 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: bob49t
Date: 2006-05-27 18:37
OK, I accidentally stumbled upon the phenomenon of rotating bell and barrel to find a "sweet spot" or "resonant position". I just had my Eaton A clarinet repaired and hurriedly put the m/p on, rotated to the left. Instead of making it central immediately, I played off centre for a while and then rotated the m/p and barrel together to be central. Bingo...the difference was definitely audible to me. Of course I thought the the initial "round the corner" position of my embouchure may have had a hand in this, so I rotated the barrel only to regain the two former positions with the m/p central and the difference was indeed the same.
I was interested to see former interesting threads on the matter, some contributors adherent, some sceptical.
Next, I had a bash at barrel position and again there was a difference.
AT LEAST THERE WAS TO ME...................................................................
Now, being attached to the sharp end, my dentition, oral cavity, sinus cavities, pharynx and aural equipment etc would have been resonating. I will mark the positions of bell and barrel and ask my colleagues in the wind section if THEY can hear any difference. That would be the real test.
I did muse that if there is indeed, such a phenomenom as "sweet spot rotation", surely it would be important for manufacturers (in some acoustic engineering way) to test the blanks of top/bottom joints, before boring tone holes and drilling for pillars etc. It could be that they actually do this however and this is, yet again, one of the world's wonders I've missed.
Sorry for partly revisiting an old thread. Any up to date comments from barrel makers, acousticians and experimenters????
BobT
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2006-05-27 23:09
'Way back in the dark ages when I bought my Buffet, it was said that the factory rotated the barrel and bell to find the "sweet spot" during inspection. It was said that they then embossed the logos on the front of the bell and barrel so that they would naturally be assembled in the best orientation.
I can't find any changes to my horn as I twist them, however.
In the Buffet video showing the bulding of a clarinet, I did not see the rumored rotational adjustment.
I'm thinking that a good barrel or bell should be rotational symmetric in shape because it is turned on a lathe --except for material changes due to the wood grain.
Bob Phillips
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Author: Tyler
Date: 2006-05-29 03:02
When I tried this a while back, there didn't seem to be a large difference in sound, but I think there was a subtle difference in feel. It just didn't feel like the air was traveling "right". I'm most comfortable with my Buffet stamps lined up, whether this is coincidental or not.
FWIW
-Tyler
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