 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2006-05-23 12:31
Hi
I think clarinet makers and repairmen have tried all kinds of barrel designs
during the last 250 yrs or so.
Starting from cylindrcal,every conceivable different tapers and combination
of them were tried(and abandoned or forgotten.)
Because even very small change in design seems to have a profound
effect on the tone and intonation etc. I'd like to propose completely
different(and crazy) barrel designs.
I hope some barrel designer out there try one of these.
... 1.Inside barrel resembles barrel shape,that is slightly bigger diameter
..... in the middle of a barrel. This may not be done by reamer alone.
..... It may need some scraping or sanding.
... 2.Squre crosssection barrels(or pentagon,hexagon?) of reverse taper.
......You need special technic but it can be done with the help of CAD.
... 3.Corrugated surface inside,i.e.,small grooves running length wise.
... 4.Or any combination of the above.
I'm proposing those tongue in cheek,but I'm not entirely joking.
Maybe one of (or derivative of these) turn out to be excellent barrel.
As a full time violin maker,I don't have time or equipment to make barrels
but it'll be very interesting if someone try one of these.
Who knows?
Maybe it will change the sound of clarinet foever.
Koo young Chung
Violin maker in Chcago
Post Edited (2006-05-23 12:36)
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Author: Paul Aviles
Date: 2006-05-23 13:00
Here's a dumb question. I heard the only difference between a fiddle (that is, the country-style playing) and a violin is that the bridge of a fiddle is shaved down straighter to make double stops easier. As a clarinet player it seems to me that double stops would be harder that way.
Is there any truth to that?
And by the way I think the the whole barrel obsession is a big wild goose chase.
..............Paul Aviles
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2006-05-23 13:26
Not such a far-fetched idea, really.
Most experimentation is undertaken by enthusiastic amateurs who lack the math background that proscribes a given path... these experiments often produce results that require a recalculation of "known" facts.
The "policylindrical" profile of many modern clarinets in the French style violate the Known Proper Geometry of a clarinet bore prior to 1900.
Besides, aftermarket gizmos are one of the few items available to smaller makers for profitable sales. Making a clarinet, in totality, is a small margin - high initial capital process. Making a good one is no guarantee of success.
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Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-05-23 13:52
With KyC mentioning square-rectangular configurations, I immediately thought of the few words about the cl that Rendall [perhaps others?] describes, starts with "S" I believe, the name of the wild-haired crazy inventor prob. Will look it up when unpacked. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
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Author: Koo Young Chung
Date: 2006-05-24 05:21
Paul Aviles
What you described about fiddle is true.
Viloin and fiddle refer to the playing styles rather than instruments.
Koo-young Chung
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Author: L. Omar Henderson
Date: 2006-05-24 12:24
(Disclaimer - I am maker of the Power Barrel)
Of course rank experimentation should not be discouraged but it would take 10 million primates seated at a keyboard with one able to recreate a Shakespeare play. Some knowledge of acoustics would be helpful but I must admit that I was surprised and had to reverse engineer and derive the formulas that make the Power Barrel work and figure out why it is not as sensitive to overall length of the barrel as normal barrels. Trial and error are sometimes powerful experimental techniques if you have the time and inclination to pursue them. Barrels can have a dramatic effect on both the tone and intonation of the clarinet and I am sure that we have not seen the end of aftermarket barrel designs that produce some change in the tone and intonation of clarinets.
L. Omar Henderson
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-05-24 12:51
In reality, most wooden barrels assume a slightly ovoid bore shape, and turning them on axis changes the characteristics slightly.
Likewise, offset bores have been tried in mouthpieces, notably crystal ones.
Hollow walls (like a thermos) have been tried, as well as S-holes like on a violin, leading to resonance chambers (as can be attested to by woodchips on my workshop floor).
One current retail barrel has fins like a heat sink for a cpu chip.
There is nothing new under the sun.
disclaimer....similar to Omar's above, only different. You know the drill
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
Post Edited (2006-05-24 15:30)
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Author: Merlin
Date: 2006-05-24 17:56
Alseg, am I insane in thinking that someone once marketed a clarinet barrel with a square bore, similar to the Selmer S80 sax mouthpiece chamber?
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Author: Alseg
Date: 2006-05-24 18:50
Who says you can not fit a square barrel on a round clarinet?
I would not doubt that a square bore barrel has been tried.
GBK might know for certain.
I did a Selmer barrel with a 0.5 inch bore using a mortising chisel (powered) then shaved it out to o.570 .
Did it work?...since I was experimenting with wood that I would not use for a barrel to begin with, it shattered during lathing outside of the socket.
Following this episode,I made a table with mortised joints and did not return to my square barrel experiment.
Former creator of CUSTOM CLARINET TUNING BARRELS by DR. ALLAN SEGAL
-Where the Sound Matters Most(tm)-
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