Author: Saxguy007
Date: 2006-03-24 13:53
Dear all,
I am a sax player who has historically doubled on clarinet because he has to. Back in 1993 I bought used a Buffet R-13 that my instructor (Brian Grivna, formerly of the Minnesota Orchestra and Buddy Rich Band) found for me that struck him as a decent specimen. At his recommendation, I got a Hite Premiere piece to get started, and I have basically used that setup since.
I find that in order not to be flat with my setup, I have to use 4-strength reeds, and the mouthpiece, barrel, and upper bore (well, basically the whole instrument) has to be touching FLUSH, with nothing pulled out. I have never been sharp with this instrument.
I recently got a JodyJazz Classic mouthpiece in the 6 facing for my R-13 in hopes that a jazz piece could enable me to be a bit more expressive, and enjoy playing the instrument more. I love Eddie Daniels' jazz work, and could listen to his clarinet sound all day. The jodyjazz sax pieces I own for tenor and bari sax are fantastic, so I thought I'd give his clarinet piece a try.
The facing on the JodyJazz 6 is .060, whereas the Vandoren B45 is only .046. Therefore, using a 4 reed on it was not successful. Even the vandoren 3 I had was unacceptably airy. I had a box of 2.5's a coworker had given me when her daughter quit playing, and when I put one on, the sound was fantastic! The notes popped out full, phat, and woody, and I was bending and scooping with glee. For the first time since I bought the instrument, it was not fighting me.
As you can imagine, tho, with that thin a reed, the instrument was flat- not only globally, but the clarion register was flat compared to the lower register.
I am hoping that maybe some other reed specimens in a 3 might be just hard enough to get the upper register more in tune, but not so stiff as to add airiness. I doubt this will be enough tho.
I am wondering if maybe the barrel that came with it was too long, and if purchasing a shorter barrel, or an adjustable click barrel would solve my problem. In nosing around the internet, what few reviews of the locking CLICK barrel suggest that it is a cheap work-around that impairs the tone quality of the instrument. Have some of you found this to be true?
Is there a variant of wood barrels I could try in a short length? How do I measure the barrel I have, from outer rim to outer rim? Would I need a caliper to accurately measure it- or would the length be stamped somewhere on the barrel itself?
I would be grateful for any suggestions as to whether a new barrel might help me pull the instrument up to pitch, and if so, what barrel sculpt/design lends itself to a fat New Orleans-ish sound.
If I could solve this intonation problem, for the first time, I could play the clarinet and really love it!
Thanks,
Jim Bjork
www.jamesbjork.com
When vivisecting cats, remember: earplugs are cheaper than anaesthetics!
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The Clarinet BBoard
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