 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-01-03 13:30
(Disclaimer - I get no remuneration from ClarinetConcepts or John Butler)
An age old story - the search for the wonderful "A" clarinet ... The story begins with the return of a vintage borrowed "A" clarinet to the owner after using it for several years. My mistake was telling the owner what a great "A" clarinet it was and when he moved out of town all of my cajoling and offers of huge amounts of cash could not keep the clarinet in my possession. Dave Spiegelthal kindly sold me a very nice hard rubber (in olive drab color) "A" clarinet that he rescued from becoming a lamp which played nicely but still not the tonal quality that I was seeking. I love the warm tone of my Amati 604 full Boehm Bb clarinet and was looking for the same qualities in an "A" clarinet. Enter an Amati "A" clarinet with great tone but with intonation problems and two, too short barrels ----
Dr. Allan Segal is an true artisan in the world of barrels. I recently acquired the Amati 675 full Boehm clarinet in "A" and loved the tone and resistance but it still had some unusual intonation quirks after being lovingly and expertly refurbished by John Butler. It must have good karma because John was working on it as hurricane Rita came ripping through Houston this past summer and both survived in fine shape.
I sent the clarinet to Allan without any barrels (a goof on my part) and he fashioned a gorgeous barrel from Rosewood sans any template to work from. He also divined that the bell probably did not originally come with the clarinet and was too long (an alien bell ??). With the new barrel and some minor pad height adjustments by me, - I rarely venture into the world of the competent technician - and switching the bell from the sister Bb horn the intonation problems were all fixed. The tone with the new barrel was also more rich and velvety with wonderful focus. What a difference the right barrel can make in tuning and tone! Note - the bell switch alone did not cure all the problems. A new bell is now being fashioned and the alien bell encased in concrete so as not to infect any other "A" clarinets.
L. Omar Henderson
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-01-03 14:53
I'd have to agree that Allan's barrels are wonderful. They're also quite beautiful.
How about doing bells, Allan?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2006-01-03 14:56
Omar -
In my collection of clarinets, I also own an Amati 675 full Boehm A clarinet (one of the very few non-Buffet clarinets in my arsenal) The intonation quirks you noted are similar to what I found.
As you correctly discovered, the factory barrels that come with the Amati 675 are too short. Thus, the pronounced sharpness, especially in the left hand notes. After some experimentation with different barrels, I settled on a 64.5 Buffet barrel. This seems to be the best tonal and intonation solution.
I also found that the bell of the Amati 675 A clarinet is too long. When swapped with (for example) the Bb bell of a Buffet clarinet the right hand notes are raised slightly.
Although I haven't played any of Allan's barrels, it is nice to know that he is able to create one which compliments the Amati 675 A clarinet.
BTW - In spite of the intonation issues which can definitely be corrected, the Amati 675 A clarinet produces a very pleasing sound and represents a good value for the price ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-01-03 16:33
GBK - I should have consulted you before my redundant foray into finding out cause and effect. The Rosewood barrel that Alan made for me is 63.7 mm, and actually improves IMHO on the already nice tone and tuning of the clarinet. It is wonderful to work first hand with a talented barrel maker much the same as with a custom mouthpiece maker! The barrels that came with the clarinet were 60 and 61.9 mm and make it way too sharp as you noted. Thank you for an independent confirmation and roadmap for improving the 675! I have also noted that the monstrously long lower joint must be thoroughly warmed up before attempting to correct any intonation issues.
L. Omar Henderson
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: William
Date: 2006-01-03 17:17
GBK--perhaps, along with the Buffet barrel and bell substitutions, if you also switch in upper and lower joint Buffet counterparts, you will have that Amati 675 right where you want it. Right????
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: GBK
Date: 2006-01-03 18:27
Omar -
A 63.7mm barrel would probably be the exact right size for the Amati 675.
I am using a 64.5mm Buffet barrel, (because I didn't have anything in the 64mm size) but the left hand notes are just a shade low.
A slightly shorter barrel would be ideal.
William - great idea ![[wink]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie3.gif) ...GBK
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-01-04 13:19
Bells?
Well, I realized Omar's bell was large for the A-clar. Please realize that his instrument is a full boehm with low Eb. This is a different animal.
I, too, was impressed by its sound. A very nice horn, but with some quirks, which if addressed appropriately by the maker, could make it a real contender.
I made a bell for it for testing purposes.
It looked like an oboe bell.
My thoughts on bells summarized: Less is More.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-01-04 18:47
Some of Morrie Backun's bells look a bit smaller (bell diameter) than standard. So, whatever works and makes an improvement.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
