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Re: Forever sharp

Author: LarryBocaner ★2017
Date: 2005-04-07 16:18

Gordon,

A longer barrel upsets the scale much less than pulling out a shorter barrel because the gap in the bore created by pulling out seems to affect the throat tones way out of proportion to the rest of the instrument. There are "tuning rings" available at far less expense than a longer barrel, but I've never had much luck with them--and it sure is a nuisance fiddling around with the little buggers when you are trying to adjust pitch before or during a performance or rehearsal!

The enlarged chamber of the Chedeville-type mouthpieces seems to be a mis-match for modern smaller bore clarinets, creating the same depressed throat tones as a bore gap. Hans Moennig was noted for his ability to increase the undercutting of the throat tone holes in order to adapt modern (Buffet) clarinets to the treasured Chedevilles. Unfortunately that ruined the instruments for use with any other type of mouthpiece!

I strongly suspect that the E-11 was originally designed with a normal length barrel, and that Buffet mandated the short barrel in response to band directors complaints that the "damn things play flat"! (See my previous post). Fact is, my experience with the E-11 is that the scale is improved with the use of a proper (and longer) barrel; pulling out to the same degree creates terribly flat throat tones.

[discussion of tuning rings in thread below, seems to answer your question, too, Gordon]

Post Edited (2005-04-07 16:37)

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