Author: Tyler
Date: 2006-04-07 20:08
If you go to a major clarinet convention like the ICA one in Atlanta or the Oklahoma Symposium this summer, Backun Musical Products usually has several tables of their products, like rosewood/grenadilla/cocobolo barrels and bells, which are available for immediate trial. If you have your clarinet put together, you can actually stand there and try some of them out.
I'm sure others on this board will tell you the same, that the material out of which a bell is made does affect the sound, however, not NEARLY to the extent that the interior dimensions of the bell affect it.
Whether a CNC-machined, mulitple-curve bell made out of exotic wood is worth $700 is up to you. You'll have to try a bunch. In my limited experience trying different bells, I have found that many of them produce only subtle improvements in my tone; however, I remember one or two that I tried at last year's OK Symposium which produced more significant improvements, or, at least, changes in my tone. For me, at my stage of clarinet proficiency, I feel like I have room to improve in other areas which will more directly help my sound rather than buying expensive bells. For example, I still have a great deal to learn about reeds and mouthpieces, and while I am getting much better in dealing with embouchure issues, I have plenty more to learn still. Maybe after another year or two of work in these areas, I will consider something like special bells to be a worthwhile investment. Backun's products seem to get great reviews from those who buy them. Who knows....?
-Tyler
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