 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Celeborn
Date: 2006-07-04 00:09
I'm in the market for a clarinet in A, no need to be new, under $1,000 (USD). How would you compare a Buffet E-11 A to a Noblet 45 A at the same price? Also, my father, who is a self educated guitarist, believes that there must be a barrel or something to change a clarinet from a Bb to an A. I informed him that his assertion was laughable and that no such device is in existence. . . but is there?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2006-07-04 00:50
You can pull your Bb barrel far out to approximate an A. However, given that the space between each of the tone holes doesn't spread out proportionally as well, it's horribly out of tune, in a very inconsistent manner.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Musinix
Date: 2006-07-04 01:08
You can also try hanging a shoelace down the bore. Others have tried it, with very poor results.
Thomas Fiebig
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Kalakos
Date: 2006-07-04 04:25
In about 1964 I bought a device for making a Bb into an A. I think it was made by the Howard company in the early part of the 20th century. It was basically a cord of a certain length with a spring type hook at the top. You placed it between the barrel and the first bout and the cord hung down in the bore to almost the bell. It actually worked and the intonation was not as bad as it is when simply pulling the barrel out. However, it made the sound/tone very stuffy and was not too effective. But it did work! Some of the Greek island folk bagpipers (tsabouna has a double chanter and no drone) tune one of the pipes to the other by putting a piece of broom straw in the bore of the higher pitched pipe of the pair. Same use of a material which narrows the bore and thus lowers the pitch.
Kalakos
Kalakos Music
http://www.TAdelphia.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ClariTone
Date: 2006-07-04 11:20
WAIT!!! Are you saying you can TUNE bagpipes!?!? 
I have never heard of such a thing. However it is a noble concept and would be VERY popular among the clarinet community allowing some of us to increase our G.A.S...
For the meantime however, perphaps a intermediate model A would suit your purposes nicely. I think it would be harder to gauge the quality of the two different (apparently used for the price you are looking for) types of horns. Both are from reputable companies...but have also been...well used. Be careful in your selection and make sure you get it professionally gone over by a clarinet repair technician, and I'm sure it will be fine.
Best of Luck!!!
Clayton
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-07-04 13:29
Haven't we been here before, folks ? A bit of reading in Rendall, where he discusses the "pieces 'd rechange" [sp ??] should explain the intonations problems, which are referred to above. Other methods are also in our inst's history, at least mentioned in most of our "good books". With more precise intonation being demanded now, to me, its only solution is still individual, very well made, cls for symphonic use, or where the tonal character differences among the many members of our family are to be explored and possibly utilized. My present case-in-point "research" is exploring my Selmer Alto cl's unique tonal character, its being somwhat diff from the [modern] Basset Horn and widely diff from my bass cl. Early morning thots, Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: BelgianClarinet
Date: 2006-07-04 16:15
Can you make a bas clarinet out of a Bb by adding a huge barrel to the Bb ?
Obiously not, well the reason why is exactly the same as making a A out of a Bb is not possible.
The 'error' is of course less in the latter case, but there is an 'error'
;-)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Don Berger
Date: 2006-07-04 20:14
Hi crosswalkph [wow] - since my comments may be of interest to others [A C'ers] I will E-M later if you wish. On [concert band] rehearsing the [truly] old warhorse, The Light Cavalry ?overture?, in its slow Allegretto? portion, I was playing AC mainly in the lower clarion, in unison with the 1st cls [4-5 of them] and I had to tone it down !!, so as to not cover them up !!!. It was about the first time I found I had that much volume from my Selmer with a Pomarico 3 mp, soft reed. I did have a similar "standout" in Gershwin's Am in Paris, jumps into the lower altissimo, with the oboes, had to watch intonation carefully. In both I was pleased with its unique tonality and ease of playing. It reminded me of [possibly] a sop sax. Don
Thanx, Mark, Don
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brent
Date: 2006-07-05 17:16
I like BelgianClarinet's idea...if you added the correct length of barrel to make an open G sound exactly an octave lower, wouldn't you be able to get quarter tones instead of half-steps? Of course, you'd limit the range of the instrtument substantially....
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: C2thew
Date: 2006-07-05 22:57
http://www.ridenourclarinetproducts.com/ACclarpg.html
Sherman Friedland recommended the arioso clarinet hand manufactuered by tom ridenour. He's told me that the hard rubber clarinet models are of exceptional quality and in addition has performed professional with them. As for tone, i've never heard, but coming from a principal clarinetest. i'd trust him. he suggested i buy a selmer signet soloist for starters; i don't regret it!
SELMER SIGNET SOLOIST!!!!!!! sweeeet
Our inventions are wont to be pretty toys, which distract our attention from serious things. they are but improved means to an unimproved end, an end which was already but too easy to arrive as railroads lead to Boston to New York
-Walden; Henry Thoreau
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
