 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-12-01 13:43
A few days ago I wrote about the sad accident of my Kaspar Cicero 11 mouthpiece. It's still in the hospital, but I'm not holding out much hope for it. Your amazing sympathy was comforting at such a time. One of our board members, Alseg--AKA Dr. Allan Segal, decided to send me one of his fantastic custom-made barrels as a comfort gift. Wow. It came yesterday in the mail and I have to say that it is simply magnificent. Not only is it a beautiful thing to the eye, but it is ear candy as well. Now, don't everyone rush out and break your Kaspars and then weep on his shoulder in hopes of one of his barrels--but, they are quite wonderful. The tone is warm and rich and the volume is amazing. It does more than the broken Kaspar for my tone. I am quite taken with it. Also, it sounds better on my Opus II than my Backun barrel. Of course, I know tone is a personal thing. But, if you get a chance to try one of Allan's barrels--you must do so. He's one of the sponsors on the board and reads and contributes here quite frequently. His website is <www.clarinetconcepts.com>
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Author: redwine
Date: 2005-12-01 14:00
Hello,
I've posted very similar sentiments before. Good for you, Dr. Segal, for giving the free barrel. Try these barrels--they are quite good.
Ben Redwine, DMA
owner, RJ Music Group
Assistant Professor, The Catholic University of America
Selmer Paris artist
www.rjmusicgroup.com
www.redwinejazz.com
www.reedwizard.com
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-01 19:22
Alseg,
I think it was great of you to do something like that. Brenda has been a big supporter of the board and as you can see, she certainly must've appreciated that act! Nice to know that I can assuredly add you onto the list of one of the "good guys" to deal with.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-12-01 23:19
I am glad that you like it. Thanks for the kudos.
One puzzling question.
I received an Opus barrel from a major UK clarinetist. The bottom socket is extremely wide...it rocks on my R13 Vintage (as in really old, not the model type.
Your barrel was my best guestimate for an Opus, and the sockets were made identical to the R13. Apparently yours fits or you would not have been able to use it. What gives??
I know some of the Selmer Recital tenons are wider than others, but this is off the charts.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-02 00:51
My leblanc opus barrel is interchangeable with my selmer 10G barrel. However I also experience wobbling and extreme looseness if I try the opus barrel on my buffet, and I've had my buffet's barrel bind with the selmer 10G, and it is a tight, but BARELY doable fit on my leblanc opus (when I get a new clarinet or accessory, I have a habit of trying ALL possible combinations, so I've tried all my barrels on all my clarinets, with all my mouthpieces)
I don't know the tenon size of the R13 vintage, but I do myself have a vintage clarinet (bought from David spiegelthal, who estimates it to be from about 1930-ish or so) and this tenon is CONSIDERABLY smaller than ANY of the other ones. Possibly a mark of the how they were made back then??????
As per the R13 barrel fitting the opus, I know there are some barrels out there that DO seem to fit most tenons (I have a Charles Bay barrel which fits my selmer 10G, opa (both the Bb and A opus), and also my buffet Evette and Schaeffer), although it IS slightly tight on my opus. But with a generous helping of grease, and if the cork were slightly more compressed from everyday usage, perhaps it'd fit nicely. Maybe your best guess was a fairly snug fit on Brenda's, but maybe the backun barrel she has, has compressed the cork enough so that this might fit too? As in it would have been much tighter if she went straight from opus II barrel to Alseg barrel, but with the backun as an intermediate it helped compress the cork to "prepare" the tenon for the barrel of your measurement? Could this be it Brenda?
US Army Japan Band
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-12-02 04:47
My old teacher's R-13 barrel fits my opus clarinet (I always made him use his mouthpiece AND barrel as I dislike removing JUST my mouthpiece). Hhmm, interesting...
Clayton
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-12-02 21:13
I think perhaps the Opus II is a bit different to the old Opus. My Backun barrels that I bought for my old Buffet R-13 fit it perfectly as well. So, I guess you're good to go on the Opus II measurements. It fits nice and tight and sounds great! But, I'm not an expert on stuff like that. Perhaps Larry Combs could tell you more--he plays (and helped design) the Opus II. I know he's had his in the Brannen's shop because Linda told me about it when I bought my new Opus II.
Maybe he's around the board and you could ask. I know Greg Smith frequents and he might know. Or, someone from Leblanc.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-12-03 01:15
I sent the owner an email. Hopefully he will let me know if this one was loose.
Closer inspection showed that the minor expected ovoid change in diameter of the bore is more like a planetary elipse. (0.010 off instead of 0.002 or so)...no wonder he was able to spare it for measurement.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-12-03 01:30
Sfalexi,
As to your theory about the Backun barrel compressing the cork on my Opus II, I don't think that's a factor in the supurb fit of Allan's barrel because the stock barrels that came with the Opus II fit exactly the same way. They seem to be alike. My second Backun barrel, the 65mm, is not a very tight fit. It's not wobbly or anything, but it's not as good a fit as Allan's barrel and my 66mm Backun and the Opus II stock barrels. But, I'll give you credit for thinking of such an elaborate set of circumstances.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-12-03 07:43
Very interesting. I wonder then if with the Opus II, leblanc made some adjustments to the tenon size. I'll shoot them an email tomorrow and find out if they did . . . .
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-12-03 16:09
I haven't taken the time to look that up, so let us know what you find. I don't think the bore sizes are the same as the Buffet R-13. At least the old Opus was a different bore size.
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2005-12-05 12:49
I contacted the owner of the Leblanc barrel.
Apparently he added automobile gasket material to the tenon to fit it.
I have used auto gasket stuff for other purposes...eg tuning rings.
Not a bad quick fix.
I will just make the socket standard size (as I did for the Grammy model) and he can shave some gasket off.
Maybe he can change the oil filter while he's at it. ![[grin]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie5.gif)
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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