 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: joannew
Date: 2006-02-08 12:46
Hello all,
I have a chance to buy an older A clarinet for a great price, the only catch is that the bell is missing. Searching the BB for replacement bell options came up with Accubore and Backun as worthwhile things to try out. The Backun bells look wonderful, and no doubt are an improvement over a stock bell, from what I read, but would easily double the price of the horn. Accubore also generated many positive comments (the only real negative being the weight), but a quick google search didn't bring up any current prices. Are these discontinued? WW&BW no longer stocks them, and although they are still shown on the DEG website, I don't see any 'click here to buy' button, or links to distributors.
If anyone has bought one and doesn't use it, you could contact me offline with your best offer...
Any other suggestions for reasonably priced replacement bells? Anyone with a big box of clarinet parts in their basement which could use a new home?
How interchangeable are bells anyway? Accubore & Backun both say that the same can be used for Bb & A. How about a 1920's vintage pre-polycylindrical bore A? The cork can easily be adjusted to fit snugly I presume, but is it necessary to try several before getting the E/B in tune with the rest of the horn?
Thanks!
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2006-02-08 18:50
Oh wow! I have owned an Accubore bell and sold it several years back. But, it was for my Bb clarinet. It was also before I heard about Backun's services. It was cheaper than my Backun bell, but is made of the same stuff the Accubore barrels are made from--some spaceage material that is quite weighty (as you mention). I bought the Accubore bell to go on my Leblanc Symphonie VII (rosewood) clarinet because the tone was very bright. It did help, but made the instrument quite uncomfortable to play because of the weight. When I sold the Symphonie VII I sold the bell. I'm not sure where you could get one today because I believe they did discontinue them. Not sure.
I'm also not sure if they work on both Bb and A clarinets. But, you could send an email to Morrie Backun and ask his opinion on his bells. I know they're pricey, but they're wonderful.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2006-02-08 23:22
Most qualified technicians of the wind instruments can fit a bell to a clarinet.
There are a few tuning adjustments that can be made on a lathe.
It doesn't make dollars, francs of sense to put on a bell that costs more than the instrument in question, for TWO notes...
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2006-02-09 06:00
"and no doubt are an improvement over a stock bell"
I never had any problems with any of the stock bells I used.
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