 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: deliberate1
Date: 2004-10-14 12:55
Friends, I have been playing my trusty R13 for the past 35 years or so - most recently with a big band and klezmer group. To compete (volume wise), I bought a Morgan R15 mouthpiece. It is splendid - with great playing characteristics. But my horn, which tends to blow flat, is particularly low with this piece - particularly in the middle register. I read about custom barrels, and ordered a few from wwbw to try - specifically, 66mm Chadash and Moenig, and a 65mm Chadash. I do have to say that they all seemed to open up the throat tones, and made transitions between registers more seemless. I favored the Chadash. But even with the 65mm, the middle register still is a bit low, particularly when I have to blow hard, which my work often requires. I have tried many different emboucher approaches. And I can "lip up" (almost) in the low spots. But it is a tiring way to play, and often it is dificult to tell in ensemble whether the intonation is right. I know I can get a 64mm Chadash which Guy has offered to fashion for me. He has even offered to custom craft it in a way that will warm up my tone (I find the Morgan just a bit too bright). But before I pull the trigger for this non-returnable, I would like to hear from those of you who have had the opportunity to test the Chadash against some of the other options out there - like the Backun, Fobes or others. I realize that every barrel is different, even among their siblings. But I am in norhtern Maine, and do not have the luxury to try out a variety of them. I was successful using this surrogate method in choosing a mouthpiece and hope that your collective insights and recommendations will point me in the right direction. Many thanks.
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Author: msloss
Date: 2004-10-14 13:31
Guy will treat you well. Among other things, he is an instrument maker and a consultant to Buffet, so he intimately understands what is and isn't possible to compensate for your problems. Can't help you on the comparative with the other makes, though. The difference in clarinet players is much greater than between instruments or parts. What works for me won't necessarily for you. If you are having reservations about committing to one, order from a couple sources and compare them. If they don't offer a money-back guarantee, you can certainly turf them on eBay or in the classifieds here and get most of your investment back.
Good luck with your quest!
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2004-10-14 14:01
I haven't tried the Backun, but have used Chadash barrels for years and found them to be an excellent choice for tone, intonation, etc. They really make a huge difference in the sound quality of the instrument. I even used one on my C clarinet.
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Author: Ed
Date: 2004-10-14 14:13
Try Clark Fobes barrels. Contact him or get them from Muncy winds. He makes top notch stuff. Another person to consider is Walter Grabner. He would ask you to send your instrument and personally design and fit it to your clarinet. Both are sponsors of this site.
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Author: William
Date: 2004-10-14 14:23
In case that you haven't already considered this, it may be that your F# and/or your Eb pad(s) on your upper joint are too low. Raising them may help bring the "throat" tones up--especially G4, F4 & E4. Raising the G#4 & A pads will also bring those notes up. Also, you may want to check your tone holes to see that they are free from swab lint and other debrie that may cause those notes to blow flat (and stufy).
Also,when I tried a Morgan mpc a few years ago, I found that it played quite flat (on my LeBlancs) compared to my Chicago Kaspar. And my orchestral college found that her Morgan--which she had been playing for years--was--in the words of the mouthpiece maker who measured it--"too long" to play in tune with her R13s.
Just some random thoughts this AM for your consideration--good luck!!
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2004-10-14 14:41
I've tried the Chanddash barrels and I personally preferred the Buffet barrel. I play a Buffet R13 Prestige (wihch is in design the same as the R13) and the best barrel for it is a regular barrel of the Festival model (which is the same barrel as the R13 Prestige barrel).
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