edited (2004-01-23 02:15)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-01-23 03:47
Alan,
That's a great question. I have also asked several times on this BB about the differences in barrels (Chadash and Moennig particularly). Unfortunately, IMHO there may probably be more mis-information out there in "quasi-barrel-expert land" aka QBBE as good information.
GBK and I have had a few off-line conversation about this topic and he is, as usual, a great resource. I have just begun a dialogue with John Butler about a new barrel and I believe he told me that he is doing some custom boring. Maybe Dave S. can also weigh in; he seems to be doing a lot of very cool stuff.
My take on the whole topic is that the people that really know and are doing it like Bob Scott and Walter Grabner, don't want to give away too many trade secrets; I can't blame them. I have several Scott barrels for Buffet and LeBlanc problems and these barrels are great at half the price.
I do know that barrels make a tremendous difference after the mouthpiece. I should remember who said it but the quote was "the most difference is with the things closest to the player" or words to that effect.
I'm anxious to see what comes out of the thread.
HRL
Draz, I'll still buy that barrel from you!!!! I know, your not selling. Alan, I have a 68 mm Moennig and a Scott for those hot summer days and I use them. I am constantly tinkering with MP and barrel combinations; the tuner is always out.
Post Edited (2004-01-23 03:49)
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-01-23 12:58
Ask your stockbroker, they have all the answers. The sum total of my knowledge on barrels: Some work and some don't and if I knew the reasons I'd be a rich man......or maybe just happy. The problem is that when we focus on the barrel as the possible source of our "problem" we may be looking in the wrong place. If one barrel geometry was best wouldn't everyone be using it? Hank, you'd be better off with one of my Vitos....haha.
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-01-23 13:00
http://www.chadashclarinet.com/barrel.htm
You can even contact Guy and he can explain the difference with his barrels.
The late David Hite also had this well-written piece on the Moennig design:
http://www.jdhite.com/mouthpieces/shop1.htm
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2004-01-23 15:53
I make barrels. (disclaimer...I dont sell them on this BB, but offer them sporadically elsewhere....It is NOT my main business and I make them lovingly as an avocation. I present this info. fyi and I am not soliciting since I can not accomodate retail sales or orders. I DO however endorse Doctors Products for use on the wood that I sell, as well as Backun barrels as well as those of others.)
The barrel is to the instrument what the genome is to an organism
A shorter barrel can play with same pitch as a longer one by altering the bore design, along with changing other sound characteristics esp. in the throat tones and clarion sounds.
In tapering the bore, you have to account for the exit bore of the mouthpiece, the size of the upper joint tenon bore, and the depth of the mouthpiece bore. After that, the placement of where the bore tapers (high or low within the barrel) affects the pitch and sound. Then add to that the vagaries of the wood and the ring ends, and the shape or heft of the outer shell....and you have a set of acoustical problems that would take a physicist years to unravel..
...Just like finding a soulmate, you gotta kiss a lot of toads before finding the one that is best for you
.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2004-01-23 16:30
I was afraid of this, Alseg "....and you have a set of acoustical problems that would take a physicist years to unravel.."
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